[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 74 (Wednesday, June 14, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1010]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    TRIBUTE TO GEN. ANTHONY C. ZINNI

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. IKE SKELTON

                              of missouri

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 14, 2000

  Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate and pay 
tribute to Gen. Anthony C. Zinni, who will retire from the U.S. Marine 
Corps on August 11, 2000, after more than 35 years of devoted service 
to the nation.
  General Zinni was commissioned a second lieutenant upon graduation 
from Villanova University in 1965. After completion of The Basic 
School, he was assigned to the 2d Marine Division. In 1967, General 
Zinni served in Vietnam as an Infantry Battalion Advisor to the 
Vietnamese Marine Corps. Following his tour in Vietnam, he was ordered 
to The Basic School as a Tactics Instructor and Platoon Commander. In 
1970, he returned to Vietnam where he was wounded and subsequently 
assigned to the 3d Force Service Regiment on Okinawa. One year later, 
General Zinni was again assigned to the 2d Marine Division as a Company 
Commander. In 1974, he was assigned to the Manpower Department at 
Headquarters, Marine Corps.
  Following the Vietnam war, General Zinni served in succession of 
influential staff and command positions, including: Commanding Officer 
of the 2d Battalion, 8th Marines; Operations and Tactics Instructor at 
the Marine Corps Command and Staff College; Head of the Special 
Operations and Terrorism Counteraction Section; Chief of Naval 
Operations Strategic Studies Group fellow; Regimental Commander of the 
9th Marines; Commanding Officer of the 35th Marine Expeditionary Unit; 
and Chief of Staff of the Marine Air-Ground Training and Education 
Center.
  Upon promotion to flag rank in 1991, General Zinni was named the 
Deputy Director of Operations at the United States European Command. In 
1991, he served as the Chief of Staff and Deputy Commanding General 
during the Kurdish relief effort in Turkey and Iraq and also acted as 
the Military Coordinator for the relief effort for the former Soviet 
Union. From 1992 to 1993, he served as the Director for Operations for 
the Unified Task Force Somalia and as the Assistant to the Special 
Envoy to Somalia. His next assignment was as the Deputy Commanding 
General, United States Marine Corps Combat Development Command. After 
that, he assumed command of the I Marine Expeditionary Force, during 
which he served as Commander of the Combined Task Force responsible for 
protecting the withdrawal of United Nations forces from Somalia.
  In September 1996, General Zinni was assigned to the United States 
Central Command and subsequently assumed command in 1997. In addition 
to continuing no-fly and maritime interdiction operations over Iraq, 
General Zinni conducted humanitarian operations in response to flooding 
in Kenya and demining efforts in Ethiopia, Eritrea, Yemen and Jordan.
  The continued intransigence over United Nations weapons inspections 
resulted in General Zinni leading several military operations against 
Iraq. Operation DESERT FOX set Iraq's ballistic missile program back 
several years by destroying key facilities and specialized equipment 
during several days of combat operations. General Zinni activated a 
joint task force in Kenya to assist in recovery support after the 1998 
terrorist bombing of the embassies in Nairobi and Dar es Salaam, 
Tanzania, while also taking military action against the terrorist 
infrastructure in Sudan and Afghanistan.
  During his command, General Zinni participated in numerous diplomatic 
efforts within the Central Command area of responsibility. In the fall 
of 1998, he worked directly with the National Security Advisor to 
prevent Ethiopia and Eritrea from resorting to armed conflict over a 
border dispute. He also was instrumental in efforts to engage the 
Pakistani government after its nuclear tests. His two trips to Pakistan 
reinforced objections to Pakistan's nuclear tests and stressed the 
importance of avoiding a nuclear arms race between Pakistan and India.
  Additionally, General Zinni orchestrated the command's large-scale 
overseas exercise. Conducted in Egypt, this exercise involved not only 
United States forces but also eleven participating countries, 33 
observer nations, and 70,000 troops. This field training exercise 
emphasized coalition operations, interoperability, and computer 
simulation of exercise events. It also exhibited regional stability and 
cultural interaction.
  General Zinni's decorations include: the Defense Distinguished 
Service Medal; the Defense Superior Service Medal with two oak leaf 
clusters; the Bronze Star Medal with Combat ``V'' and gold star; the 
Purple Heart; the Meritorious Service Medal with gold star; the Navy 
Commendation Medal with Combat ``V'' and gold star; the Navy 
Achievement Medal with gold star; the Combat Action Ribbon; the 
Vietnamese Honor Medal; the French National Order of Merit, and the 
Order of Merit of the Italian Republic.
  Mr. Speaker, I want to recognize General Zinni for serving the Marine 
Corps with honor and distinction for 35 years. He has provided a 
significant and lasting contribution to the Nation's security. I want 
to wish him and his wife, Debbie, best wishes in the days ahead. The 
Marine Corps will lose not one, but two exceptional people upon General 
Zinni's retirement. I know the Members of the House will join me in 
expressing our appreciation for their distinguished and faithful 
service to the country.

                          ____________________