[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 129 (Monday, October 1, 2001)]
[Senate]
[Pages S9968-S9970]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
CAREER-ENDING HONORS FOR GENERAL HENRY H. SHELTON
Mr. HELMS. Madam President, this morning marked an unmistakably
glorious conclusion to the remarkable military career of one of North
Carolina's most famous citizens, GEN Henry H. Shelton.
It occurred at Fort Myer, VA, with scores of America's best-known
leaders--both military and civilian, on hand for the spectacular event.
All branches of the armed services participated. The Secretary of
Defense, for example, Don Rumsfeld, was there, as was Secretary of
State Colin Powell. The marching bands didn't miss a cue or a note. It
was splendid, every minute of it, in every detail.
General Shelton's farewell remarks were a modest review of the many
things he had seen and things he had done in many places around the
world. His wife Carolyn's eyes brimmed with tears a few times, a
measurement of her pride in, and her love for, her remarkable husband.
All in all, it served to make those of us present a bit prouder of
our country as we surveyed the troops from all of the services and
heard the bands strike up.
I believe Senators will enjoy reviewing the address by GEN Henry H.
Shelton on this, the morning of his retirement from the U.S. Army--and
especially, as General Shelton turned over the chairmanship of the
Joint Chiefs of Staff to his friend, GEN Dick Myers.
Therefore, I ask unanimous consent that General Shelton's farewell
address be printed in full in the Record.
I thank the Chair.
There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in
the Record, as follows:
Remarks by General Henry H. Shelton, USA, Armed Forces Full Honor
Tribute, Summerall Field, Fort Myer, Monday, 1 October 2001
Secretary Powell, Secretary and Mrs. Rumsfeld, Secretary
Principi, Director and good friend George Tennant of CIA,
members of the diplomatic corps, distinguished members of
Congress to include the delegation from my home state of
North Carolina Senator Jesse Helms, Senator John Edwards, and
Congressman Bob Etheridge, Deputy Secretary Wolfowitz,
Service Secretaries, Fellow Chiefs of Defense, Members of the
Joint Chiefs of Staff past and present to include my
predecessor and old mentor General David Jones, Commanders-in
Chief of our Combatant Commands, fellow flag and general
officers, distinguished guests, family and friends, and
especially, the men and women of our Armed Forces,
represented here today by the magnificent soldiers, sailors,
airmen, marines, and coast guardsmen, standing proud and tall
in the ranks before us.
Thanks to all of you for being a part of this ceremony
during this very busy and trying time and for honoring
Carolyn and me with your presence. Thank you Secretary
Rumsfeld for those kind words. Carolyn and I deeply
appreciate your comments and the awards. There are so many
here today that I'd like to thank personally, and many who
traveled great distances to get here like Ms. Connie Stevens
from LA and Johnny Counterfit and wife from Nashville,
Tennessee, and CSM Felix Acosta, a great soldier from
Bristol, Tennessee, old friends from Atlanta, Tampa, and
Fayettesville, North Carolina, the center of the universe,
and finally friends from NC State University.
Ladies and gentlemen, this ceremony marks the end of an
extraordinary journey: 38 years as a soldier in the service
of our country. Now 38 years may seem like an awfully long
time, and it is, but as I near the finish line, it feels like
I've been driving a powerful Corvette at high speed with time
and distance flying by. I can vividly recall the year 1963,
when Carolyn and I made the drive from Speed, North Carolina
to Fort Benning, Georgia, in the days following my
commissioning as a Second Lieutenant from NC State
University. Like all young men, I had many dreams and grand
thoughts, and also some trepidation about the future. Someone
asked me the other day if during those early days if I ever
imagined being here today. My response was I was too busy
doing my duty as a 2nd Lieutenant and wasn't even thinking
beyond 1st Lieutenant. If I had imagined it, it probably
would have scared me to death. But, what a truly incredible
journey this has been for a farm boy from North Carolina.
America is truly a great land of opportunity.
But I didn't make the trip alone. So today it's important
and necessary that I recognize and thank those who made that
journey possible. First, my parents, my mother Patsy is here
today, who shaped my character and instilled the values,
which have served me well, throughout the trip. My brothers,
David and Ben, and sister, Sarah, whose support was always
felt. And my wonderful wife, Carolyn, who has been with me
every step of the way through 27 moves, raising three
wonderful sons, Jon, Jeff, and Mark, and through countless
separations in times of war and peace. While I'm grateful to
God for many things in my life, none compares with the love
and pride that I feel with Carolyn by my side. Thank you for
joining me on every step of this journey. Carolyn. And, as I
reflect these past four years as Chairman, I fully realize
that Carolyn and I need to express our thanks to many of
you in the audience today.
