[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 85 (Wednesday, June 16, 1999)]
[Senate]
[Pages S7156-S7157]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                TRIBUTE TO CHAPLAIN (MG) DONALD W. SHEA

 Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I wish to take this opportunity to 
recognize and say farewell to an outstanding military officer, Chaplain 
Donald W. Shea, upon his retirement from the Army after more than 33 
years of dedicated service. Throughout his career, Chaplain Shea has 
served with distinction, and it is my privilege to recognize his many 
accomplishments and to commend him for the superb service he has 
provided the United States Army and our nation.
  Chaplain Shea's retirement on 30 June 1999 will bring to a close over 
three decades of dedicated service to the United States Army. Born and 
raised in Butte, Montana, Chaplain Shea attended Carroll College in 
Helena, Montana and graduated from The Saint Paul Seminary in St. Paul, 
Minnesota. He was ordained a Roman Catholic priest in 1962 for the 
Diocese of Helena and commissioned as a U.S. Army chaplain and entered 
active duty in August 1966.
  During his career Chaplain Shea has contributed to every available 
facet of religious ministry in our armed forces. Entering active duty 
during a very difficult period for our military and Nation, he provided 
the leadership and ministering that was invaluable to our forces in the 
Vietnam conflict. Following this conflict, during which he 
distinguished himself to seniors and peers alike, Chaplain Shea went on 
to serve in a variety of positions through his career. He was nominated 
on May 20, 1994 by President Clinton for promotion to Major General and 
following his Senate confirmation was appointed Chief of Army Chaplains 
on September 1, 1994.
  As Chief of Chaplains he held the Army staff responsible for the 
religious, moral, and spiritual welfare for the total Army. He focused 
and advised the Army leadership in dealing with and resolving a number 
of difficult issues facing today's force. Of note was his establishment 
of a Chaplain Recruiting Program within the US Army Recruiting Command 
to aggressively recruit the best-qualified candidates from all 
denominations, the successful relocation of the Army Chaplain Center 
and School from Fort Monmouth, NJ to Fort Jackson, SC and as President 
of the Armed Forces Chaplain Board, he shaped joint methodologies by 
which Service Chiefs of Chaplain and their staffs approached common 
issues.
  Chaplain Shea has been awarded the Distinguished Service Medal, 
Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Bronze Star with ``V'' 
device and two Oak Leaf Clusters, Meritorious Service Medal with two 
Oak Leaf Clusters, Army Commendation Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters, 
Purple Heart, Vietnam Service Medal with six Campaign Stars, Vietnam 
Civil Actions Medal (First Class), Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, 
National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal, Army Service 
Ribbon, Army Overseas Medal (with ``3'' device), Senior Parachute 
Badge, Special Forces Tab, Bundeswehr Parachute Badge, and the 
Vietnamese Parachute Badge.

[[Page S7157]]

  Chaplain Shea will retire from the Department of the Army June 30, 
1999, after thirty-three years of dedicated service. On behalf of my 
colleagues I wish Chaplain Shea fair winds and following seas. 
Congratulations on an outstanding career.

                          ____________________