[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 132 (Tuesday, September 20, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: September 20, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                  TRIBUTE TO MAJ. GEN. ROBERT MOORHEAD

                                 ______


                        HON. ANDREW JACOBS, JR.

                               of indiana

                    in the house of representatives

                      Tuesday, September 20, 1994

  Mr. JACOBS. Mr. Speaker, I insert in the Record the following 
articles from the Harrison Post, August 25, 1994 edition. The Harrison 
Post is the Fort Benjamin Harrison newspaper.
  One could say that the articles are self-explanatory. But in another 
sense, explaining Maj. Gen. Robert Moorhead is nearly impossible. Who 
can explain a person so public spirited, so devoted to duty, so self-
sacrificial, and so kind as this great and good man? He is truly one of 
God's noblemen.
  And like other people of enormous talent and accomplishment, Bob 
Moorhead is modest and soft spoken. It is said that big things come in 
small packages. Bob Moorhead is no small package. His physique would 
have to be large in order to contain that big heart. So it is better to 
say that this blazing and kindly talent comes in a quiet and respectful 
package.
  When I think of General Moorhead, I think of none less than George 
Washington and George Marshall, both soldier-statesmen. There is a 
saying in our Hoosier State, ``Ain't God good to Indiana.'' God was 
good to Indiana and the United States of America when we were given 
this wonderful man and his wise and good wife, Maggie.

                     [Harrison Post, Aug. 25, 1994]

                 Post Honors Maj. Gen. Robert Moorhead

       In a special ceremony on the Lawton Loop parade field at 9 
     a.m. Friday, the Fort Benjamin Harrison community will honor 
     retired National Guard Maj. Gen. Robert Moorhead, a citizen 
     soldier, community leader and soldiers' advocate. Throughout 
     his 55-year association with Fort Harrison, Moorhead has been 
     a staunch supporter of the community and its soldiers. He is 
     also a respected businessman, veterans advocate, and 
     community leader in Indianapolis.
       For more on this extraordinary individual, his 
     accomplishments and his philosophy see related stories pages 
     7 through 10.
                                  ____


                [From the Harrison Post, Aug. 25, 1994]

