[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 88 (Monday, June 21, 1999)]
[Senate]
[Pages S7293-S7295]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
MARINE COMMANDANT KRULAK
Mr. ROBERTS. A week ago yesterday, Senator Ben Nighthorse Campbell
and I took the opportunity to travel about 5 miles from Skopje,
Macedonia, to a scrub pine-covered hill that was overlooking the Skopje
Airport and the valley that leads to Kosovo.
On the way, we saw the U.S. troops, primarily the Army, and then the
British, Germans, and the French, all part of the NATO command we now
call KFOR, making the preparations for ground entry into Kosovo.
Beyond those encampments, the dusty road led to some high ground. As
we topped the hill, about 100 yards into the scrub pine were the
members of the 26th Marine Expeditionary Force led by Col. Kenneth
Glueck and his XO Lt. Col. Bob Taylor.
Some 1,900 marines and 186 vehicles were deploying into Kosovo. Just
a few days earlier, these men and women were aboard ship in an Italian
port as members of the Marine Expeditionary Unit. Despite all of the
delay in regard to the bureaucratic problems--road and transportation
snafus and unfriendly but rather benign protests by some demonstrators
in Greece--the marines were deployed and the command post was up and
running when the advance units were reporting in.
With great respect for our allies, while their units were conducting
maintenance and they were relaxing prior to moving out, the marines had
already conducted 2 days of training.
In recent weeks, there has been much discussion and criticism about
the use of ground troops in the Balkans. The point has always been made
that, simply given the opposition by NATO countries and the
administration to the use of ground troops and the lack of contingency
planning, it would take months to put together any contingency plans,
the necessary unified command and control, supply lines and battle
plans--it would take months.
No need to worry. When the order was given, your Navy-Marine Corps
team, a true force in readiness, was there. They were deployed in
days--not weeks or months.
I asked Col. Glueck and Lt. Col. Taylor why the marines chose the
high ground miles away from the U.S. and allied forces. He responded:
Well, sir, we arrived at 2300, set up our command post and
staging base, secured the area, and were ready to go by
morning. We just didn't want to lose our edge.
And they haven't. Today those marines are keeping a difficult peace.
They are serving as protectors, as police, as judge, as jury, as
peacekeepers, and as possible targets. Along with the 82nd Airborne,
they are doing an outstanding job. They were doing their best in the
Balkan briar patch.
Senator Campbell and I had the privilege of visiting with individual
marines and found their dedication and morale was second to none. It
was a real ``battery charger'' for me. As a result, we both stood
taller that day.
In a day and age when our military is stressed and strained and
hollow in parts, with recruiting and retention reaching alarming
levels--so serious, by the way, that the President had to mandate a
stop loss order, meaning those on active duty who are scheduled to
leave active duty cannot--and with serious problems all throughout our
military, asking a military that has been cut by one-third to do more
in 93 nations around the world, not to mention the problems in health
care, in the quality of life, personnel tempo and operations tempo,
readiness, modernization and procurement, mission quality, and all the
rest, how on Earth can the U.S. Marine Corps meet its recruiting and
retention goals and perform so well in the field?
I will tell you how. It is called leadership, and it is called
standards. Those standards, those values, are set by the Commandant of
the U.S. Marine Corps: Honor, courage, and commitment. They have not
changed, and they will not change.
Let me state why, with the following quote:
To Marines, Honor, Courage and Commitment are not simply
words or a bumper sticker slogan. They reflect our deepest
convictions and dramatically shape everything that we do. We
imbue Marines with our core values from their first moments
in the Corps because we know that Marines, not weapons, win
battles.
As an institution, we have had to fight hard to maintain
our standards. To some, they may seem old-fashioned, out of
step with society, or perhaps even extremist, but we know
that our high standards are the lifeblood of the Corps, so we
have held the line!
In this regard, what individual Marines are doing everyday
counts far more than anything that is done in Washington. The
standards of our Corps are not simply maintained
[[Page S7294]]
by generals, colonels, and sergeants major, but, far more
importantly, by leaders throughout the Corps, at every level.
The Marine conviction that Semper Fidelis is a way of life,
not just a motto, speaks powerfully and unites us.
In typical fashion, the Marine who spoke those words, gave credit to
all Marines for the accomplishments achieved by the Marine Corps these
past few years while at the same time providing the leadership that
made those accomplishments possible. I am speaking of the 31st
Commandant of the Marine Corps who is retiring after four years of
outstanding service, General Charles C. Krukak, a Marine's Marine.
It is both an honor and a personal privilege to join Majority Leader
Lott, Senator Burns of Montana, and other senators as we pay tribute
and say thanks and well done to Chuck Krulak.
