Nashville, Tennessee -- The association representing nearly 45,000 current and former National Guard officers today awarded Hawaii Congressman Neil Abercrombie the Harry S. Truman award. 

It’s the highest recognition conferred by the National Guard Association of the United States (NGAUS). 

During the NGAUS convention in Nashville, Tennessee, Abercrombie was applauded for “exceptionally meritorious service to the military providing significant support and benefits to the National Guard and our nation’s military.”

“Your dedication, leadership and tireless efforts have provided exemplary support to the Soldiers, Airmen and families of our military and the National Guard,” the citation read.  “Your patriotism is unquestionable and your deeds have championed our cause for the National Guard Association of the United States.”

Past recipients of the Truman award include three U.S. Presidents, military leaders and members of Congress.  Sen. Daniel K. Inouye received the Truman award in 1991.

During his acceptance speech at the Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center, Abercrombie said he was humbled by the recognition.

“All of you have worked selflessly and at great risk to serve our nation,” said Abercrombie, who serves on the House Armed Services Committee and chairs its Subcommittee on Air and Land Forces. “Unlike most congressional committees, many of the decisions we make have real life and death consequences for American men and women in uniform. We never forget that. I am tremendously grateful to receive the Truman Award, and I will continue to honor your service by doing everything we must do for you in Congress.”

The NGAUS was created in 1878 to provide unified National Guard representation in Washington, and petition Congress for better equipment and training.

“For the last twenty years, members of America’s National Guard have had no better friend or stronger ally than Representative Neil Abercrombie of Hawaii,” said Col. Raymond Jardine Jr., who nominated Abercrombie for the Truman award. 

Abercrombie “spoke out forcefully and repeatedly” on the plight of the National Guard as it transformed from a strategic reserve to an operational reserve component of the active duty Army.  The Guard has provided half of the troops serving in Iraq, and some guard units were deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan a second and third time.

“At the height of the war in Iraq, he began to speak out about the war’s terrible impact on U.S. military readiness, building an unassailable case that repeated and prolonged deployments of a force that was widely acknowledged to be too small for sustained combat was quickly wearing it down,” the citation said.

As chairman of the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Air and Land Forces, Abercrombie championed the plight of the National Guard, especially in the areas of insufficient manpower and worn and damaged equipment. 

According to the Truman Award citation, Abercrombie had to fight “powerful and influential voices in Washington D.C.” to accomplish his mission.  “He took nearly a billion dollars away from Pentagon high tech weapons programs to meet the immediate needs of our men and women in combat, targeting $800 million to rearming and re-equipping National Guard units.”

Abercrombie also cosponsored the New GI Bill of Rights for the 21st Century, a package of education benefits that for the first time ever made National Guardsmen and Reservists eligible for VA education benefits and access to TRICARE, the military’s healthcare program. The bill also included protection for the incomes of those who experienced pay cuts when they were called up.

The Truman citation said Abercrombie also supported yearly military pay raises, better retirement benefits, health care improvements and modern housing. 

He also helped save the National Guard Youth Challenge program that identifies at risk youth and provides them with values, skills, education and self-discipline necessary to succeed as adults.  “When its annual funding was cut in 1999, he put the money back in the Defense Authorization bill, and it remains viable today,” the citation said.

“Neil Abercrombie’s commitment to doing all he can for military personnel and their families—active duty, reserve and National Guard---is based in the belief that when the country ask much of people and they give much, the country owes them a debt of gratitude,” the citation concludes

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