                    Friday's Honoree Shares Thoughts

       Bob Moorhead speaks:
       Last week, the retired National Guard major general, 
     successful businessman, and long-time supporter of Fort 
     Benjamin Harrison, Robert Moorhead took a few moments to talk 
     to The Harrison Post about his life and philosophy.
       HP: You have a long association with Fort Benjamin 
     Harrison. How far back does that go?
       Moorhead: They used to have a program called the Citizens 
     Military Training Camp (at Fort Harrison). It was 30 days of 
     training. All they paid was your room and board and your 
     transportation to and from the post. In 1939 I graduated high 
     school and applied for CMTC.
       If you attended CMTC for four years and took some 
     correspondence courses, at the end of four years you'd be 
     eligible for a lieutenant's commission. Soldiers from the 
     11th Infantry served as cadre. The (officers) came from a 
     reserve officer regiment (Army Reserve organizations that 
     were organized as regiments, but had no enlisted personnel 
     assigned). The training included close order drill, field 
     sanitation, basic map reading and basic rifle marksmanship.
       HP: What was Fort Harrison like back then?
       Moorhead: It wasn't that crowded a post back then. You 
     didn't have nearly the number of people you do now.
       A lot of the houses on Lawton Loop had first lieutenants 
     and captains living in them. There were only one or two 
     colonels on the installation at that time and no generals.
       The current post headquarters was a hospital and the 
     Harrison House was nurses quarters.
       The most interesting thing is that where Building 1 is now 
     was an airfield. There was a big old metal hanger there that 
     looked like an oversized Quonset hut . . . and they had a lot 
     of biplanes flying out of there.
       HP: With your long association with the fort, how did you 
     respond to the announcement that the fort was going to be 
     closed?
       Moorhead: I was very disappointed. I was chairing a 
     committee (for the Indianapolis Chamber of Commerce) that was 
     trying to keep it open * * * As long as it was the home of 
     the Army dollar, there was no question about the fort staying 
     open. But when the finance center became a DoD (Department of 
     Defense) activity, we knew we were swimming upstream (as far 
     as saving the fort was concerned).
       HP: How will you feel when Fort Benjamin Harris is closed:
       Moorhead: I'll have a great sense of loss. I've been there 
     many times on training exercises * * * range firing * * * the 
     Indiana National Guard even had its military academy there 
     for a number of years.
       HP: As you think back on your service to Indianapolis and 
     Fort Benjamin Harrison, what do you think your proudest 
     accomplishments are?
       Moorhead: I'm very pleased at having been able to serve in 
     the military up through the position of commanding general of 
     the 38th Infantry Division for a five year period. I also had 
     a successful business career concurrently with my Guard 
     career for 40 years. I guess the third thing is that I had an 
     opportunity to work in community service and, in effect, 
     return things to the community.
       But my proudest accomplishment in the military was when I 
     was elected to be the CEO (chief executive officer) for the 
     national headquarters of AUSA (the Association of the United 
     States Army). It gave me the opportunity to represent all the 
     components of the Army. That really got me to see the Army as 
     a total force worldwide. For a guy from the country, it was 
     kind of interesting to get a job like that.
       HP: What does Moorhead Day at the fort mean to you?
       Moorhead: First of all, it was a very well kept secret 
     until recently. (When Maj. Gen. Brooks told me about it) I 
     was surprised and overawed * * * that somebody would want to 
     do something like that (for me). I don't feel I've done 
     anything anybody else wouldn't have done had they had the 
     opportunity. I'm really pleased and proud, but any number of 
     other people should have had the same recognition. I feel 
     like I'm representing that whole category of people.
       HP: What do you think you'll be thinking when you review 
     the troops one last time at the fort?
       Moorhead: I'll probably think, ``Gosh, 55 years ago I stood 
     out there where they are.'' Secondly I'll think how good the 
     soldiers in today's Army look, how professional they are, 
     what a great institution the Army is, and what a great 
     institution Fort Harrison is.
       HP: What would you like to say to those troops as they're 
     standing out there?
       Moorhead: First I'd like to thank them for their service on 
     behalf of their country. Secondly, I'd like to thank them for 
     allowing me to be a part of the ceremony. I'd also like to 
     congratulate them on their professionalism and dedication.
       HP: Many have noted the special affinity you have, not just 
     for the senior officers you routinely associate with, but for 
     the average soldier. Where do you think you developed that?
       Moorhead: When I commanded all those units in the Guard for 
     all those years, I learned that you had to recognize the 
     contribution of the individual. You have to take care of the 
     troops first. That's my philosophy. The general's there, but 
     he's only there because he has good troops.
       HP: Is there anything you'd like to tell the Fort Benjamin 
     Harrison Community as a whole?
       Moorhead: I'd like to thank you for being a pillar of 
     support to our total community. The institution has been a 
     good corporate citizen and the individual members of the 
     community have been great private citizens.
                                  ____


                [From the Harrison Post, Aug. 25, 1994]

            Scrapbook of a Citizen Soldier, Community Leader

           (By Maj. C.S. Barnthouse, Public Affairs Officer)