My colleagues have already spoken to General Krulak's outstanding
record, his personal sacrifice, bravery, combat record,
accomplishments. A modest, self effacing man, the last thing Chuck
Krulak would want is personal tribute, no matter how well deserved.
Simply put, the biography of achievement of one Charles C. Krulak is
synonymous with honor, courage, and commitment.
A few personal observations however, for the Record. The latest buzz
word in military tactics is called ``asymmetrical warfare''.
Quoting from retired army colonel Ralph Peters, the provocative
author of the book, ``Fighting for the Future, Will America Triumph'':
Around the world, American soldiers, American interests and
American citizens face violent men who do not play by the
time-honored rules of warfare. These new enemies are
warlords, terrorists, charismatic demagogues, international
criminals--and the militaries of rogue states. Driven by
hatred, greed, and rage, the weapons they use range from
knives and bombs to computers and weapons of mass
destruction. They fight in urban landscapes and information
jungles--not on the neatly contained battlefields of
yesterday.
Simply put, Mr. President, as Kosovo will prove--in my personal
opinion--all too often the United States is fighting today's wars with
yesterday's tactics.
The service chief who has seen this emerging threat with foresight,
clarity, and resolve has been General Krulak. A student of history and
military tactics and strategy, a veteran of a limited, political war of
gradualism where specific mission was difficult to define, Chuck Krulak
has literally shaped the U.S. Marine Corps to meet these future
challenges. In this regard, the Commandant has provided members of the
Armed Service Committees and those within our military schools and
think tanks valuable insight and leadership. His 45 minute
presentation, starting with the mistakes the Romans made in 9 AD and
ending with modern day threats should be required reading for all who
care about out national security and individual freedom.
General Krulak has also enabled the Marine Corps to be on the cutting
edge of consequence management regarding weapons of mass destruction--
especially in regard to the very real dangers of biological
contamination whether the situation be on the battlefield or resulting
from a terrorist attack.
Majority Leader Lott stressed in his remarks how much he valued
General Krulak's candor and honesty. In my own case, coming from the
House to the Senate, my tenure on the Senate Armed Services Committee
has been synonymous with General Krulak's service as Commandant of the
Marine Corps.
Throughout this time, despite budget restrictions, difficult policy
debates and quite frankly a time when the administration and the
Congress have asked our military to do more with less, the one thing
Chuck Krulak provided our committee and our Marines was honesty. No
hedging, no fence straddling, no saluting one way and hunkering down in
the weeds when the going got tough the other. No Sir! General Krulak
told it just exactly like it is. The Congress, the President, our
country and especially our Marines are owed that. And, we owe Chuck
Krulak as we work to restore and strengthen our nation's fighting
forces.
My father, Wes Roberts, was privileged to serve in the Marine Corps
and saw action on Iwo Jima and Okinawa. As it turned out, one of men he
has honored to know on a personal basis was the historic and legendary
Commandant of that time, ``Lem'' Shepherd.
When I joined the Corps and was a ``shave-tail'' lieutenant serving
in the Marine Education Center in Quantico, it was my good fortune to
serve with General Oscar Peatross, the hero of the Makin Island Raid
and then Lt. Col. and later Commandant Robert ``Bob'' Barrow as the
Marines published what I believe to be the first modern-day anti-
guerrilla warfare manual in 1959.
The commanding general at Marine Corp Schools and the driving force
behind the change in tactics and strategy within the Corps at that time
was General Victor ``Brute'' Krulak, our current Commandant's father.
I am always amazed and humbled at the good fortune that life can
bring us. I can assure you that, never in my wildest dreams could I
have imagined I would have the privilege of serving in this body as a
member of the Senate Armed Services Committee and having the honor of
working with our Commandant, the son of the man I served under some 40
years ago--and on the very same challenges.
I ask unanimous consent to have two speeches by General Krulak, his
``Farewell to the Corp'' within the Marine Corps Gazette, and remarks
he made for the Pepperdine University Convocation Series last October,
printed in the the Record.
