[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 41 (Monday, March 26, 2001)]
[Senate]
[Page S2893]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              HONORING THE LATE LT. GEN JAMES T. CALLAGHAN

 Mr. LUGAR. Mr. President, on my last trip to Indiana, I 
received news that a trusted friend and a great American, Jim 
Callaghan, had died. I was pleased to have had the time to call at the 
funeral home and spend some time with the Callaghan family and would 
like to take a moment here, with my friend Senator Bayh to pay tribute 
to Lieutenant General James T. Callaghan.
  I came to know the General after he retired from the Air Force and 
settled in Indianapolis in 1993. He was a valuable member of my Service 
Academy Merit Selection Committee for the last several years and 
through those efforts I gained a great respect for this man who had 
given so much for his country, and yet wanted to give more of himself 
and ensure that the armed services that he had served so loyally for 34 
years continued to flourish with the best officer candidates Indiana 
could produce.
  I think to gain a full appreciation of this man's dedication and 
service to the United States of America and the United States Air 
Force, I have to describe a litany of duty stations, qualifications, 
and awards. I quote liberally from his active duty Air Force bio:
  General Callaghan was born in Chicago in 1938 and grew up there. He 
graduated from the University of Detroit in 1959 where he was also 
commissioned through the ROTC program. He received a masters from The 
George Washington University in 1971 and was further educated at the 
Naval War College the National War College and the University of 
Houston.
  Following pilot training and follow-on instructor duty at Laredo AFB, 
TX and duty with the 6th Fighter Squadron at Eglin AFB. The air force 
pilot set off for Vietnam in 1966, flying in more than 425 combat 
missions in Southeast Asia. He returned from Vietnam in October 1967, 
to staff assignments in Washington DC.
  F-4's were next, and in 1975 he joined the 50th Tactical Fighter Wing 
at Hahn Air Base, West Germany, eventually rising to command the 86th 
Tactical Fighter Group based at Ramstein. In 1979, after War College, 
he joined the Joint Staff's Operations Directorate and in June 1981 
became deputy director for regional plans and policy and director of 
the Ground-Launched Cruise Missile Planning Group in the Directorate of 
Plans, Air Force headquarters.
  From 1983 to 1986 General Callaghan was commandant of the Air Force 
Institute of Technology and of the Defense Institute of Security 
Assistance Management, both located at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, 
OH. His next assignments were in Korea, including chief of staff of the 
U.N. Command and of the Republic of Korea/U.S. Combined Forces Command, 
Seoul.
  In July 1988, the general was transferred back to Germany, and 
assumed the duties of director, plans and policy, Headquarters U.S. 
European Command, in Stuttgart. His last active duty assignment was as 
commander, Allied Air Forces Southern Europe, and deputy commander in 
chief, U.S. Air Forces in Europe for the Southern Area, with 
headquarters in Naples, Italy from December 1990 until his retirement 
in January 1993, which put him in command of the northern area of 
operations in Operation Desert Shield and Storm and subsequently 
Northern Watch.
  The general, a command pilot with more than 4,500 flying hours was 
decorated with the Defense Distinguished Service Medal, Distinguished 
Service Medal, Silver Star, Defense Superior Service Medal with oak 
leaf cluster, Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster, Distinguished 
Flying Cross, Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal with oak 
leaf cluster, Air Medal with 16 oak leaf clusters, Air Force 
Commendation Medal and Army Commendation Medal. General Callaghan also 
wears the Parachutist Badge with bronze star. The bronze star was 
awarded for his combat jump in Vietnam in February 1967 while serving 
as air liaison officer to the 173rd Airborne Brigade.
  Over the last 8 years, Jim served in a number of civic organizations, 
the American Legion, the Air Force Association, the Order of 
Daedalians, and the Indy 500 Festival Memorial Service Committee. He is 
survived by his wife, Ann, his sons James T. the third, and D. 
Christian; his daughter Elizabeth Cooke; his mother Ruth Callaghan; his 
brothers John, William, Michael and Patrick and his sister Ruth 
Tushkowski. He and Ann have six grandchildren.
  In closing, let me add that the while the works of men like General 
Callaghan often go unheralded, it is because they do not seek the 
limelight. As I speak these words today, I think the General would want 
me to make mention of the men and women with whom he served and who 
worked for him during his 34 years of service, those still on active 
duty and the many veterans and retirees who have served, to whom we owe 
a great debt of thanks for the peace and freedoms we enjoy today. So, 
as I salute General Callaghan today, on his behalf I salute his 
service, the United States Air Force and all those who have worn the 
uniform of the United States Armed Forces.
 Mr. BAYH. Mr. President, I rise today along with my senior 
colleague, Senator Richard Lugar, to honor the life of a fellow Hoosier 
and distinguished veteran of the United States Air Force, Lieutenant 
General James T. Callaghan, who recently passed away.
  As those who knew Lt. Gen. Callaghan can attest, his strong 
commitment to his country is reflected in his long and distinguished 
service in the Air Force. Over his career, which spanned more than 
three decades, he served with valor in the Vietnam and Gulf Wars. 
During his service he received many combat awards, including the Silver 
Star, the Distinguished Flying Cross, and the Bronze Star.
  In the late 1980s, Lt. Gen. Callaghan commanded U.S. air troops in 
Korea and later during the Gulf War, he served as the southern 
commander of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization's Allied Air 
Forces. Lt. Gen. Callaghan exhibited extraordinary bravery and 
exceptional leadership on the eve of the Gulf war. He personally flew a 
test combat mission that night in an effort to assess the situation 
before committing his young troops to battle.
  In addition to his combat service, Lt. Gen. Callaghan aided the U.S. 
Armed Forces in many other capacities. He served as president of the 
Air Force Institute of Technology at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, 
as director of plans and policy for the U.S./European Command, and also 
held several high-ranking positions at the Pentagon.
  After retiring from the Air Force in 1993, Lt. Gen. Callaghan 
continued his service to his country and fellow citizens. He worked 
with many organizations in the Indianapolis area, most notably the 
Indianapolis 500 Festival Memorial Service Committee and Senator 
Lugar's Military Academy Merit Selection Board.
  Lt. Gen. James T. Callaghan was a true hero that the State of Indiana 
and nation will miss tremendously. Senator Lugar and I commend the late 
Lt. Gen. James T. Callaghan for his lifelong service to our 
Nation.

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