[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 135 (Thursday, October 2, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1908]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[[Page E1908]]
              THE RETIREMENT OF GEN. JOHN M. SHALIKASHVILI

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. STENY H. HOYER

                              of maryland

                    in the house of representatives

                      Tuesday, September 30, 1997

  Mr. HOYER. Mr. Speaker, after 39 years of outstanding service the 
military career of Gen. John Shalikashvili will come to a close today. 
In my role as a cochairman of the bipartisan National Security Caucus 
[NSC] I had the honor and pleasure of presiding at a retirement 
ceremony for the General last week. I was joined by my fellow NSC 
cochairman, Senator Charles Robb (D-VA), as well as Senator Jack Reed 
(D-RI) and Representative Jane Harman (D-CA).
  Rather than saying ``farewell,'' the caucus organized this event to 
say ``well done'' to General Shalikashvili. He is truly deserving of 
this recognition because of his tremendous contributions to America's 
national security interests, and his life is a classic American success 
story.
  General Shalikashvili was born in Warsaw, Poland, in 1936. He was the 
first foreign-born Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the first 
draftee to become Chairman and the first Chairman who was a graduate of 
Officer Candidate School.
  During his military career, General Shalikashvili held a number of 
prestigious commands. He served as commander of the 9th Infantry 
Division and was the commander of Operation Provide Comfort, the relief 
operation that returned hundreds of Kurdish refugees to Northern Iraq. 
His last position before being named Chairman of the Joint Chiefs was 
as Supreme Allied Commander, Europe and Commander in Chief, European 
Command.
  During the tenure of General Shalikashvili as Chairman of the Joint 
Chiefs of Staff, there was an explosion in the number of military 
operations conducted by the Armed Forces of the United States, in such 
diverse areas of the world as Haiti, Bosnia, the Taiwan Straits, 
Kuwait, the Korean Peninsula and in and around the Arabian Peninsula. 
While most of these operations were peacekeeping or humanitarian in 
nature, a significant number of them were strike or deterrent 
operations.
  Among the General's many accomplishments as Chairman have included 
NATO enlargement, the Partnership for Peace, the North Korean Nuclear 
Framework Agreement, new defense arrangements with Japan including 
revision of the status of Okinawa, as well as many projects concerning 
the Gulf States and Israel.
  One of the last accomplishments of the General's tenure was the 
production of the Quadrennial Defense Review [QDR]. The QDR began the 
serious solution of the biggest hole in our defense program: the $20 
billion modernization shortfall. With personnel reduction and cuts in 
aircraft and other programs, the Chairman has reduced roughly half of 
the shortfall and has laid the groundwork for the reduction of the 
remainder.
  In short, as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General 
Shalikashvili confronted historic change, responded to nontraditional 
military missions and prepared America's Armed Forces for the challenge 
of the 21st century. General Shalikashvili's extraordinary service has 
brought great credit upon himself, the Armed Forces, the Department of 
Defense, and the Nation.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to place in the Record the 
remarks of Senator Max Cleland (D-GA) regarding the General's 
retirement. The Senator is also a cochairman of the National Security 
Caucus and is well known as a hero of the Vietnam war.

                    Statement of Senator Max Cleland

       I am honored to be here to pay tribute to an outstanding 
     American who exemplifies the highest of American ideals. Many 
     Americans admire him for overcoming the tragedy of World War 
     II by coming to the United States and fulfilling the American 
     dream. Others praise him for the outstanding leadership he 
     has shown over the past four years.
       Indeed, the military has faced many challenges over the 
     past several years. General Shalikashvili's efforts, however, 
     have insured that the military has not only met each of these 
     challenges but has excelled.
       While I share these sentiments, as a Vietnam veteran, I am 
     particularly proud of the fact that one of my comrades has 
     led the Department. Those American soldiers who lived through 
     the Vietnam era and its aftermath understand what soldiering 
     is really about. They understand the meaning of sacrifice.
       They understand what a national defense really means. That 
     without one cold, hungry, scared 19-year-old soldier being 
     willing to leave his foxhole and advance we have no national 
     defense.
       General Shalikashvili understands these principles. He 
     learned them when he was a young child, a child who witnessed 
     the horrors of war in Europe and returned there as an adult 
     to lead the military of the world's foremost defender of 
     freedom and democracy. General Shalikashvili did just that 
     when he served as the Commander-in-Chief of the United 
     States' European Command, a leader of all NATO forces.
       I am extremely proud of the service he has rendered to the 
     United States. We owe him a tremendous debt of gratitude for 
     a job well done.
       General, God bless you and your family on your retirement.

       

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