There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in
the Record, as follows:
[From the Marine Corps Gazette, June 1999]
A Farewell To the Corps
(By Gen. Charles C. Krulak)
From my earliest days, I was always awed by the character
of the Marine Corps, by the passion and love that inspired
the sacrifices of Marines like my father and his friends. As
a young boy, I admired the warriors and thinkers who joined
our family for a meal or a visit . . . Marines like ``Howlin'
Mad'' Smith, Lemuel C. Shepherd, Gerald C. Thomas, and Keith
B. McCutcheon. I wondered about the source of their pride,
their selflessness, and their sense of purpose. Now, at the
twilight of my career, I understand those Marines. I know
that they were driven by love for the institution to which
they had dedicated their lives and by the awesome
responsibility they felt to the Marines who shared their
devotion and sacrifice. Today, that same motivation burns
deep within the heart of each of us. The ethos of our Corps,
purchased so dearly by these heroes of old, reaches into our
souls and challenges us to strive tirelessly for excellence
in all that we do. It profoundly influences the actions of
every Marine who has ever stood on the yellow footprints at
our recruit depots or taken the oath as an officer of
Marines.
The ethos of our Corps is that of the warrior. It is
defined by two simple qualities . . . our two touchstones.
The first is our Touchstone of Valor. When we are summoned to
battle, we don our helmets and flak jackets; we march to the
sound of the guns; we fight and we win--guaranteed. The
second is our Touchstone of Values. We hold ourselves and our
institution to the highest standards . . . to our core values
of Honor, Courage, and Commitment. These two touchstones are
inextricably and forever linked. They form the bedrock of our
success and, indeed, of our very existence.
Our Touchstone of Valor is the honor roll of our Corps'
history. Bladensburg, Bull Run, Cuzco Well, Belleau Wood,
Guadalcanal, Tarawa, Iwo Jima, Inchon, the Chosin Reservoir,
Hue City, Kuwait . . . the blood and sacrifice of Marines in
these battles, and countless others, have been commemorated
in gilded script and etched forever on the black granite base
of the Marine Corps War Memorial. The names of these places
now serve as constant reminders of our sacred responsibility
to our Nation and to those whose sacrifices have earned the
Marine Corps a place among the most honored of military
organizations. The memory of the Marines who fought in these
battles lives in us and in the core values of our precious
Corps.
To Marines, Honor, Courage, and Commitment are not simply
words or a bumper stocker slogan. They reflect our deepest
convictions and dramatically shape everything that we do.
They are central to our efforts to ``Make Marines,'' men and
women of character who can be entrusted to safeguard our
Nation and its ideals in the most demanding of environments.
We imbue Marines with our core values from their first
moments in our Corps because we know that Marines, not
weapons, win battles. We also know that success on the
battlefield and the support of the citizens whose interests
we represent depend on our ability to make moral and ethical
decisions under the extreme stress of combat and in the
conduct of our daily lives.
As an institution, we have had to fight hard to maintain
our standards, To some, they may seem old-fashioned, out-of-
step with society, or perhaps even ``extremist,'' but we know
that our high standards are the
[[Page S7295]]
lifeblood of the Corps, so we have held the line! In this
regard, what individual Marines are doing every day counts
far more than anything that is done in Washington. The
standards of our Corps are not simply maintained by generals,
colonels, and sergeants major, but, far more importantly,
by leaders throughout the Corps, at every level. The
Marine conviction that Semper Fidelis is a way of life,
not just a motto, speaks powerfully to the citizens whom
we serve. It also unites us with our fellow Marines, past
and present--inspiring us to push harder, to reach
further, and to reject the very notion of failure or
compromise.
Sustained and strengthened by the ethos of our Corps, you
have accomplished a great deal during the past 4 years. I
have been humbled to be part of your achievements and witness
to your selfless devotion. Time and again, Marines
distinguished themselves in contingencies around the world,
across the spectrum of conflict. Marines from across the
Total Force were the first to fight, the first to help, and
the first to show America's flag--consistently demonstrating
our resolve and readiness to win when called to action. With
the involvement of the Fleet Marine Force and input from the
entire Corps, the Warfighting Laboratory has looked hard at
the 21st century strategic environment. Marines ``stole a
march'' on change by testing new concepts and emerging
technologies, exploring new tools for developing leaders and
decisionmakers, and experimenting in the ``Three Block War.''
Our recruiters, drill instructors, and small unit leaders
have implemented the Transformation Process and are
recruiting, refining, and developing the ``Strategic
Corporals'' for tomorrow's conflicts. Led by Marines at the
Combat Development Command, we have deepened our
understanding of operational maneuver from the sea (OMFTS),
its enabling concepts and technologies, as well as its many
challenges. The men and women serving in the many thankless
billets at Headquarters Marine Corps and in the joint arena
have developed and articulated our requirements for the
future and have secured the resources to translate OMFTS into
a reality. Our supporting establishment, at every post and
station, has epitomized selflessness and dedication while
providing for our readiness requirements. All these things
are important--and they are the accomplishments of every
Marine. None of them, however, are as significant as
maintaining our hands on the twin touchstones of our Corps.
