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MARTINEZ VISITS TROOPS IN AFGHANISTAN; SENATOR AWARDS TAMPA SOLDIER INCREASED RANK

October 3, 2006 -

U.S. Senator Mel Martinez (R-FL) and Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, M.D., (R-Tenn.) spent yesterday in Kabul and Qalat, Afghanistan where they had the opportunity to meet with President Hamid Karzai, visit a local hospital and receive briefings from military personnel. Senator Martinez met with troops from the 3rd Infantry Division and had the honor of awarding an increase in rank to Thomas C. Williams of Tampa, Florida from Army Major to Lieutenant Colonel.

“Our country is proud to have the service of these soldiers and Lieutenant Colonel Thomas C. Williams,” Martinez said. “Lieutenant Colonel Williams has been serving his country through the military for nearly three decades; he came to Afghanistan on a moment’s notice and he is a man I am proud to call a patriot.”

Lieutenant Colonel Williams is a member of the Headquarters Special Troops Battalion, 3rd Infantry Division. He serves as the Force Management Officer for the Division. The Lieutenant Colonel has been serving in the military for 28 years. He and his wife of 27 years, Karen, have two daughters – Kassandra, a graduate of Valdosta State University and Sherrie, who is attending Georgia Southern University. Williams is a recipient of numerous military awards including the Bronze Star for his service during the 1991 Gulf War. His uncle is retired, Major General John Shinkle.

In Qalat, a small town two hours south of Kabul, they were able to meet with troops who are working side by side with Romanian troops, the Afghan National Army and Police as well as USAID, the State Department and USDA to rebuild infrastructure and train local Afghans to maintain and sustain what is being built.