[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 132 (Monday, September 29, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Page S10179]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 TRIBUTE TO GEN. JOHN M. SHALIKASHVILI

 Mr. LEVIN. Mr. President, I rise today to pay tribute to Gen. 
John M. Shalikashvili on the occasion of his retirement after serving 
on active duty for more than 39 years, the last 4 years of which he has 
served as the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
  General Shalikashvili's life is a marvelous American success story. 
Many people are aware that he was born in Warsaw, Poland of stateless 
parents and came to Peoria, IL, at the age of 16. What is not generally 
known, however, is that when he became a naturalized American citizen 
shortly before he graduated from Bradley University, it was the first 
nation of which he was a citizen, and that he was drafted into the U.S. 
Army shortly after graduation. He is the only Chairman of the Joint 
Chiefs of Staff who is a naturalized American citizen and the only 
Chairman who was drafted into the military.
  Mr. President, I won't attempt to describe all of General 
Shalikashvili's military achievements, but I would like to include a 
few of his experiences that I believe molded his outlook and enabled 
him to perform in such a superb fashion as our Nation's senior military 
officer.
  General Shali, as he likes to be called, served in Vietnam during the 
Tet offensive and in Korea in the early 1970's. His experience in 
combat and in a theater in which U.S. forces faced a strong and 
unpredictable military foe undoubtedly prepared him to be the strong 
spokesman for the men and women in uniform and a strong advocate for 
maintaining our Nation's military might second to none.
  I have been struck by General Shali's frequent reference to his 
experience in 1991 as the head of Operation Provide Comfort. This 
operation brought the Iraqi Kurds down from the mountains of northern 
Iraq and eastern Turkey where thousands were dying and helped them to 
return to their towns and villages. He has described that experience as 
the toughest challenge and, at the same time, one of the most 
gratifying things that he has done. Mr. President, it has been my 
experience that our finest military leaders are also people who are 
caring human beings. General Shali's compassion and humanity comes 
clearly through in his recollection of his experience with the Iraqi 
Kurds who suffered so much at the hands of Saddam Hussein.
  General Shali also served in a number of positions in Europe both 
during and after the cold war. Just last week, I had an opportunity 
along with Senators Roth and Biden and other members of the Senate NATO 
Observer Group to meet with General Shali and the chiefs of defense of 
our NATO allies. I observed with pride the respect and admiration that 
the senior military leaders of our NATO allies have for General Shali. 
I am sure that it was also evident to them that all of the Senators at 
that meeting have the highest regard for General Shali. With his 
European upbringing and his several assignments in the European area, 
including as NATO's Supreme Allied Commander, General Shali has been a 
unique leader as NATO has been carrying out its internal adaptation and 
its enlargement.
  Mr. President, I am sure that there will be a number of tributes paid 
to general Shali here on the Senate floor, elsewhere in the Capital 
area, and around the world. Some will no doubt recount his 
extraordinary performance as the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. 
I have chosen to highlight only a few and perhaps lesser known aspects 
of General Shali's career because I believe they demonstrate his 
qualities of leadership, compassion, humanity, and courage.
  General Shali has been a superb Chairman, a true friend of the men 
and women who serve our Nation, and I count myself fortunate to 
consider him a good personal friend. I salute him for the former and 
cherish the latter.

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