[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 127 (Monday, September 16, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1613]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              TRIBUTE TO LT. GEN. THEODORE G. STROUP, JR.

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. IKE SKELTON

                              of missouri

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, September 16, 1996

  Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, today I pay tribute to an outstanding 
American, an outstanding soldier, an outstanding general who has been a 
principal architect of our Army's transformation to meet the challenges 
of the changing post-cold war world. On September 27, 1996, Lt. Gen. 
Theodore G. Stroup, Jr. retires after over 34 years of dedicated 
service to America and our great Army. Throughout his career, Ted 
Stroup has provided forward-looking leadership characterized by a 
unique intellect and strategic vision, coupled with a full 
understanding that quality soldiers are the essence of our Army.
  As we honor his retirement, we note that General Stroup's 
distinguished career has stretched over three and one-half decades, 
culminating in his service these past 2 years as the Army's Deputy 
Chief of Staff for Personnel. In this position, General Stroup has been 
responsible for the plans, policies, and programs for management of all 
the Army's military personnel, both Active and Reserves. He served as a 
key and trusted advisor to the Secretary of the Army and the chief of 
staff.
  Ted was born in St. Petersburg, FL. Graduating from the U.S. Military 
Academy in 1962, he began his career as a lieutenant in the Corps of 
Engineers. His first assignment was as a combat engineer platoon leader 
with the 7th Infantry Division, in Korea. He saw his first fighting as 
the commander of a combat engineer company in Vietnam, and while 
leading his soliders in that capacity, Ted was severely wounded. His 
distinguished career includes assignments all over the world. A 
graduate of the Armed Forces Staff College and the Army War College, he 
served as the director of military science courses at the U.S. Military 
Academy. Before returning for his second assignment to Washington, he 
commanded the Corps of Engineers' Fort Worth District.
  General Stroup then moved back to the Army's headquarters to serve as 
executive officer to the vice chief of staff and took a key leadership 
position in the Army's Headquarters Reorganization Study Group. In this 
capacity, he was a principal designer of the Army's organizational 
adjustments to incorporate the provisions of the 1986 Goldwater-Nichols 
Act. This tour would be the first in a decade-long series of postings 
in which General Stroup continually played a pivotal role in reshaping 
the Army. As deputy chief of staff for Resource Management in the 
Training and Doctrine Command, he worked to provide resources for the 
development of future Army doctrine and for the dissemination of the 
doctrine through publications and formal training at all levels of the 
Army. He then served as the director of military personnel management 
on the Army staff, working day by day to provide personnel support for 
the Desert Storm victory and at the same time laying the foundations 
for the imminent reshaping of the Army's forces.
  General Stroup was next selected to serve as the Army's director of 
program analysis and evaluation. Drawing on his long experience and 
strategic vision, he worked to craft a sequence of Army programs that 
would transform the Army into the versatile post-cold war force we see 
evolving today. He then moved to his current assignment as the deputy 
chief of staff for personnel. In this role he has not only developed 
and executed plans for an orderly and compassionate reduction of the 
Army's forces, but also started the Army's future personnel and leader 
development programs on the path to full development and 
implementation.
  Through it all, Ted Stroup has consistently delivered professional, 
selfless service to our Nation. A leader of extraordinary intellect, 
with vision and dedication to match, General Stroup has always 
remembered that our Army consists first and foremost of soldiers. 
Mindful of this, he has dedicated his career to caring for his 
soldiers. He has done this both directly and by developing programs to 
provide for their recruitment, development, and training. We offer our 
heartfelt appreciation and best wishes to Ted Stroup: a soldier who has 
served his country and its soldiers in a most admirable way.

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