CONGRESSMAN BUYER RETIRES FROM 30 YEARS OF MILITARY SERVICE
Washington,
Sep 16 -
Washington, D.C. —Congressman Steve Buyer (R-IN) retired from the United States Army Reserve on Thursday, after thirty years of service, in a ceremony that also honored the retirement of the Congressman’s brother, Col. John J. Buyer, Jr. after 29 and a half years of service in the United States Army. Secretary of the Army John McHugh hosted the ceremony, which also included remarks from General Craig McKinley of the National Guard Bureau and Major General Martin Umbarger, Adjutant General for the Indiana National Guard.
Congressman John Shimkus (R-IL) presented and read a House Resolution that honored the Congressman’s military career (see attached). Army Secretary McHugh presented Buyer with the Legion of Merit; National Guard Bureau Chief Craig McKinley presented Buyer with The National Guard Minute Man Award; Army Reserve Chief General Jack Stultz presented Buyer with the Eagle Award; and Indiana National Guard Adjutant General Martin Umbarger presented Buyer with the Indiana Distinguished Service Medal.
Congressman Buyer is a 1980 Distinguished Military Graduate (DMG) of The Citadel. Upon graduation, he was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the Army Reserve as a Medical Service Corps Officer. After graduating from Valparaiso Law School, Buyer transferred to the Judge Advocate General Corps and was called to active duty for a period of three years. He went on to serve with the 310th Theater Army Area Command during EXERCISE REFORGER in the Netherlands and Belgium; as well as three REFORGER exercises in Germany with the 21st TAACOM. Cpt. Buyer was then awarded the Bronze Star Medal for his service in OPERATION DESERT SHIELD/DESERT STORM.
In April of 2004, President George W. Bush in the White House Oval Office promoted Congressman Buyer to his current rank of Colonel. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) was promoted to the rank of Colonel in the same White House ceremony with Congressman Buyer. “From his first days at the Citadel to his last days in the Reserves, few have loved the Army as much as Steve Buyer. Whether serving in combat operations during Operation Desert/Shield Desert Storm or providing legal assistance to the families of service members, Steve has served with distinction, pride, and dedication to Army values,” Sen. Graham said.
During his time in the House of Representatives, Congressman Buyer has dedicated time and effort to fight for veteran’s causes. He has served as a senior member on the House Armed Services Committee, alongside Rep. Ike Skelton (D-MO). Congressman Buyer served as Chairman of the Military Personnel Subcommittee, where he was a strong advocate to ensure our men and women in uniform had the training, equipment and resources to fight and win our nation’s wars. He authored major reforms in the health care delivery system of DOD, including Tricare-for-Life, a pharmacy benefit plan and increases in pay and benefits. Rep. Ike Skelton, Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, says of Congressman Buyer’s retirement, “Steve Buyer is not only a dedicated Member of Congress, but he has served as well in uniform as a member of the U.S. Army Reserve for many years. I am indeed grateful for his service, in so many capacities, to this great nation.”
Congressman Buyer is the founder and a co-chair of the Congressional National Guard and Reserve Component Caucus; and he has served on the House Veterans Affairs Committee for 18 years, including leading the Committee as Chairman and Ranking Republican. Committed to providing quality health care and benefits to our nation’s veterans and their dependents, Members of Congress from both sides of the aisle have looked to his leadership. Since being elected to Congress, Congressman Buyer has developed a long record of supporting veterans, including: helping improve the VA’s health care delivery system; co-authoring legislation providing relief from a century-old law that required a dollar-for-dollar offset of military retirement pay for VA disability compensation resulting in a billion of dollars in extra payments to veterans; and creating the Traumatic Servicemembers Group Life Insurance program that has provided thousands of dollars in additional life insurance coverage to servicemembers who have suffered a traumatic injury. He has also authored and passed legislation that centralized the Veterans’ Administration’s IT systems and chaired passage of legislation to improve contracting opportunities for veteran and disabled veteran-owned small business at the VA. Recognizing the value of sports as a part of rehabilitation from severe injury, Buyer initiated the effort to ensure a pathway for our nation’s injured heroes to participate in the U.S. Paralympics and other community-based sports programs.
Upon his military retirement, Congressman Buyer issued the following remarks:
“For thirty years I have had the honor to wear the Army’s uniform. I am grateful and humbled for the opportunity and I thank all who have supported my career. It has been truly remarkable to serve the men and women who wear the uniform. As I now retire from the U.S. Army Reserve, I pause to reflect upon the people who have shaped me and supported me through this challenging and fulfilling experience.
My wife Joni has adorned my side and has supported me through my military service, both during war and peace, and from the very beginning of my Congressional career. Joni has continuously given me strength and encouraged me to fight for my beliefs and causes which meant being away from home to work on behalf of our country. My daughter Colleen and son Ryan have shared their Dad to serve the great causes of this nation. And my parents, sisters and brother have supported me, sending me to serve the country with great ideals and principles.”
Congressman Buyer’s military honors include the Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal (4), Army Achievement Medal (2), Army Reserve Component Achievement Medal (2), National Defense Service Medal, South-West Asia Service Medal (3), Armed Forces Reserve Medal, Kuwait Liberation Medal Saudi Arabia, Kuwait Liberation Medal Kuwait, Army Service Ribbon (2), Army Reserve Components Overseas Training Ribbon (2), the Legion of Merit, The National Guard Minute Man Award, the Eagle Award, and the Indiana Distinguished Service Medal.
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Please click here to see the video of part of the retirement ceremony.
Please click here to see the video for Congressman Buyer's remarks on his retirement.
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