[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 35 (Thursday, March 24, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: March 24, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
               TRIBUTE TO MAJ. GEN. THOMAS M. MONTGOMERY

                                 ______


                        HON. ANDREW JACOBS, JR.

                               of indiana

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 24, 1994

  Mr. JACOBS. Mr. Speaker, during World War II the name, General 
Montgomery was enormously famous and just a bit controversial.
  Now in this year of 1994, there is another General Montgomery, Maj. 
Gen. Thomas M. Montgomery of the U.S. Army. There is nothing 
controversial about this General Montgomery. He is an authentic 
American hero with a distinguished and long standing record of noble 
service to our Nation.
  On March 31st the United States ends its military involvement in 
Somalia. General Montgomery has been the Commanding Officer of all U.S. 
forces in Somalia, and now it's home for him.
  General Montgomery served longer than any other U.S. service member 
in Somila, and he is among the last 20,000 to leave that unhappy land.
  General Montgomery also served as Deputy Commander of the U.N. 
Operation in Somalia, an operation that involved 30,000 people from 29 
nations. He completed that assignment on February 7, 1994.
  Like all great commanders, General Montgomery has been rather modest 
about his own towering achievements, preferring to heap praise on the 
soldiers, sailors, air personnel and marines of the United States. 
These people endured enormous hardships, were exposed to danger and 
brought honor to our Defense Department. But so did Gen. Tom 
Montgomery, the first American general officer to don the blue beret of 
the United Nations.
  Not the least of the General's accomplishments is to have been born a 
Hoosier, a graduate of Arsenal Technical High School in Indianapolis, 
later earning a bachelor's degree in Slavic languages, including 
Russian, as well as in literature at Indiana University where he 
completed his Reserve officer's training and was commissioned a 
Lieutenant by the Army.
  Serving the Army as an armor officer, specializing in tanks, General 
Montgomery spent a total of 10 years on the Plains of Europe, earning 
his professional spurs while helping to protect West Germany's borders 
from the threat of the Communist force which, at the time, outnumbered 
his own 10 to 1.
  General Montgomery also served two separate 1 year tours with the 
11th Armored Black Horse Calvary Regiment in Vietnam.
  Later he served as the Deputy Commander of the 8th Infantry Division. 
And he has been an excellent instructor in the classrooms of 
outstanding military schools in the United States, including the famous 
War College.
  His awards are a litany of valor and devotion to duty. He has earned 
the Defense Distinguished Service Medal and two Legions of Merit. He 
has also and, I think, more significantly been awarded both the Silver 
and Bronze Stars with the V attachment symbolizing valor in Southeast 
Asia. The German Government awarded General Montgomery the Federal 
Republic of Germany's Honor Cross in Silver.
  Thus he was well suited to make history in Somalia. And he has done 
just that with discipline, skill and honor.
  As I have said many times and in many places, true patriotism, is not 
a shouting matter. It is an abiding thing, calm and steady on stormy 
seas as well as the safety of the harbor. And General Montgomery 
reflects that ideal. Not flashy, but calm, quiet and dignified. He is 
the personification of modest but awesome valor.
  The poet Homer wrote, ``In a just world, there would be no need for 
valor.'' But this is not a just world. And as long as it is not, pray 
God that America may always have the likes of Gen. Thomas M. 
Montgomery.

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