[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 116 (Tuesday, July 18, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1458-E1459]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                     MARINE CORPS CHANGE OF COMMAND

                                 ______


                            HON. IKE SKELTON

                              of missouri

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, July 18, 1995
  Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, the change of command address when Gen. 
Carl Mundy relinquished command to Gen. Chuck Krulak was delivered by 
the Honorable John E. Dalton, Secretary of the Navy. Secretary Dalton 
states the contributions of General Mundy and the challenge for General 
Krulak in this speech. I commend it to the Members of this body:
                  The Marine Corps' Change of Command

       Secretary White, distinguished members of Congress, General 
     Shalikashvili and the members of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, 
     Marines, ladies and gentlemen.
       I am proud to serve as the Secretary of the United States 
     Marine Corps. And, I am deeply honored to participate in the 
     change of command of an institution that sets the standards 
     for military leadership around the world.
       Today is an important day in the lives of these two great 
     men, General Carl Mundy and General Chuck Krulak. But, they 
     would be the first to tell you that today belongs not to 
     them, but to the Corps.
       Their selfless attitude is seen clearly in Carl Mundy's 
     insistence that he not be recognized with any personal 
     decorations at this ceremony.
       However, I think you all should know that on behalf of the 
     Department, I have awarded the Navy Distinguished Service 
     Medal to General Mundy. Similarly the Secretary of Defense 
     and each one of our sister services have awarded him their 
     Distinguished Service Medal.
       General Mundy, you have served with honor, courage and 
     commitment in a manner befitting the Commandant of the Corps. 
     Our allies thank you, America thanks you and above all your 
     Marines thank you for a lifetime dedicated to the defense of 
     freedom.

[[Page E 1459]]