The words of my father rings as true today as when he first
wrote them over 50 years ago:
We exist today--we flourish today--not because of what we
know we are, or what we know we can do, but because of what
the grassroots of our country believes we are and believes we
can do . . . The American people believe that Marines are
downright good for the country; that the Marines are masters
of a form of unfailing alchemy which converts unoriented
youths into proud, self-reliant stable citizens--citizens
into whose hands the nation's affairs may safely be
entrusted. . . And, likewise, should the people ever lose
that conviction--as a result of our failure to meet their
high--almost spiritual--standards, the Marine Corps will
quickly disappear.
May God bless each and every one of you and may God bless
our Corps!.
____
[Remarks for Pepperdine University Convocation Series, October 14,
1998]
Comments on Character
By Gen. Charles C. Krulak Commandant of the Marine Corps
I am happy to be here this morning--to have an opportunity
to talk to the leaders and thinkers of tomorrow and, more
importantly, the day after tomorrow.
I considered a few different topics to talk to you about
this morning: The importance of my Christian faith in guiding
my personal and professional life, the Marine Corps'
intensive efforts to develop values in our newest Marines, or
even my thoughts about our Nation's role in humanitarian
missions around the globe . . . I will do that if you would
like--but during the Q&As.
There is another topic that I would like to talk about
today--one that is critical to each of us, our Nation, and
our world--as we move toward the 21st Century . . . A topic
that rarely gets talked about in forums such as this, which
makes it all the more important to discuss. It serves as the
foundation for all that we are, all that we do, and all that
we will be . . . I will talk about the importance of
character.
I can tell you from personal experience that combat is the
most traumatic human event. It strips away an individual's
veneer, exposing his true character. If a character flaw
exists, it will appear in combat--guaranteed.
This morning, I will tell the story of an American whose
true character was tested and exposed in the crucible of war.
I will then draw some conclusions that are applicable to how
the rest of us should live our lives . . . lives where combat
will hopefully never play a role. He was a 19 year old
Marine-about the same age as most of you in the audience this
morning. His name was LCPL Grable. He was a man of courage .
. . a man of character . . . and this is his story . . .
Vietnam . . . It was 0600, the third of June, 1966. I was in
command of ``G'' Company, Second Battalion, First Marine
Regiment. I was a First Lieutenant at the time, and had been
given this command because the previous commander had been
killed about one week earlier. My company had been given a
simple mission that began with a helicopter assault. We would
land in a * * *
* * * * *
of lesser character. Moral cowards never win in war--moral
cowards never win in life. They might believe that they are
winning a few battles here and there, but their victories are
never sweet, they never stand the test of time, and they
never serve to inspire others. In fact, each and every one of
a moral coward's ``supposed victories'' ultimately leads them
to failure.
Those who have the courage to face up to ethical challenges
in their daily lives will find that same courage can be drawn
upon in times of great stress, in times of great controversy,
in times of the never ending battle between good and evil . .
.
All around our society you see immoral behavior . . .
lying, cheating, stealing, drug and alcohol abuse, prejudice,
and a lack of respect for human dignity and the law. In the
not too distant future, each of you is going to be confronted
with situations where you will have to deal straight-up with
issues such as these. The question is, what will you do when
you are? What action will you take? You will know what to
do--the challenge is--will you DO what you know is right? It
takes moral courage to hold your ideals above yourself. It is
the DEFINING aspect . . . When the test of your character and
moral courage comes--regardless of the noise and confusion
around you--there will be a moment of inner silence in which
you must decide what to do. Your character will be defined by
your decision and it is yours and yours alone to make. I am
confident you will each make the right one. When that moment
of silence comes and you are wrestling with your decision,
consider this poem:
the eagle and the wolf
There is a great battle
that rages inside me.
One side is a soaring eagle
Everything the eagle stands for
is good and true and beautiful.
It soars above the clouds.
Even though it dips down into the valleys,
it lays its eggs on the mountain tops.
The other side of me is a howling wolf.
And that raging, howling wolf
represents the worst that is in me.
He eats upon my downfalls and
justifies himself by his presence
in the pact.
Who wins this great battle? . . .
The one I feed.
May God bless you and Semper Fidelis!
Mr. ROBERTS. Mr. President, in those remarks, Chuck Krulak talked
about character and individual responsibility as it applies to today's
America and all of the obligations and challenges that we face today.
Character; character--as usual, General Charles C. Krulak simply told
the truth. We will be a better nation if we but heed his advice.
Semper Fidelis Commandant Krulak and thank you.
I yield the floor.
____________________