[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 10 (Tuesday, February 8, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E81]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


               TRIBUTE TO LT. COL. EARL SMITH, U.S. ARMY

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. BENJAMIN A. GILMAN

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 8, 2000

  Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, as we carry out the business of the American 
people here in Washington, we are occasionally fortunate enough to get 
to know some truly outstanding individual Americans. Today, I would 
like to mention one such person, who has become a good friend to many 
of us.
  It is a great pleasure to rise today to recognize Lieutenant Colonel 
Earl Smith, who is retiring from the U.S. Army on April 1st of this 
year after 22 years of service to our nation.
  Along with many other Members, I came to know Lt. Col. Smith in his 
capacity as Congressional Liaison Officer to the House of 
Representatives. Lt. Col. Smith and I have traveled to many places 
together, where I have always found him to define the Army's values of 
Loyalty, Duty, Respect, Selfless Service, Honor, Integrity and Personal 
Courage.
  The American diplomat George Kennan wrote that ``only he is capable 
of exercising leadership over others who is capable of some real degree 
of mastery over himself.'' Lt. Col. Smith is a living example of the 
truth of that statement.
  Mr. Speaker, Lt. Col. Smith distinguished himself in numerous command 
and staff positions overseas, as well as in the continental United 
States. His career began as an Infantry Rifle Platoon Leader in West 
Berlin, Germany, during the final decade of the Cold War. As recently 
as 1996, he served in Bosnia as an Operations Officer on the Joint/
Combined Staff for the military headquarters responsible for 
implementing the Dayton Peace Agreement.
  The American position in the world--that of lone superpower--is due 
to the sacrifices made by Lt. Col. Smith and men and women like him. 
Without their selfless dedication, America would not enjoy the peace 
and prosperity it is blessed with today.
  We all should congratulate Lt. Col. Smith on a career marked by the 
finest personal qualities and professional excellence. We wish Earl and 
his wife, Arnette, our best on this important milestone and good luck 
in the future.

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