[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 105 (Wednesday, July 17, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Pages S8010-S8011]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    TRIBUTE TO LTG ROBERT L. ORD III

  Mr. INOUYE. Mr. President, today I wish to congratulate and pay 
tribute to a great American leader, statesman and soldier. Lt. Gen. 
Robert L. Ord, III, Commanding General of the U.S. Army, Pacific 
(USARPAC) will retire on July 31, 1996 after more than 34 years of 
dedicated service to our nation and our Army.
  A native of Medford Lakes, NJ, Lieutenant General Ord graduated from 
the U.S. Military Academy at West Point in 1962 and was commissioned as 
a second lieutenant of Infantry. Over the course of the next three 
decades, he served our country honorably and faithfully in a variety of 
exceptionally challenging troop and staff assignments in the United 
States, Vietnam, and Korea.
  A leader in both peace and war, he has commanded at every level from 
platoon to division and Army major command. Lieutenant General Ord 
commanded a rifle company in Vietnam and the 2d Battalion, 1st Infantry 
Training Brigade at Fort Benning, Ga. Following graduation from the 
Army War College in 1980, he served as the Operations Officer, Chief of 
Staff, and Commander of the 9th Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry 
Division (Light) at Ford Ord, CA. He then served in the Pentagon as the 
Executive Officer to the Army's Deputy Chief of Staff for Personnel 
followed by promotion to brigadier general and assignment in Korea as 
Chief of Staff of the United States-Korea Combined Field Army. 
Subsequently, he returned to Fort Ord as Assistant Division Commander 
of the 7th Infantry Division (Light), where he participated in 
Operation Just Cause in Panama, followed by Command of the U.S. Total 
Army Personnel Command in Washington, DC.
  From February 1992 until September 1993, Lieutenant General Ord 
served as the commanding general of the 25th Infantry Division (Light) 
and the United States Army, Hawaii where his relentless pursuit of 
excellence and focus on mission training placed the 25th Infantry 
Division (Light) on the cutting edge of combat readiness. Through his 
innovative, aggressive and creative

[[Page S8011]]

leadership, the 25th Infantry Division (Light) and United States Army, 
Hawaii became fully integrated, modernized, manned and equipped forces 
capable of exceptional tactical mobility, lethality and versatility.
  As Commanding General, United States Army, Pacific, Fort Shafter, HA, 
from November 1993 to June 1996, Lieutenant General Ord has been the 
consummate statesman and ambassador for the United States throughout 
the Pacific. He has utilized his vast diplomatic skills with senior 
leaders from over 37 countries of the Asia-Pacific region to win 
friends and influence foreign governments; thereby, broadening the 
prestige of the U.S. Army and deterring hostile action from potential 
adversaries. Through his insightful guidance and visionary leadership, 
he has redefined the future of the Army in the Pacific and made 
dramatic progress toward its ``end-state'' with alignment and 
restructuring of apportioned Army forces.
  Throughout his career, Lieutenant General Ord has demonstrated a deep 
and personal concern for soldiers, Army civilians, retirees, and their 
families that has earned him a reputation as a commander who would 
spare no effort to ensure that their needs were met. His extraordinary 
leadership and brilliant statesmanship have significantly enhanced the 
vital national security interests of the United States and were the 
driving force behind preparing America's Army in the Pacific for the 
21st Century. With resolute commitment and dedication, he has 
accomplished the Army's most challenging tasks of downsizing, 
reorganizing and streamlining while maintaining exceptional combat 
readiness and quality of life in his forces.
  Lieutenant General Ord'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 
Lieutenant General Ord with his wife Gail, their daughters Traci and 
Ginger, and grandchildren Mariah and Zachary. They too have served our 
country, supporting in countless ways the career of this dedicated 
soldier and statesman.
  Lieutenant General Ord, a consummate professional, a loyal servant of 
the Constitution, a leader of demonstrated moral and physical vigor and 
courage--on behalf of the Congress of the United States and the people 
we represent, I offer our heartfelt appreciation and sincere thanks to 
you and your family for your selfless and dedicated service. Mahalo, 
aloha and best wishes for a bright and happy future.

                          ____________________