ST. CROIX — The U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill sponsored by Delegate to Congress Stacey Plaskett on the floor Monday to name the U.S. Post Office in Christiansted after retired U.S. Army Lieutenant General Samuel Ebbesen, a Virgin Islander who had a distinguished career in the military, business, community, and public service, Plaskett announced.
“I continue to be humbled by the efforts of Representative Stacey Plaskett and her office to honor my service,” Ebbesen said in a statement. “Being present to bear witness to us being one step closer to the designation of the Market Square, Christiansted Post Office to my name is truly an honor.”
Plaskett introduced the legislation (H.R. 5034) in the 118th Congress to designate the post office located at 2119 Market Square in Christiansted as the “Lieutenant General Samuel E. Ebbesen Post Office.”
“I am pleased to recognize Lieutenant General Ebbesen’s many accomplishments during his lifetime,” Plaskett said about the retired three-star general in a statement. “The naming of the Market Square Post Office on St. Croix as the Lieutenant General Samuel E. Ebbesen Post Office will enshrine his legacy as well as serve as an example of the thousands of Virgin Islanders who answer the call to duty in our armed forces. The designation of this federal building to recognize Lieutenant General Ebbesen’s service is important.”
During his military career, Ebbesen was stationed throughout the United States. He served during the Vietnam War in 1966 as a military adviser. He was promoted to the rank of colonel in September 1982. Ebbesen was the commander of the 1st Brigade, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) at Fort Campbell, Kentucky from 1983 to 1985. He served as chief of staff for I Corps at Fort Lewis near Tacoma, Washington from 1986 to 1988. He was promoted to the rank of brigadier general on January 1, 1988.
Ebbesen was promoted to the rank of lieutenant general in March 1993. One year later, in 1994, he received his last military assignment when he became the deputy assistant secretary of defense for Military Personnel Policy and was stationed at the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. His task was to help plan and organize deployments of military personnel worldwide.
Ebbesen retired from military service in January 1997 at the rank of lieutenant general after serving in the U.S. Army for over 35 years. He was highly decorated for his service, receiving the Legion of Merit and the Bronze Star Medal among other commendations for his years of service.
Plaskett’s legislation honoring Ebbesen will now be sent to the Senate floor for a vote. If passed in the Senate, it will be sent to President Joe Biden to be signed into law.
