[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 84 (Monday, June 10, 1996)]
[House]
[Pages H6093-H6094]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1800
                  IN HONOR OF GEN. FRED McCORKLE, USMC

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from North Carolina [Mr. Jones] is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. JONES. Mr. Speaker, I rise this afternoon to recognize a truly 
outstanding Marine Corps officer and to ask all of my colleagues to 
join me in giving our congratulations and best wishes to Maj. Gen. Fred 
McCorkle. General McCorkle leaves North Carolina this month to take 
command of the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing at Miramar, CA.
  It was recently, in his present assignment as the commanding general 
at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, NC, that I had the honor of 
getting to know Fred McCorkle. I quickly found a deep respect for his 
ability to challenge the men and women under his command, not only to 
excel within their profession, but to foster a relationship with the 
surrounding community of Havelock, NC. Beyond his all of duty, he has 
brought the people of Craven County and the base community closer 
together. He has become a role model to thousands of young men and 
women serving in our Nation's Armed Services. It will be difficult to 
top his accomplishments.
  I am confident that we will continue to hear the name Fred McCorkle 
associated with exceptional work in the Marine Corps. More likely, we 
will begin to hear how well ``the Assassin''--the famous call sign he 
received in flight school--is doing on the west coast. While the 
Assassin may, as he says, have ``performed open heart surgery, been to 
the moon, and spoken to Elvis,'' such achievements do not begin to 
compare with the fine work he accomplished as the commanding general at 
Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, NC. This year, under his 
command, Marine Crops Air Station Cherry Point received the coveted 
Commander-in-Chief's Annual Award for Installation Excellence.
  During the last 3 years, General McCorkle has served with distinction 
as the commander of the Marine Corps Air Bases Eastern Area, and the 
commanding general at the Marine Corps Air Station, Cherry Point, NC. 
His service to the Marine Corps, Congress, and to the Nation as a 
whole, has always been characterized by selfless devotion to duty and 
unflagging dedication to country and corps. It is a privilege for me to 
recognize the many accomplishments General McCorkle has achieved during 
his 28 years of military service.
  Born in San Francisco, CA, Fred McCorkle lived most of his life in 
Johnson City, TN. He went on to earn a bachelor of science degree in 
education from the East Tennessee State University in 1966, and a 
masters in administration from Pepperdine University in 1979. After 
completing Officer Candidates School and the Basic School at Quantico, 
VA, he attended Naval Flight School at Pensacola, FL, and was 
designated a naval aviator in January 1969.

  General McCorkle went on to enhance his professional education while 
attending the Marine Corps Command and Staff College in 1980 and the 
National War College at Fort McNair in 1984. His staff tours include 
aviation land forces plans officer at the Aviation Plans and Programs 
Department from 1980-84, and branch head of the Aviation Plans, 
Programs, Budget, Joint Matters and Policy Branch at Headquarter Marine 
Corps in 1992.
  His operational assignments include billets as commanding officer at 
the Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics

[[Page H6094]]

Squadron One, at Yuma, AZ, from 1986-88; assistant operations officer 
and operations officer of the 2d Marine Aircraft Wing at Cherry Point, 
NC, from 1989-90; and as commanding officer of the Marine Aircraft 
Group 29 at Marine Corps Air Station New River, NC, in 1992.
  General McCorkle served in Vietnam with the Marine Medium Helicopter 
Squadron 262 from 1969 to 1970 where he flew more than 1,500 combat 
missions. Every day in Vietnam, Fred McCorkle put the future of his 
country before his own, as he flew an unbelievable average of two 
combat missions a day. Throughout his career, in fact, he has 
accumulated more than 5,200 flight hours.
  As you might imagine, he has earned several personal decorations that 
include: the Legion of Merit with three gold stars; the Distinguished 
Flying Cross with a gold star; the Purple Heart; the Air Medal with 
single mission award and 76 strike/flight awards; Navy Commendation 
Medal with Combat ``V''; and the Navy Achievement Medal.
  Mr. Speaker, Fred McCorkle and his lovely wife Kathy have made many 
sacrifices during their 28 years of service with the corps. During the 
past 2 years that I have had the privilege of working with General 
McCorkle, his efforts have significantly improved the readiness and 
spirit of the corps, and thus the military preparedness of our Nation. 
Knowing Fred as I do, I have no doubt that the same can be said about 
his entire career. North Carolina will miss his presence and 
professionalism. Those of us who have had the privilege and honor to 
know Fred and Kathy McCorkle will miss their dedication and friendship.
  Assassin, congratulations on your new assignment on the west coast. I 
wish you well as you assume your new command. You are a great marine 
and a great American. Good luck and God speed--Semper Fi.

                          ____________________