[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 139 (Tuesday, October 1, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Page S12077]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    ADM. LEIGHTON W. SMITH, JR., USN

  Mr. HEFLIN. Mr. President, I rise today to pay tribute to an 
exceptional American hero and one of Alabama's favored sons, Adm. 
Leighton W. Smith, Jr. Recently concluding his 34 years of service in 
the U.S. Navy, Admiral Smith has served this Nation as a man of honor, 
integrity, and great courage. It is this leadership which has led our 
forces through many challenges, most recently in Bosnia.
  On April 4, 1994, Admiral Smith assumed command of Allied Forces 
Southern Europe, Commander Joint Task Force Provide Promise, and 
Commander U.S. Naval Forces Europe. Twenty eight hours later, under his 
command, NATO conducted its first ever air-to-ground combat operations 
near Gorazde, Bosnia. On numerous occasions between that April and 
August, 1995, NATO air forces supported the U.N. forces in Bosnia with 
close air support and air strikes. Simultaneously, as Commander Joint 
Task Force Provide Promise, he continued to oversee airland and airdrop 
support to the U.N. refugee program in Bosnia, saving thousands of 
lives.
  As tensions continued to rise in the fall of 1995, Admiral Smith 
directed Operation Deliberate Force, NATO air operations against 
Bosnian Serb targets. These successful operations brought the warring 
parties to the peace accords in Dayton that November.
  In December 1995, Admiral Smith assumed a fourth command hat--
Commander Peace Implementation Forces, NATO's first ever ground 
operation entrusted with implementing the Dayton Peace Agreement. The 
JFOR became nearly 60,000 strong from 34 different countries. The 
mission was to create a militarily secure environment in order to build 
peace in a country which had been devastated from three and a half 
years of war.
  Prior to Admiral Smith's most recent outstanding service, his record 
speaks to the numerous challenging situations he has faced and 
overcome. He was directly involved in operations in support of our men 
and women in Desert Shield/Desert Storm. This included directing combat 
operations into Iraq, the evacuation of civilians from Liberia and 
humanitarian support for the Kurdish refugees in northern Iraq. As the 
Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Plans, Policy and Operations, 
Admiral Smith was a major contributor to Navy staff reorganization and 
the development of the naval strategy for the 21st century.
  Throughout his Naval career, Admiral Smith has received numerous 
awards including two Defense Distinguished Service Medals, the Navy 
Distinguished Service Medals and three Legion of Merits, among others.
  Whether you know him as Leighton, Smitty, Snuffy or Snoofoir, the 
Admiral is a down-home man of grit and tenacity who has committed 
himself fully to the duties associated with service. While his easy-
going humor may be disarming, Admiral Smith has the tenacity of a pit 
bull. He will tell you pig-farming stories from his youth and how he 
made the upper 95 percent of his class at the Naval Academy look good, 
while simultaneously going toe to toe with our adversaries in order to 
protect, defend and support our men and women in uniform. His honor and 
integrity have anchored those who have had the privilege of serving 
with him through both internal turmoil and international instability.
  On his retirement, my wife and I extend our personal wishes to 
Admiral Smith, his wife Dottie and their three children, Leighton III, 
Page, and Dee Dee.

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