[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 6 (Thursday, January 23, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Pages S685-S686]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE U.S. PACIFIC COMMAND

 Mr. INOUYE. Mr. President, I rise today to recognize and 
commemorate, with very deep patriotic pride, the 50th anniversary of 
the U.S. Pacific Command.
  On January 1, 1947, the U.S. Pacific Command was established to unify 
with the Alaskan and Far East commands.
  As the largest of nine unified commands within the Department of 
Defense today, the U.S. Pacific Command interacts daily with foreign 
military and civilian leaders, serving as a key link for the United 
States in the most dynamic region of the world--a region that contains 
44 countries, two-thirds of the world's population, and 7 of the 
world's largest armed forces.
  During the past 50 years, the Asia-Pacific theater has grown from a 
war-torn region recovering from the devastation of World War II to the 
most dynamic economic region in the world. The importance of the United 
States' interest in the Asia-Pacific theater is best illustrated by the 
pivotal role of East Asia's economies in the world's economic order. 
The Asia-Pacific gross national product surpassed the European Union in 
1990, and today, our trans-Pacific trade now exceeds $503 billion per 
year.
  Fostering peace, providing security, and meeting the challenges 
within an area totaling more than half of the Earth's surface, the U.S. 
Pacific Command is represented by more than 300,000 trained and highly 
dedicated soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines.
  Mr. President, after World War II, our Nation's military leaders 
recognized the importance of unity of forces worldwide. On December 14, 
1946, President Truman approved the first unified command plan, and on 
January 1, 1947, the U.S. Pacific Command was established.
  During the past 50 years, the U.S. Pacific Command's responsibilities 
have expanded to include the west coast of the United States, the 
eastern shores of Africa, all points in Asia, and the Arctic to the 
Antarctic.
  Mr. President, during the past 50 years, U.S. Pacific Command Forces 
have been engaged in three major conflicts and numerous military 
actions. During the Korean conflict, Vietnam conflict, and the Gulf 
war, the United States Pacific Command Forces have fought bravely.
  The United States Pacific Command provided forces to support the 
United States, Far East and U.N. Commands during the Korean conflict. 
These support forces were primarily in the form of naval assets which 
conducted patrolling missions and aided amphibious operations by 
providing naval gunfire, sealift and airstrikes from carrier task 
forces. The naval airstrikes were an integral part of the overall air 
campaign.
  The United States Pacific Command oversaw our involvement through all 
phases of the Vietnam conflict--from the build-up and military actions 
to the withdrawal of United States combat forces. However, Mr. 
President, as many will sadly agree, memories of the Vietnam conflict 
were not over for the United States Pacific Command. The command 
became deeply involved in the emotional repatriation of American 
prisoners of war during Operation Homecoming. Additionally, the United 
States Pacific Command assisted with the movement of Vietnamese 
nationals to the United States and the airlift of Vietnamese children 
during Operation New Life and Operation Babylift, respectively.

  During Desert Shield and Desert Storm, the United States Pacific 
Command Forces provided vital ground, sea, and air assets in support of 
U.S. Central Command Operations conducted in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, 
Iraq, and off-shore in the Arabian Sea.
  The United States Pacific Command deployed forces to Haiti during 
Operation Uphold Democracy and continues to deploy forces in support of 
the United States' interests in the European and Middle Eastern 
theaters.
  Today Mr. President, the U.S. Pacific Command's mission is to foster 
peace, deter aggression, and rapidly respond to crisis. If necessary, 
they will fight to maintain security and stability throughout the Asia-
Pacific region.
  In order to maintain security in the vast Asia-Pacific region, the 
U.S. Pacific Command has the U.S. Army Pacific, the Pacific Fleet, the 
Pacific Air Forces, and the Marine Forces Pacific as its service 
components. Additionally, its sub-unified command includes United 
States Forces Korea, United

[[Page S686]]

States Forces Japan, the Alaskan Command, and the Special Operations 
Command, Pacific.
  The U.S. Pacific Command leads two task forces. The Joint Task Force 
Full Accounting was established to achieve the fullest accounting of 
Americans still missing in Southeast Asia as a result of the Vietnam 
conflict. Through the task force's efforts, more than 2,000 
investigations have been completed and 350 sets of remains repatriated. 
The Joint Interagency Task Force West, the second standing task force, 
brings DOD resources to bear in support of law enforcement agencies to 
disrupt international drug traffickers from Southeast and Southwest 
Asia.
  Mr. President, most recently and at my urging, the Asia-Pacific 
Center for Security Studies was established to strengthen existing 
bilateral relationships through the multilateral study of security, 
economic, social, and political issues in the Asia-Pacific region.
  This further compliments the U.S. Pacific Command's mission of 
building bilateral and multilateral bonds within the Asia-Pacific 
region. Annually, the command conducts more than 400 exercises, and 
other bilateral and multilateral training events. The command assists 
29 different nations with humanitarian and civic assistance funds and 
provide more than $12 million in equipment to developing and emerging 
nations. The U.S. Pacific Command also responds to natural disasters. 
The command has provided needed assistance in the wake of devastation 
caused by the earthquake in Kobe, Japan, the destructive winds of 
Hurricane Omar on Guam, and the earthquake and flooding in China, and 
helped their neighbors on the Island of Kauai following Hurricane 
Iniki. The U.S. Pacific Command actively engages our friends and allies 
through training exercise participation, military contacts, 
humanitarian aid, and disaster relief.
  Mr. President, since its establishment, the U.S. Pacific Command has 
remained a beacon of democracy and freedom in the region. Today, it is 
an active living embodiment of U.S. security to the Asia-Pacific area. 
It is a commitment which has been maintained during the past 50 years--
and a commitment I am confident they will fulfill well into the 21st 
century.
  It is indeed a pleasure for me to salute the soldiers, sailors, 
airmen, marines, and civilian employees, both past and present, of the 
U.S. Pacific Command on its 50th anniversary. Thank you for your many 
contributions--lives saved, lives improved and enhanced for a better 
tomorrow. This was achieved, on occasion, at the cost of U.S. lives and 
U.S. blood spilt. We honor the memory of those brave men and women who 
made the supreme sacrifice for the sake of peace and stability in the 
region.
  Adm. Joseph W. Prueher has the distinct honor of leading the U.S. 
Pacific Command on its 50th anniversary. I have no doubt that he will 
lead the command forward with the same valor and distinction as those 
who have come before him. Congratulations and best wishes to all.

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