[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 93 (Friday, May 27, 2022)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E564]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





          RECOGNIZING THE SERVICE OF LTC (RETIRED) MICHAEL YAP

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. GERALD E. CONNOLLY

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                          Friday, May 27, 2022

  Mr. CONNOLLY. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the service of 
retired Lieutenant Colonel Michael W.L. Yap as he retires from my 
District's Service Academy Advisory Board (SAAB) after 14 years of 
steadfast service, assisting in the nomination process. I want to thank 
him for his lifelong dedication to his country and the cultivation of 
the next generation of leaders.
  Michael Yap was born in Honolulu, Hawaii during the Second World War 
and grew up involved in and admired by his community. From tennis team 
captain to valedictorian, he was a leader and a role model in 
everything he put his mind to, and he continued that excellence in his 
time at West Point. Michael was nominated by the late Senator Hiram 
Fong and became the only Chinese-American student in his class. He 
remained an active athlete, playing in the Corps Squad for both tennis 
and squash.
  After graduating from West Point, Michael was commissioned into the 
Field Artillery. He served one tour in Vietnam and returned to the 
United States to teach nuclear target analysis. Michael went on to 
attend Command and General Staff College in Leavenworth, Kansas and 
continued to serve as an atomic energy expert. He then obtained two 
Masters of Science from the University of Illinois, one in Physics and 
one in Nuclear Engineering.
  Michael Yap has remained an active member of the West Point 
community. First on the Association of Graduates Advisory Council, and 
now he currently chairs a task force to make alumni events more 
accessible. Since 1987, he has coordinated all class events in 
Virginia, Maryland, and the District of Columbia in his role as Class 
Vice President for the Capital Region. Michael facilitates quarterly 
brunches, an annual dinner, and a ceremony at the Vietnam Memorial 
every five years.
  His influence has produced a number of significant initiatives for 
West Point. Michael introduced the Class of 2017 Affiliation Class and 
helped coordinate the Surviving Family Member program. His strong ties 
to the Academy have been a vital contribution to my office's annual 
nomination process these last 14 years. We have relied on Michael's 
thorough understanding of the rigor and community that make West Point 
unique in order to elevate candidates who will do us proud.
  Madam Speaker, I ask that my colleagues join me in commending the 
extraordinary service of retired Lieutenant Colonel Michael Yap as he 
retires from our Service Academy Advisory Board. His contributions have 
been paramount in ensuring the next generation of military leaders from 
Virginia's 11th District is a cut above the rest. And while we wish 
them well, they will have big shoes to fill in matching Michael Yap's 
legacy.