       Maj. Gen. Robert Moorhead began his extraordinary life in 
     Orleans, Ind. September 4, 1921.
       ``I was raised by my grandparents out in the country (on a 
     farm) about three miles west of Orleans,'' Moorhead said, 
     explaining that his parents, who both worked in Indianapolis, 
     felt small town Orleans was a better place to grow up.
       ``Orleans was a nice little farmer's community,'' Moorhead 
     remembered. ``the big business there was the feedmill, the 
     grain elevator, and the creamery.''
       In his youth, Moorhead learned to hunt and fish in the 
     hills around Orleans and was a substitute on his high school 
     basketball team.
       At the age of 18, Moorhead left Orleans, influenced 
     somewhat by his father, who had served in the Indiana 
     National Guard starting with the Spanish-American war, to 
     participate in the Citizens Military Training Camp at Fort 
     Benjamin Harrison.
       ``At the end of four years, if you attended annual 30-day 
     summer training sessions and took a correspondence-type 
     course, you were eligible for a commission,'' Moorhead 
     explained.
       Before Moorhead could complete the full program, however, 
     World War II intervened. In 1942, upon his graduation from 
     Indiana University with an associate's degree, he was placed 
     in the enlisted reserve. In January, 1943, he was sent to 
     Fort Benning, Ga. to attend Infantry Officers Candidate 
     School.
       ``I didn't know any better,'' he said with a laugh of his 
     decision to join the infantry. ``But I'm glad I did.''
       Commissioned a second lieutenant later that year, Moorhead 
     trained with the newly-formed 69th Infantry Division, but in 
     June, 1944, he was sent to Europe as a replacement officer. 
     In October he was assigned to the 115th Infantry, which had 
     been decimated at Omaha Beach on D-Day and in subsequent 
     fighting in France.
       ``I was among the third set of officers,'' Moorhead 
     remembered.
       He served with them throughout the remainder of the war and 
     during the occupation of Germany. When his unit returned to 
     the United States at the close of 1945, however, Moorhead 
     stayed behind to be the administrative officer of a military 
     government detachment.
       Promoted to captain in May, 1946, he returned to the United 
     States the following October and was released from active 
     duty New Year's Eve.
       Moorhead wasn't finished with the military, though. He 
     joined the Indiana Army National Guard in 1948, serving in a 
     variety of positions in the 151st Infantry Regiment and 38th 
     Infantry Division, eventually rising to the rank of major 
     general and commanding the division from 1971 to 1976.
       After giving up command of the division, Moorhead returned 
     to Fort Harrison where he maintained an office while serving 
     as deputy commander, U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command.
       Maj. Gen Moorhead, wife Maggie at his side, retired from 
     the National Guard in June, 1978 during ceremonies on Lawton 
     Loop.
       While proud of his many accomplishments in the military 
     Moorhead said the high point in his career was being elected 
     president of the Association of the United States Army.
       ``It gave me the opportunity to represent all the 
     components of the Army.'' he said. ``That really got me to 
     see the Army as a total force worldwide.''
       The citizen side of this citizen soldier is no less 
     impressive than his military service.
       Moorhead is known throughout the region for his volunteer 
     work. He is a respected leader in Kiwanis, Boy Scouts, the 
     American Cancer Society, and the Salvation Army, to name only 
     a few.
       To the soldiers of Fort Harrison, however, he is best known 
     for his support for servicemen and women and veterans.
       As past president, 500 Festival Associates, and chairman of 
     the Indianapolis Armed Force Day Committee he has been 
     instrumental in bringing to public light the capabilities and 
     commitment of our armed forces.
       As past chairman of the board, Indianapolis Veterans Day 
     council, he has ensured that Hoosier veterans have gotten the 
     recognition they deserve.
       Friday, in a special ceremony on Lawton Loop, Fort Benjamin 
     Harrison will pause to honor this very special soldier, 
     citizen and friend.
                                  ____


                [From the Harrison Post, Aug. 25, 1994]

  Maj. Gen. Robert Moorhead: Friend of the Post, Supporter of Soldiers

             (By Maj. Gen. Ronald E. Brooks Post Commander)

