[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 73 (Wednesday, May 22, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E876-E877]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     IN MEMORY OF ADM. J.M. BOORDA

                                 ______


                            HON. IKE SKELTON

                              of missouri

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, May 22, 1996

  Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, Tuesday, May 21, 1996, a memorial service 
was held for the late Adm. J.M. Boorda at the Washington National 
Cathedral. Admiral ``Mike'' Boorda was not only a ``sailors' sailor,'' 
but an able leader and a friend to so many in all walks of life, 
including those in uniform, political leaders, and the civilian 
community. Words are inadequate to express the sense of loss so many of 
us feel. However, these memorial addresses by Secretary of the Navy, 
John H. Dalton, and Master Chief PO, John Hagan, were most appropriate 
and fitting as tributes to this truly outstanding American, Adm. Mike 
Boorda. He will truly be missed.

            Remarks of Secretary of the Navy, John H. Dalton

       I met Mike Boorda in December of '93 on my first visit as 
     Secretary to the Mediterranean and Adriatic. He was Commander 
     in Chief of U.S. Naval Forces in Europe, and Commander of 
     Allied Forces Southern Europe.
       We visited a number of ships together going by helicopter 
     spending a couple of hours on each one. We arrived on the USS 
     Monterey, a guided missile cruiser, late in the day to remain 
     over night. As we toured the ship and we got to the bridge, 
     he told the commanding officer he would like to do a man 
     overboard drill. Naturally, the skipper said okay. Admiral 
     Boorda yelled, ``I've got the conn''. So, he became the 
     conning officer and he also relieved the helmsman. they 
     tossed the life ring overboard on the starboard side and the 
     drill was underway. ``All head full'' he barked, and he 
     turned the helm to right full. He was back and forth between 
     the helm and the flying bridge barking orders to the Sailor 
     manning the engine order telegraph. Within just a couple of 
     minutes, the life ring was right along the starboard side, 
     close enough to reach out and pick it up. He said, ``Okay, 
     Mr. Secretary, you're next.'' I laughed and said, ``No thank 
     you; I've just seen the master at work.'' What a great ship 
     handler he was; just one of the reasons he was so admired by 
     Sailors.
       Walking around those ships with Mike Boorda was such a 
     great experience. Sailors loved him. He understood them--all 
     of them. Mess cooks, lookouts, from the newly enlisted to the 
     most senior, whether they were chipping paint or swabbing 
     decks . . . he made every one of them feel important, and 
     that what they were doing was a major contribution to that 
     ship's mission and making our navy great and contributing to 
     peace in the world.
       Recently, I was interviewing a newly selected admiral for a 
     particular job, and I asked him which flag officer he admired 
     the most. Without hesitation, he said, ``Admiral Mike 
     Boorda''. I said, ``Why?'' He said, ``I worked for him when 
     he was battle group commander, and he always made people feel 
     so good about themselves. He told us that whenever we were 
     asked to do something, we needed to try hard to find a way to 
     say yes.'' That was Mike Boorda.
       I've seen Mike in lots of different settings. I've seen 
     him counsel young petty officers. I've sat with him in the 
     chiefs' mess--or goat locker--discussing issues with chief 
     petty officers. I've been with him in the wardroom with 
     commissioned officers. I've seen him debate tough issues 
     with other members of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and senior 
     Pentagon officials. I've testified with him in front of 
     Congress. I've seen him hosting foreign dignitaries from 
     around the world. I met with him almost daily in my 
     office, his office or some conference room in the 
     Pentagon. I've watched him brief the Secretary of Defense 
     and offer advice to the President of the United States.
       In whatever situation I observed Mike, he was always the 
     same person: Well prepared, down to earth, competent, 
     charming, witty, clever, understanding, warm, yet tough.
       I've also seen the President take his advice. I remember 
     one particular occasion. We were in Hawaii for the 
     commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the end of WWII, and 
     the President, CNO, and I were on the CINCPAC barge going 
     across Pearl Habor to the Arizona Memorial when the President 
     turned to him and said, ``Mike, what do you think we should 
     do in Bosnia now?'' Mike told the President, and within just 
     a few weeks we were in fact carrying out his recommendations 
     which ended up in having all the parties meet in Dayton for 
     peace talks . . . and giving us a real chance for peace in 
     Bosnia.
       John Walter Wayland describes the true gentleman as ``the 
     man whose conduct proceeds from good-will and an acute sense 
     of propriety, who does not make the poor man conscious of his 
     poverty, the obscure man of his obscurity, or any man of his 
     inferiority or deformity; who is himself humbled if necessity 
     compels him to humble another; who does not flatter wealth, 
     cringe before power, or boast of his own possessions 
     or achievements; and who speaks with frankness, but always 
     with sincerity and sympathy, and whose deed follows his 
     word; who thinks of the rights and feelings of others 
     rather than of his own; who appears well in any company, 
     and who is at home when he seems to be abroad--a man with 
     whom honor is sacred and virtue safe.''
       That is Mike Boorda.
       He was the Sailor's Sailor. There is no greater tribute 
     that could be paid to him. For him to be remembered by that 
     title is the most he could ever hope for.
       Mike loved his family. His late father--who he either 
     called or wrote every week for 40 years--his mother, brother 
     and sister. His precious wife, Bettie, his four children and 
     oh those grandchildren. So often, I remember his coming in 
     and saying, ``Mr. Secretary, let me show you these new 
     pictures I just got.'' They were always of one of his 
     grandchildren.
       Many times from this lectern have the words of the Prophet 
     Micah been read: ``O, man, what does the Lord require of you, 
     but to do justice, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with 
     your God.'' He tried to do just that.
       Mike Boorda was a patriot, a leader, a war-fighter and a 
     peace maker... a planner, a superb tactician and brilliant 
     strategist, a warm, caring sailor who loved those men and 
     women wearing that Navy uniform. That's the Mike Boorda I 
     will always remember. A man with a heart of gold and hands 
     wrapped firmly round the true meaning of our effort to make 
     the world a better, safer place. I am lucky to have known 
     him, and I am thankful for his friendship and support. We 
     have lost someone truly special. God bless his life, his 
     wonderful family and his Navy that he loved so dearly.
                                  ____


