June 13, 2019 - Issue: Vol. 165, No. 99 — Daily Edition116th Congress (2019 - 2020) - 1st Session

[Page S3473]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              TRIBUTE TO BRIGADIER GENERAL LOUIS W. WILHAM

 Mr. INHOFE. Mr. President, today I wish to recognize and 
congratulate BG Louis W. Wilham, assistant adjutant general of the 
Oklahoma Army National Guard, for his extraordinary dedication to duty 
and service to our Nation. Brigadier General Wilham will soon retire 
from the Oklahoma National Guard after 31 years of service.
  Brigadier General Wilham enlisted in the Oklahoma Army National Guard 
in 1987 and received his commission through the Oklahoma Military 
Department's officer candidate school in 1989. Since then, General 
Wilham has served in a variety of key leadership and staff positions 
within the Oklahoma National Guard, commanding at the company, 
battalion, and brigade levels prior to serving as the assistant 
adjutant general and interim adjutant general. Throughout the course of 
his career, Brigadier General Wilham has supported numerous 
mobilizations for both State and Federal missions. In 2008, he deployed 
to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, serving with the Joint 
Area Support Group-Central in Baghdad. In 2017, while serving as the 
interim adjutant general of the Oklahoma National Guard, Brigadier 
General Wilham oversaw the mobilization of over 2,000 Oklahoma soldiers 
and airmen in support of Hurricane Harvey.
  During the course of Brigadier General Wilham's service to our 
Nation, he earned awards and decorations, including: the Legion of 
Merit, Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal with two bronze 
oakleaf clusters, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Army Commendation 
Medal with one bronze oakleaf, Army Achievement Medal with three bronze 
oakleaf clusters, Iraq Campaign Medial with one Bronze Campaign Star, 
and Combat Action Badge.
  On behalf of my colleagues and the entire U.S. Senate, I want to 
personally thank Brigadier General Wilham and his family for over three 
decades of selfless service to the State of Oklahoma and the United 
States of America. He will leave a legacy of leadership and integrity 
that will remain with the Oklahoma National Guard for many years to 
come. I wish Brigadier General Wilham, his wife Jodi and their 
daughters, Taylor and Shelby, the very best as he retires from military 
service.

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