[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.

                          ____________________