[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 34 (Thursday, February 23, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E414-E415]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                  A TRIBUTE TO COMDR. ROY J. BALACONIS

                                 ______


                            HON. DAN BURTON

                               of indiana

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, February 23, 1995
  Mr. BURTON of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, I would like the House of 
Representatives to take a moment to commend one of the finest officers 
in the U.S. Navy. He is Comdr. Roy J. Balaconis, of the U.S.S. 
Mitscher, one of the Navy's newest and finest ships, an Aegis 
Destroyer.
  To become the Commander of an Aegis Destroyer, which is the Rolls 
Royce of the fleet, one must be a tremendous officer. Commander 
Balaconis certainly fits the bill. He served under the chairman of the 
Joint Chiefs of Staff during the gulf war, specifically because of his 
knowledge of the Navy's Tomahawk missile. He had the foresight to 
develop a thesis which utilized the Tomahawk missile in a scenario 
where it supported and sustained a surface and air confrontation in the 
Middle East during the time of crisis * * * and this was some 2 years 
before Operation Desert Storm/Shield. His thesis basically became the 
manual for Tomahawk use during the gulf war.
  Mr. Speaker, now Commander Balaconis has his own ship, and he is 
continuing to utilize his unique leadership skills. A member of my 
staff recently took a tour of his ship, and Commander Balaconis 
repeatedly stopped to talk to every member of his crew with whom they 
came into contact. Additionally, there were several members of his 
crew's families on board, and Commander Balaconis also stopped to speak 
with each of them, and the concern he showed was genuine. Commander 
Balaconis always referred to his crew and their families as part of the 
Mitscher family.
  Mr. Speaker, the men on his ship feel his enthusiasm and share in his 
desire to succeed. The high morale is evident in every 
 [[Page E415]] member of his crew, both officers and enlisted. Although 
being a Commander alone warrants respect, his men respect him for more 
than that. They respect him because of who he is.
  Mr. Speaker, Comdr. Roy Balaconis is a truly dynamic leader, and is 
definitely an asset to the U.S. Navy and our country. His 
accomplishments are certainly deserving of our recognition and praise.


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