[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 106 (Friday, July 31, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Page S9621]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 RETIREMENT OF GENERAL RICHARD I. NEAL

 Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, I rise today to honor a fine Marine 
Officer, General Butch Neal, the Assistant Commandant of the Marine 
Corps, who will soon retire from active duty.
  General Neal's long and distinguished career began more than thirty 
years ago following his graduation from Northeastern University when he 
was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps. 
Following the completion of The Basic School at Quantico, Butch was 
trained as an artillery officer and was assigned to duty in the 
Republic of Vietnam where he served tours as a Forward Observer and as 
an Advisor to the Vietnamese Marine Corps.
  While serving in Vietnam, he was wounded and received the Purple 
Heart. He was also awarded the Silver Star Medal on two occasions for 
his heroism as well as the Bronze Star Medal with Combat ``V'' device.
  General Neal distinguished himself over the years as one of the 
Marine Corps' finest commanding officers. Whether as a battery 
commander, artillery battalion commander, Deputy Marine Expeditionary 
Force Commander or Commanding General of the 2nd Marine Division, his 
reputation as an uncommonly gifted leader of Marines has grown with 
each billet he held. In the joint arena, he served with distinction as 
the Commanding General, Joint Task Force for Operation GITMO, the 
humanitarian relief effort for Haitian immigrants in Cuba and as the 
Deputy Commander in Chief/Chief of Staff for U.S. Central Command.
  Day after day, year after year he demonstrated the rare quality of 
balancing difficult and often dangerous responsibilities with a keen 
concern for the welfare of his Marines. Butch has been a superb staff 
officer. Most Americans remember him from his no-nonsense daily 
briefings during the Persian Gulf War, but he also distinguished 
himself in personnel management as well as in operational planning.
  This unique combination of leadership and administrative skills 
carried him to the very highest levels of the Marine Corps. His 
impeccable character and strong moral fiber make him a leader among the 
very best of our nation's military commanders. Yet what stands out most 
to me when I think of this fine officer is his simplicity and 
unassuming nature.
  Despite all the accolades and all the honors, he remains a simple man 
from Massachusetts. I got to know him and his wife Kathy because they 
attend the same church as my wife Marcelle and I. He is a hard working 
New Englander who with love of God, country and Corps dedicated a 
lifetime in service to our nation. Too often we do not thank the Butch 
Neals of the world, those who choose a lifetime of service and 
sacrifice so that the rest of us can live safe and free.
  Butch, we are grateful for the service you have rendered as a Marine, 
as well as the sacrifices made by both you and your family. I wish 
Butch, his wife Kathy and their children Andrew, Amy and Erin much 
health and happiness in the years ahead. Our country is better for the 
many contributions he has given us.

                          ____________________