       Carl's many accomplishments and honors would not have been 
     possible without the love and support of his family; 
     especially his devoted wife, Linda. For nearly four decades 
     Linda has served as a Marine wife and mother. During the past 
     four years she has endeared herself to everyone she has 
     touched and has established a special place in history for 
     herself as the First Lady of the Marine Corps. It was an 
     honor for me to recognize her achievements with the 
     Department of the Navy's Distinguished Public Service Award.
       The past four years have been challenging ones for the Navy 
     and Marine Corps team. Amidst the drawdown in force 
     structure, shrinking defense budgets and expanding global 
     commitments, General Mundy has led the Corps to new levels of 
     excellence, efficiency and effectiveness. By encouraging 
     closer integration
      with the Navy, you have created a Marine Corps with enhanced 
     capabilities that is prepared for every eventuality.
       It is this spirit of closer integration between the Navy 
     and Marine Corps that will be a legacy of Carl Mundy to our 
     Naval Service. Such integration and interoperability ensure 
     that the Navy and Marine Corps team will be prepared for the 
     challenges and battlefields of the next millennium.
       General Mundy's inspiring leadership, bold courage, and 
     extraordinary vision have perpetuated a dynamic and 
     innovative Corps and have put in place the mechanism to 
     ensure that the Corps will continue to flourish.
       Today is another step in the continuing evolution of the 
     Corps--one of America's true national treasures. Today we 
     witness the change of command, the passing of responsibility 
     and acceptance of accountability for the United States Marine 
     Corps.
       General Krulak, you now take up the standard for the most 
     elite fighting force in the world. May you command our Corps 
     with strength, vision and the same commitment to core values 
     that marked the leadership of the Commandants who precede 
     you. The Corps will be blessed with the unfailing support of 
     your delightful wife Zandi. On Tuesday of this week the 31st 
     Commandant and his lady celebrated their 31st wedding 
     anniversary.
       Today is important not only for Marines, but also for every 
     American, and especially those who have worn a military 
     uniform. It is a special day for us to remember the Corps' 
     heroic past and to celebrate its bright future.
       The fundamental military values of honor, courage and 
     commitment are as much a part of the Marine Corps today as 
     they were at its birth in 1775. Marines today understand that 
     these values represent an ideal . . . an ideal worth fighting 
     for.
       Fighting for ideals is what the Corps is all about. And, 
     the strength of today's Corps rests on a foundation of 
     extraordinary heroism rising up from the bedrock of America's 
     military history.
       It is on that foundation of past heroism that the future of 
     the Corps will be built. It will be a future filled with 
     innovation, flexibility, resourcefulness and above all 
     spirit. It is a spirit which comes from being the best. 
     Marines know that when American interests are threatened or 
     our friends need help . . . America calls the Corps.
       Throughout the past four years, Marines have been called 
     very often and, as throughout their history, they have 
     responded with the utmost professionalism. Whether it was 
     Haiti, Somalia, Bosnia or the Arabian Gulf, the Marines were 
     always ready to get the job done * * * and to get it done 
     right.
       Whether as warfighters, peacekeepers, or rescuers; the 
     Marines have proven time and time again that America can 
     count on the Corps when there is a threat to our national 
     security.
       The Marine Corps of today is just the adaptable, flexible, 
     and resourceful force America needs. In this unsettled and 
     often confusing post Cold War world, the military mission is 
     no longer as clearly defined. For this reason our military 
     forces must adapt in order to succeed.
       Adapting is what Marines do best. The Marines have been 
     fighting America's wars for two centuries and continue to be 
     the force of choice for either keeping the peace; or storming 
     the beach.
       In the past, Marines have done more beach storming than 
     peacekeeping, but in the future it is clear that both 
     missions will need to be performed. In my mind there is no 
     force in the world more capable of handling the complicated 
     military missions of the future than the United States Marine 
     Corps.
       The Corps has had many great Commandants, but none who has 
     led through such a tumultuous period of internal change. 
     Today the Corps has never been better trained, better led, or 
     more ready. Only in this state would Carl Mundy even consider 
     relinquishing command of the Corps.
       That is your legacy, ``a RELEVANT, READY and CAPABLE Corps 
     of Marines'' who embody the traditions of the past and who 
     are ready to meet the challenges of the future. RELEVANT to 
     meet the defense needs of the Nation tomorrow; READY to 
     respond instantly as America's 911 Force to prevent and 
     contain crises or fight today; and CAPABLE of meeting the 
     requirements of our National Military Strategy.
       Carl, your days in uniform may soon be over, but your 
     service to the Corps will remain timeless. Your total 
     devotion to the Corps has nurtured America's undying love for 
     Marines. Your determined efforts have ensured that Marines 
     will always be the first to fight in America's defense.
       Yesterday afternoon, in the oval office, our Commander in 
     Chief promoted Chuck Krulak to General. In that ceremony 
     President Clinton pointed to Carl Mundy and said 
     emphatically, ``Of all the General Officers I have worked 
     with, you were the one I knew was always telling me exactly 
     what you believed. I want you to know how much I appreciate 
     that.'' The President of the United States could not have 
     offered higher praise.
       For fifty years Iwo Jima has been a special place for the 
     Marine Corps, and it was there atop Mount Suribachi that I 
     had the privilege to announce the President's nomination for 
     our 31st Commandant.
       So as we consider the significance of this ceremony, a 
     change of command of the Corps that these two Marines have 
     devoted their lives to, I think it appropriate to recall the 
     words of Chaplain Roland Gittelsohn when he dedicated the 
     Fifth Marine Division Cemetery on Iwo Jima fifty years ago. 
     This February, Rabbi Gittelsohn recalled his words at the 
     ceremony commemorating that battle at the Iwo Jima War 
     Memorial beside Arlington National Cemetery. He said:
       ``Here lie officers and men of all colors, rich men and 
     poor men together. Here are Protestants, Catholics and Jews 
     together. Here no man prefers another because of his faith or 
     despises him because of his color. Here there are no quotas 
     of how many from each group are admitted or allowed. Among 
     these men there is no discrimination. No prejudice. No 
     hatred. Theirs is the highest and purest democracy.
       ``Any man among us, the living, who failed to understand 
     that, will thereby betray those who lie here . . . whoever 
     lifts his hand in hate against a brother, or thinks himself 
     superior to those who happen to be in a minority, makes of . 
     . . their sacrifice an empty, hollow mockery.
       ``Thus do we consecrate ourselves, the living, to carry on 
     the struggle they began. Too much blood has gone into this 
     soil for us to let it lie barren.''
       Those words spoken in honor of fallen Marines and Sailors 
     hold a living truth. The truth is that we, the living must 
     carry on their struggle for liberty and freedom everyday, and 
     in everything we do.
       God bless you, and God bless the United States Marine 
     Corps. Semper Fidelis.
     

                          ____________________