[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 120 (Thursday, September 11, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1744]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


  GEN. HUGH SHELTON'S APPOINTMENT AS CHAIRMAN OF THE JOINT CHIEFS OF 
                                 STAFF

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. BOB ETHERIDGE

                           of north carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 11, 1997

  Mr. ETHERIDGE. Mr. Speaker, I rise to praise President Clinton's 
appointment of Army Gen. Hugh Shelton as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs 
of Staff and the U.S. Senate's Armed Services Committee's vote to 
confirm the nomination.
  General Shelton's career is the embodiment of North Carolina values: 
hard work, service to country, respect, and commitment to excellence. 
He has earned the opportunity to service as the highest ranking member 
of the U.S. Military, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
  General Shelton grew up with his hand in the dirt as we say in North 
Carolina, and is head in the books. He comes from the small town of 
Speed, in Edgecombe County in eastern North Carolina, a county I have 
the honor of representing as the Representative of the Second 
Congressional District of North Carolina.
  As a veteran myself of the U.S. Army and a farm boy from eastern 
North Carolina, I have the utmost respect for General Shelton, who grew 
up working tobacco as a school boy, days on end. He went on to earn his 
degree in textile engineering from North Carolina State University in 
Raleigh, and his commission through the University's ROTC program.
  General Shelton is a leader. his distinguished career of leadership 
and service to our Nation began in 1963, when he joined the U.S. Army. 
Her served with the 5th Special Forces Group from 1966 to 1967 and from 
1969 to 1970 with the 173d Airborne Brigade. His service in the 
campaign against the Viet Cong and Communist North Vietnamese in the 
highly volatile back country of Vietnam won him the respect of his 
colleagues for his personal sacrifice and service to our Nation.
  In the Persian Gulf war, our largest military confrontation since 
Vietnam, General Shelton served as assistant commander of the 101st 
Airborne Division (air assault) ``when it made the largest, longest 
helicopter assault in history.''
  He has commanded Fort Bragg and the 18th Airborne Corps and the 82d 
Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, NC. Currently, he serves as commander 
of U.S. Special Forces at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, FL, which is 
home to the Army's Green Berets and the Navy's Seals.
  One of his greatest attributes has been his experience and 
effectiveness in bringing together the Armed Forces as he did at the 
Pentagon and as the task force commander for Haiti.
  He has sacrificed, served, and fought to keep our Nation free. God 
has blessed him with these great skills which will serve him and the 
United States well as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
  I commend the President for appointing General Shelton to this most 
important position, and I congratulate the general on this outstanding 
accomplishment. I urge the full Senate to complete his confirmation as 
soon as possible.

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