[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 122 (Tuesday, September 15, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1719]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 TRIBUTE TO GENERAL WILLIAM W. HARTZOG

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. IKE SKELTON

                              of missouri

                    in the house of representatives

                      Tuesday, September 15, 1998

  Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to pay tribute to a great 
soldier on the occasion of his retirement. After over 35 years of more 
than honorable service, General William W. Hartzog, Commander of the 
Army's Training and Doctrine Command, retires on 14 September. Over the 
course of those 35 years, he has demonstrated strong and inspiring 
leadership, unsurpassed executive ability, and an untiring dedication 
to the spirit and mission of the United States Army. His many 
significant and exemplary achievements have gained him the utmost 
respect in the military and civilian communities both in the United 
States and abroad. Throughout his entire military career, General 
Hartzog has tempered mission accomplishment with a deep, committed 
concern for the welfare and professional development of the soldiers he 
has led. Let me just provide a few examples from his very impressive 
career.
  His leadership contributed immeasurably to the success of Operation 
Just Cause, the United States' invasion of the Republic of Panama to 
bring to justice Manuel Noriega and install a legitimate and 
democratically elected government. General Hartzog crafted a masterful 
plan for military operations that not only accomplished the mission of 
restoring democracy quickly, but also did so with limited loss of life 
and property. During a period of continual regional crisis, he remained 
sensitive to the demands of the geopolitical arena while crafting the 
United States security assistance policies for the region.
  In August 1993, General Hartzog became the Deputy Commander in Chief 
(DCINC) and Chief of Staff of the United States Atlantic Command 
(ACOM). His in-depth knowledge of and experience with joint 
organizations, planning, and operations were indispensable to the 
formation of the then fledgling command. While still forming the staff 
of this new command, he was called on to begin the planning process for 
Operation Uphold Democracy in the Republic of Haiti. Starting with a 
blank sheet of paper, General Hartzog stimulated the staff planning 
process for Uphold Democracy with his personal involvement, tireless 
determination, and positive attitude. His efforts resulted in a highly 
flexible plan that could be changed from forced entry to permissive 
entry on a moment's notice.
  In October 1994, General Hartzog assumed command of the United States 
Army Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC). His first mission was to 
insure that the command was focused on its core mission of training 
soldiers and leaders in basic and advanced combat skills. Partnering 
with training units in the Army Reserve, he set about to create a 
program designed to ensure that all Army institutional training, 
regardless of component, was done to the same standards. At the same 
time he made sure that the instruction at all Army schools was 
relevant, with an eye on the work being done for the Army of the 
future.
  Capitalizing on the groundwork laid by his predecessor, General 
Hartzog began the Force XXI process in earnest by developing the 
concepts for the operation and organization of the Army's digital 
division. Calling on his skills as a planner, General Hartzog developed 
the concept of using Advanced Warfighting Experiments (AWEs) as a means 
of testing new concepts and ideas for the digitized force. Through the 
use of AWEs, General Hartzog was able to test new concept for doctrine 
and equipment at a more rapid pace than was possible under the 
traditional system, thus ensuring that the digital force would not be 
obsolete before it is fielded.
  Throughout his career, General Hartzog has made singular and unique 
contributions at each level he was assigned. In his final assignment, 
he brought to bear the accumulated experience and dedication of a 
career spent serving the Nation and our soldiers by bringing to 
fruition the ideas and concepts of our future force, setting the stage 
for the evolution of our Army over the next twenty years. He has 
provided continuity for the profession of arms--integrity, loyalty, 
dedication, mentorship, vision, and the willingness to take the risks 
associated with advocating and implementing change while envisioning 
even more change in the future. General Hartzog's distinguished 
performance and far reaching impact on the future of the Army and its 
soldiers reflect great credit upon him, those who mentored him, and the 
United States Army.

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