The publication is reproduced in full below:
HONORING THE LIFE OF MAJOR GENERAL DAN HELIX
______
HON. MARK DeSAULNIER
of california
in the house of representatives
Monday, April 5, 2021
Mr. DeSAULNIER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the life of Major General Dan Helix.
Dan grew up in West Berkeley, California and in 1948 he began his 41-
year career with the United States Army and Army Reserve. He enlisted as a private, but was soon commissioned as an Infantry second lieutenant in 1951. Dan continued to rise through the ranks, serving as a platoon leader and company commander of a rifle company with the 45th Infantry Division during the Korean War. Following the end of the war, Dan worked for Army Intelligence in Japan where he met his future wife, Mary Lou. The couple dated for a few short months before getting married in 1953.
Dan and Mary Lou moved to Concord, California in 1955. Dan attended the University of California, Berkeley where he earned a bachelor's degree in History. He later went on to obtain a master's degree in political science from San Francisco State University. It was while teaching high school government that Dan decided to enter local politics. He was first elected to the Concord City Council in 1968, serving for eight years before eventually going on to serve as a director of the Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) District. During Dan's time with the BART District, he worked to provide discounts for senior riders and supported the promotion of a woman to the then all-male board of directors. He returned to the Concord City Council in 2010 as an appointee and was elected to one final term in 2012. During both of his tenures on the City Council, Dan served terms as mayor.
In 1989, Dan retired from the U.S. Army as a Major General. As a Korean War Veteran, Dan earned the Army Distinguished Service Medal, Silver Star, Legion of Merit, Bronze Star with ``V'' Device, and Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster among other commendations during a distinguished career spent both in active duty and with the Army Reserve. He is also a member of the U.S. Army's Infantry Hall of Fame.
As a leader in Concord, Dan was a former president of both the Concord Rotary Club and the former Mt. Diablo Hospital Foundation, Concord campus, as well as a member of a U.S. Congressional commission that evaluated potential changes to the Department of the Army. He also advocated for the preservation of the Lime Ridge Open Space, helped establish the Family Justice Center, and was instrumental in the building of the Senior Center.
Sadly, Dan passed away in March at the age of 91. He was a cherished resident of Concord who dedicated his life to helping others. Please join me in honoring Major General Dan Helix for his many contributions to our country and our community.
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SOURCE: Congressional Record Vol. 167, No. 60
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