[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 98 (Thursday, June 15, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1265]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                   TRIBUTE TO GEN. GORDON R. SULLIVAN

                                 ______


                           HON. FLOYD SPENCE

                           of south carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, June 15, 1995
  Mr. SPENCE. Mr. Speaker, today, I wish to recognize 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, during which he has 
distinguished himself as a soldier, a leader, and a visionary advisor 
to both the President and the Congress. Let me briefly recount to you 
the career of this distinguished servant of our Nation.
  A native of Boston, MA, General Sullivan graduated from Norwich 
University in 1959 and was commissioned as a lieutenant in the Armor 
Branch of the U.S. Army. During his career, he has commanded at the 
platoon through the division levels. In Europe, he commanded the 4th 
Battalion, 73d Armored Division and the 1st Brigade, 3d Armored 
Division, followed by an assignment as the 3d Armored Division's Chief 
of Staff. He served as the 1st Infantry Division Operations Officer at 
Fort Riley, KS and as the VII Corps Operations Officer in Germany. 
Subsequently, he served as the assistance commandant of the Armor 
School at Fort Knox, KY; on the North Atlantic Treaty Organization 
[NATO] staff as the Deputy Chief of Staff for Support of the Central 
Army Group in Germany; and as the deputy commandant of the Command and 
General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, KS. He next served as the 
commanding general of the 1st Infantry Division at Fort Riley, KS.
  Since the summer of 1989, General Sullivan has served in positions of 
increasing responsibility with the Army at the Pentagon: first, as the 
Deputy Chief of Staff for Operation and Plans; then, as the Vice Chief 
of Staff; and since June of 1991, as the Chief of Staff. His arrival at 
the Pentagon coincided with a historic shift in the strategic position 
of the United States. This was a period of both great turmoil and great 
success--successes directly attributable to the dedicated efforts of 
General Sullivan. During this time, we won the cold war and began the 
process of decreasing the size of the Army by a third. We were 
threatened in the Gulf--and fought and won a war. We saw the emergence 
of new and diverse threats and new techologies--and the Army changed 
both intellectually and physically to meet the new challenges.
  Throughout this period of historic change, General Sullivan provided 
outstanding leadership. He oversaw the transformation of the Army from 
a cold war, forward deployed force, into a power projection force, 
ready to defend our national interests in any corner of the world. 
While meeting the challenges of today, General Sullivan prepared the 
Army for tomorrow, as well, with a farsighted and far-reaching vision 
of the conduct of future war. His determination to keep the Army 
trained and ready, his sense of responsibility to his soldiers and the 
Nation, and his understanding of both our history and the future of 
armed conflict, have given our great country an Army that is capable of 
achieving decisive victories into the 21st century.
  General Sullivan's career has been the epitome of selfless service to 
our Nation, and he is the quintessential example of all we could hope 
our military leaders to be. Through his decades of dedication to duty 
and the accompanying sacrifices, he has been supported by a loving 
family. General Sullivan's wife, Gay, their children, John, Mark, and 
Elizabeth, and a grandson Christopher have contributed, in countless 
ways, to the career of this dedicated soldier.
  Mr. Speaker, Gen. Gordon R. Sullivan is a consummate professional, a 
defender of the Constitution, and a leader of demonstrated moral and 
physical courage. It is with great respect and appreciation that I 
offer this tribute to his impressive career in the U.S. Army.


                          ____________________