[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 94 (Friday, June 9, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1222-E1223]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                   TRIBUTE TO GEN. GORDON R. SULLIVAN

                                 ______


                            HON. IKE SKELTON

                              of missouri

                    in the house of representatives

                          Friday, June 9, 1995
  Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, today I wish to congratulate Gen. Gordon R. 
Sullivan, Chief of Staff of the U.S. Army, who will retire on June 20, 
1995. General Sullivan's career spans 36 years in which he has given 
selfless and distinguished service as a soldier, leader, and visionary 
adviser to both the President and this Congress. Others have already 
entered a list of his accomplishments into the public record. 
[[Page E1223]] I want to briefly tell you about the essence of the man, 
his commitment to people, and leader development.
  Since June 1991, General Sullivan has served as the Chief of Staff of 
the Army directing the Army's transformation into a power projection 
force, ready to defend the national interest in any corner of the 
world, whenever the Nation called. Throughout this period of historic 
change, General Sullivan provided not only the vision and energy to 
make the necessary changes, but also the guiding principles to keep the 
Army firmly focused on its fundamental purpose--fight and win the 
Nation's wars. He has been the epitome of responsible leadership, 
accomplishing tasks consistent with our Nation's values.
  He is a leader who is absolutely committed to people. His personal 
relationship with America's Army--soldiers, civilians, families, 
corporate America--provide the context for his actions. He was 
particularly in touch with the soldier, creating a climate that allowed 
his subordinates to act and grow to meet the challenges of a rapidly 
changing world environment.
  Whenever and wherever soldiers deployed in support of the Nation's 
interests there would be Gen. Gordon R. Sullivan. He could be found at 
Army posts at home and abroad, in disaster relief operations in Florida 
and Hawaii, floods in the Midwest, fires in the Far West, and 
earthquakes in California, in humanitarian operations in Somalia, 
Rwanda, and Haiti, and greeting soldiers returning from overseas 
deployments.
  General Sullivan himself will credit these recent successes directly 
to the Army's two-decade investment in leader development. The future 
will require no less of a commitment. The future will challenge the 
leaders of America's Army. They will have to operate in ambiguous, 
uncertain, and complex environments. The hallmark of future Army 
leaders will be their ability to adapt to rapidly changing situations. 
Through personal example and unswerving commitment, General Sullivan 
has touched a generation of Army leaders, influencing them to embrace 
leader development as one of the Army's fundamental imperatives.
  General Sullivan's career has been the epitome of selfless service to 
our Nation and the quintessential example of all we could hope our 
military leaders to be. And through the decades of service and 
sacrifice he has been supported by a loving family. The Nation shares 
General Sullivan with his wife Gay, their children John, Mark, and 
Elizabeth, and a grandson Christopher. They, too, have served the 
Nation, supporting in countless ways the career of this dedicated 
soldier.
  Throughout its great history, this country has been blessed with men 
and women willing to serve and sacrifice their lives for the freedoms 
we enjoy. One such manifestation of this spirit comes from a letter 
written to General Grant by General Sherman in March 1864 when General 
Grant took command of the Union Armies. In his letter, Sherman wrote:

       Throughout the war you were always in my mind. I always 
     knew if I were in trouble, and you were still alive, that you 
     would come to my assistance.

  That, Mr. Speaker, is what Gordon Russell Sullivan represents, what 
he embodies--simple words, soldiers' words--courage and loyalty. 
Serving the Nation and the soldiers of America's Army.
  Gen. Gordon R. Sullivan--a consummate professional, a loyal servant 
of the Constitution, a leader of demonstrated moral and physical 
courage--on behalf of the Congress of the United States and the people 
we represent, I offer our heartfelt gratitude for your service.


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