       Tomorrow all of Fort Harrison will gather on the Lawton 
     Loop parade field to honor a great American and a super 
     supporter of the fort: Maj. (ret.) Bob Moorhead.
       A lot of the younger soldiers here are probably wondering 
     who this Maj. Gen. Moorhead is and why he rates a parade.
       Well, it's because, whether they know it or not, Maj. Gen. 
     Bob Moorhead is about the best friend those young soldiers 
     and this fort have ever had. Sometimes the soldiers think 
     good things just happen, but usually there's a caring leader 
     with influence in the community that accomplishes those 
     things that the military leaders can't: things like free and 
     reduced tickets to athletic and other events. Around here 
     that caring leader is Bob Moorhead.
       Bob's always on the side of the soldier, always on the side 
     of the veteran, always on the side of the retiree, and 
     particularly, always on the side of Fort Benjamin Harrison 
     and Indianapolis.
       Through his work with Kiwanis, the Indianapolis Chamber of 
     Commerce, the 500 Festival Committee, the Salvation Army, Boy 
     Scouts and any number of other public service organizations, 
     I think he's touched the life of just about everyone in this 
     area in some way. But he has a special affinity for soldiers 
     and veterans and Fort Harrison.
       I've seen Bob go to bat for our soldiers any number of 
     times. Maj. Gen. Moorhead thinks of every soldier like 
     they're his own kids. And he'll do about anything for them.
       We once had a young man working at the post headquarters 
     who was a pretty good soldier, but had so many personal 
     problems he had to get out of the Army. When he came back and 
     told me he was going to work for General Moorhead, I told 
     him, out of loyalty, I'd have to tell Maj. Gen. Moorhead 
     about his problems. When I did, Bob said, ``I know all about 
     it, but I want to give the young man a chance to start 
     over.''
       That soldier went on to be an outstanding employee for Maj. 
     Gen. Moorhead.
       Probably the most hurt I've seen Bob is when the Department 
     of Defense announced the planned closure of Fort Benjamin 
     Harrison. There had been rumors afloat for quite some time 
     that Fort Harrison would be on the base closure list, but 
     Maj. Gen. Moorhead kept hoping some way would be found to 
     save it.
       When his hopes were dashed by the announcement that Fort 
     Harrison would indeed be closed, Bob could have just 
     abandoned us, but he didn't. That's not his style. Bob's 
     personality is such that he never dwells on the negative.
       Instead of going off someplace to sulk, like a lot of folks 
     did, Maj. Gen. Moorhead immediately threw all his energies 
     into ensuring that the soldiers then returning to Indiana 
     from Desert Storm got a proper welcome.
       As a result, the Indianapolis 500 Festival of 1991 turned 
     into a huge outpouring of patriotism and praise for the armed 
     forces and the individual servicemember that I don't think 
     this town has seen since the end of World War II.
       I know Bob will miss Fort Harrison when it's gone. It's 
     been like a family member to him. I don't think he'll quite 
     know what to do without all of us to watch over. But we may 
     thank God that we've never had to figure out what to do 
     without him.
       Tomorrow, when Fort Harrison's finest parade in front of 
     him, I know Bob will be thinking that he doesn't deserve all 
     this. But this time he's wrong. This is the very least we can 
     do for someone who has poured his life into our community.
       I could say I wish we could do more, but knowing Bob as I 
     do, I don't think there is anything he would rather have than 
     a few moments among fellow soldiers on the fort that he 
     loves.
                                  ____


                [From the Harrison Post, Aug. 25, 1994]

        Post Voices: What Is Most Memorable About Bob Moorhead?

       His behind-the-scenes efforts to save Building 1 and the 
     DFAS workforce are the most memorable to me. No single person 
     was more of a force in fighting for a DoD presence in 
     Indianapolis. He's the best supporter the military community 
     has ever known.
                                                  Gregory P. Bitz,
                                                    DFAS director.
       I have never met anyone who comes closer to the true 
     meaning of ``leader'' than Maj. Gen. ``Bob'' Moorhead. I have 
     known him for 14 years and witnessed countless situations 
     where he makes people better than they think they are.
       Look up leader in the dictionary; his picture ought to be 
     there.
                                               J. Stewart Goodwin,
                                             Post Safety Director.
       Bob Moorhead is a special person. He's my friend and 
     mentor. He takes care of people--both military and civilian. 
     The world would be a better place if everyone followed his 
     lead.
                                                    Karyn Kennedy,
                                                 Protocol Officer.
       When I was selected for command of Troop Brigade, before 
     Maj. Gen. Brooks was mentioned, I was told how closely I'd be 
     working with Maj. Gen. Moorhead. and it was true. Without his 
     advice and assistance, I would not have enjoyed the success 
     I've had in this assignment.
                                             Col. Hayward Roberts,
     Troop Brigade Commander.

                          ____________________