                    Remarks by ETCM (SW) John Hagan

       President and Mrs. Clinton, Mrs. Boorda and the family, and 
     to all of you who love the Navy so much, before I lead our 
     responsive reading, allow me to speak from my heart.
       I feel as if this is my last ``All Hands'' call with 
     Admiral Boorda, and he has thrown me the mike one last time.
       We are here to honor, to remember, to support one another 
     in mourning, but even in the majesty and splendor of this 
     shrine--in the midst of this illustrious assembly, we could 
     not properly honor or remember if we were not joined by 
     Sailors all around the globe-- on flight decks and hangar 
     bays, fantails and focsles, on piers and of course, in every 
     Navy chapel.
       Today, and throughout the week, against backdrops as many 
     and varied as the signal flags on a full dress ship, with 
     many voices, tears, and prayers we will together render the 
     proper honors to our beloved CNO, Admiral Mike Boorda.
       He was the leader we longed for and looked to; he came from 
     among us and rose so high, always remembering the lonely, 
     insecure, frightened recruit, which all of us are in the 
     beginning, before we discover, as Admiral Boorda did, that 
     the Navy is a family. Our family has lost a man of true 
     worth.
       The poet wrote:

     ``True worth is in being not seeming,
     In doing, each day that goes by,
     Some little good--not in dreaming
     Of great things to do by and by.

       Our CNO went the poet many times better.
       He did, each day, not a little, but MUCH good.
       And he worked each day on great things which became 
     realities quicker than any one could believe possible--and 
     all the while he envisioned even greater things to do by and

[[Page E877]]

     by and he shared them with Sailors. We will long remember 
     Admiral Boorda for many great achievements. But I pray today 
     we also remember the details.
       He didn't just shake a Sailor's hand, he gripped and held 
     it, and drew energy from the encounter even as he left the 
     Sailor an indelible, life-long, memory of a moment with their 
     CNO.
       When the boatswain was finished piping, he always walked 
     back through, shaking hands, patting shoulders, even 
     exchanging high fives and tousling the hair of the rainbow 
     sideboys who lined his arrival at every ship we visited at 
     sea.
       He answered the same question as thoroughly and patiently 
     at the end of the day as he did at the break of dawn, seven 
     ship's and seven helo rides earlier.
       At each stop listening, really listening.
       Making and keeping promises.
       Standing on a destroyer flight deck, arm around a troubled 
     Sailor, personally and privately, counseling him--then 
     worrying later and directing follow up.
       Making everyone feel special.
       His schedule was so full, but he invariably found the time 
     for one more Sailor; never, ever, saying no.
       He was and is and will always be my HERO!
       It is rare and special when your Hero is also your friend!
       Steinbeck wrote once of a fictional hero:
       ``This man drives himself and is driven. It is impossible 
     to see how he can do so much, can cover so much ground, can 
     work so hard and be so effective. There's a man. There is 
     really a man.''
       Of Admiral Boorda, we all exclaim today, ``There was a 
     Sailor. There really was a Sailor . . .''
       Shipmates, a lot of work is well begun, and in the Boorda 
     way of doing business ``well begun is half done.''
       Our charge today is clear:
       Carry on.
       Lead with zeal, serve with pride, learn about and honor our 
     heritage . . . and that will be the Admiral Boorda legacy and 
     the only really fitting memorial and with it will come the 
     strength to carry on.
       God Bless you, Admiral Boorda. We love you and will forever 
     miss you.
       Will you join me now in the responsive reading of the 
     Psalm.

                          ____________________