[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 87 (Friday, June 18, 1999)]
[Senate]
[Pages S7276-S7277]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  TRIBUTE TO GENERAL CHARLES C. KRULAK

 Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I'd like to pay a special tribute 
today to General Charles C. Krulak, the 31st Commandant of the Marine 
Corps, soon to relinquish command of our nation's Corps of Marines 
after almost forty years in uniform. With receipt of his final orders, 
directing him to stand-down and retire from active duty, an 
evolutionary change will occur--marking the first time in 70 years that 
a Krulak will be absent from the rolls of the United States Marine 
Corps. His father, Lieutenant General Brute Krulak, served as the 
Commanding General, Fleet Marine Forces Pacific.
  From the blood stained rice fields of Vietnam, where General Krulak 
commanded Marines during two tours of duty, to the wind swept sands of 
Kuwait where General Krulak lead his men to victory, this Marine has 
distinguished himself time and time again.

[[Page S7277]]

  For his devoted service to our country and for the brave Marines he 
led, General Krulak was awarded the Silver Star Medal; Bronze Star 
Medal with Combat ``V'' and two gold stars; Purple Heart with gold 
star; Combat Action Ribbon; and the Republic of Vietnam Cross of 
Gallantry.
  While General Krulak's inspirational leadership has always 
characterized his military service, it is his tenure as the 31st 
Commandant of the Marine Corps that will resonate long and far into the 
next millennium, ensuring the Marine Corps remains the world's premier 
crisis response force--the Nation's 911 force. A professional force 
that is committed, capable, and reliable to meet any challenge, under 
any circumstance, anytime and anyplace in the world.
  General Krulak had the wisdom and foresight to field an agile and 
adaptable force--a Corps of Marines who could prevail against the 
multifaceted threats which would challenge our Nation's security and 
its interests. General Krulak understood the importance of developing 
new concepts and techniques that would ensure decisive victory in the 
``savage wars of peace.'' He forged his Corps of Marines through 
unrelenting sacrifice, initiative, and courage.
  His many initiatives as Commandant include, the Marine Corps 
Warfighting Laboratory, the DoD lead in nonlethal weapons technology 
and the Chemical Biological Incident Response Force. He created and 
implemented the ``Transformation Process'' of making Marines--a 
holistic approach to recruiting and developing young men and women to 
ensure they have the skills and basic character needed to effectively 
meet the asymmetric 21st century threat.
  Today, the Corps is meeting its recruiting requirements, forty-eight 
months consecutively and achieved its retention goals --a testimony to 
the wisdom and foresight of General Krulak.
  A key contributor to the Marine Corps family and a person General 
Krulak owes much success to is his wife, Zandi Krulak. She gave dignity 
and grace to the maturation of the Marine Corps family.
  In closing I want to recognize General Krulak for his uncompromising 
integrity to always do the right thing, for the Nation and his beloved 
Corps. The Marine Corps is a better institution today then it was four 
years ago, thanks to the sacrifice and devotion to duty by General 
Krulak. He has made a significant and lasting contribution to the Corps 
and to this Nation's security. Through his stewardship there is a 
renewed sense of esprit de corps.
  I call on my colleagues on both sides of the aisle, to wish General 
Krulak, his wife Zandi and their two sons, David and Todd, fair winds 
and following seas as he steps down as the 31st Commandant of the 
Marine Corps. General Krulak's distinguished and faithful service to 
our country is greatly appreciated. He will be sorely missed, but 
surely not forgotten. Once a Marine, Always a Marine. Semper 
Fi.

                          ____________________