[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 73 (Tuesday, June 13, 2000)]
[Senate]
[Page S5021]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              TRIBUTE TO COLONEL LES BROWNLEE, USA (RET.)

  Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, today the United States Army came to the 
U.S. Capitol to honor one of its most distinguished retired officers.
  Colonel Les Brownlee is currently serving as Staff Director of the 
Senate Armed Services Committee, having previously served as a staffer 
on the Committee and in my Senate office. He is known and respected 
throughout our nation's military and defense industry. This award--for 
his lifetime of extraordinary leadership in uniform and with the 
Senate--is well deserved.
  I ask that the introduction by the Vice Chief of Staff of the Army, 
General Jack Keane, and the citation be printed in the Record of the 
U.S. Senate which Colonel Brownlee has served for sixteen years. His 
record of public service stands as an inspiration for all.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. There being no objection, the material was 
ordered to be printed in the Record, as follows:

                 Speech Delivered by General Jack Keane

                                                    June 13, 2000.
       Senator Warner, Senator Thurmond, thank you for taking time 
     out of your busy schedules to join us. I would also like to 
     welcome Les' son, John, his wife, LeAnne, and their new 
     daughter, Thompson Ann.
       Distinguished guests, friends and fellow soldiers. Thank 
     you all for being here today to help us honor a true American 
     patriot.
       Originally, Major General LeMoyne, the Commander of the 
     Infantry Center, was going to present this award during the 
     Infantry Conference at Fort Benning, right there in building 
     number four in the shadow of Iron Mike--a symbol that is so 
     familiar to infantrymen. Unfortunately, scheduling conflicts 
     would not allow that to happen.
       The citation that we will present to Les in just a few 
     moments reads that the Order of Saint Maurice is presented 
     for ``distinguished contribution to, and loyal support of the 
     Infantry, and demonstrating gallant devotion to the principle 
     of selfless service.''
       No one fits that description better than Les Brownlee. He 
     is a passionate advocate for soldiers who has devoted his 
     entire life to the service of his country--both in peace and 
     in war.
       Les's career of military service is, by any measurement, an 
     extraordinary record of courage, devotion to duty, and love 
     of soldiering.
       Les chose the Army's most demanding branch of service--the 
     Infantry. Infantry training and infantry battle demand the 
     very most of the human spirit--where leaders are expected to 
     exercise personal, physical leadership with daring and 
     courage; where soldiers must be willing to give up everything 
     they care about in life; where God-forsaken terrain, foul, 
     miserable weather, extreme cold and extreme heat, can be as 
     challenging as any enemy; where raw, stark fear is personal 
     and normal; where training can be every bit as dangerous and 
     demanding as combat; and where death is always a silent 
     companion.
       Les Brownlee volunteered for this life--a life of hardship 
     and challenge, but a life of service in the company of the 
     very best men our nation has to offer.
       He volunteered for special skills--airborne, Ranger--skills 
     that required an even greater degree of personal courage and 
     sacrifice, but skills which would enable him to become and 
     even better infantryman.
       Les is a veteran of two tours of combat in Vietnam. A 
     decorated Hero who has twice been awarded the Silver Star--
     our Nation's third highest award for valor. He also has three 
     Bronze Star Medals, and the Purple Heart Medal for wounds 
     received in combat.
       Leading soldiers in combat is the most challenging and 
     demanding assignment an officer will ever face . . . it tests 
     the character of a commander . . . it forces him to bare his 
     soul and face his own human frailties like no other 
     experience.
       Les Brownie faced that test, twice in Vietnam, and it has 
     shaped the character of his service ever since. It is where 
     he learned about the bonds that form between soldiers and 
     between soldiers and their leaders; it is where he learned 
     that service to others is more important than service to 
     self.
       He is a paratrooper who understands all types of infantry.
       He served as a platoon leader in the 101st Airborne 
     Division, a Company Commander in the 173 Airborne Brigade, 
     and he commanded a mechanized Battalion in the 3rd Infantry 
     Division in Germany.
       Despite his distinguished combat record, the thing that his 
     friends who served with him will tell you that he is most 
     proud is that, in January of 1965, he was named the 
     distinguished honor graduate of his Ranger class. This 
     prestigious honor is determined by peer and instructor 
     evaluations and is awarded to the soldier who exhibits 
     extraordinary leadership abilities.
       Incidentally he was also graduated an Honor Graduate of his 
     Officer Advanced Course and the Command and General Staff 
     College.
       Throughout his distinguished Army Career, and certainly in 
     his capacity on the Armed Services Committee, Les has kept 
     the welfare of the common soldier close to his heart.

                          ____________________