I first need to thank the two Commanders-in-Chief for whom
I've had the honor and privilege of serving. President Bush
and President Clinton. I thank President Clinton for giving
me the opportunity of a lifetime only four short years ago to
serve as this Nation's 14th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs.
This assignment has indeed been the highlight of my career,
for the greatest honor that any military leader could ever
have is to represent America's soldiers, sailors, airmen,
marines, and quite often our coastguardsmen back here in
Washington. And for that I'll always be grateful. I also need
thank our current Commander-in-Chief, President Bush, for the
complete trust and confidence he has shown in me these past
nine months. Our nation is truly blessed to have President
Bush's strong leadership, integrity, and gritty resolve
during this difficult time.
I also need to thank the two great Secretaries for whom I
have worked during this tour of duty, Secretary Rumsfeld and
Secretary Cohen. And both, like me, married above their
``raising'' with Janet Cohen and Joyce Rumsfeld. I thank
Secretary Cohen, for the chance he gave me to serve our
Nation in this capacity, and to Secretary Rumsfeld for the
opportunity to continue to serve and for your trust and
confidence. What I found fascinating about these two
gentlemen is not what makes them different, but rather what
makes them so similar, First, they are true patriots who
deeply love their country and all that it stands for. And
second, they both share many of the same attributes; strength
of character; vision; determination;and an unyielding desire
to build and maintain the finest Armed Forces in the world.
Thanks to both of you for your trust and confidence, your
personal sacrifices to serve our Nation, and for your
willingness to stand up for the right thing for our men and
women in uniform. Our Nation has been, and will continue to
be, blessed by your service.
I also need to recognize the extraordinary loyalty and
support of my two Vice Chairmen, General Joe Ralston and
Chairman Dick Myers. I'm proud of all that we've
accomplished. Joe and Dick, your wise counsel and unfailing
support made the difference, time and gain, as we confronted
a host of difficult challenges and I thank you. I will always
be indebted to you both. And Dick, I
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couldn't be more pleased that the President picked you as my
successor. You're a superb warrior, a visionary leader, a
true professional and a great friend. And I know that our men
and women in uniform are in good hands with you at the helm.
I would also like to give a heartfelt thanks to each of the
Service Chiefs here today, for your outstanding support,
advice, candor, and friendship, Ric, Vern, Jim Jones, John,
and Jim Loy. You, and the great group of Service Chiefs you
succeeded have redefined what selfless service, character,
and teamwork really means. I have watched with admiration
your effective stewardship of your respective Services, and,
it's largely a tribute to your efforts that our Armed Forces
are well trained, fully armed, and ready to fight and win.
You're an awesome team.
I also need to recognize our superb warfighting CINCs. Our
country has been blessed the past four years with a select
group of incredibly talented professionals charged with
leading our warfighting commands. And leading is precisely
what they have done. I want to thank each of you for your
continued service to country and for your devotion to the
men and women who defend our way of life.
And a big thanks to our Command Sergeant Majors and Senior
Enlisted Advisors here today, and the magnificent NCO Corps
you represent, the factor that truly is our greatest strength
as an Armed Force and always the reason behind our success.
And, finally, thanks to our great soldiers, sailors, airmen,
marines, and coastguardsmen--always at the point of the
spear, flying their aircraft, sailing their ships, and
patrolling their sectors far from home. They have never let
our Nation down and they never will. They stand ready for the
challenges ahead!
With my time on active duty fast drawing to a close,
Carolyn and I will soon finish packing our bags for one last
government move. Already packed away is a lifetime of
memories. I'll remember: Thousands of faces, both in peace
and war, comrades who fell beside me giving the ultimate
sacrifice and their families whose lives were changed
forever, the welcome tug of nylon straps as a parachute snaps
open, the pride of grasping a guidon or unit colors on a
parade ground and the thrill of seeing our red, white, and
blue flag unfurl in the morning breeze, the familiar feel of
a uniform carefully laid out each night for 38 years, the
call to vigilance as the last haunting note of taps rings out
in the night or is played in tribute to a fallen comrade, the
extraordinary privilege of leading troops, and finally, my
days spent with all of you during these past four years.
For those of you here in uniform, for the past 38 years,
I've served with you and many thousands of your predecessors,
in the central highlands of Vietnam, in the sands of Saudi
Arabia, Kuwait and Iraq, hitting the beach at Port-au-Prince,
and scores of major exercises preparing for war. I have no
doubt that you will stand proud, tall, and vigilant against
those who seek to destroy the enduring freedom we enjoy as
Americans.
Mr. Secretary, in my heart, I know that our Nation and our
Armed Forces are in good hands and I wish you and the
President all the best as you set a new course for our
country in the difficult and uncertain months ahead. In many
ways, I'm reminded of the time in the late 1930s when the
winds of war began to envelop Europe. Winston Churchill
observed at the time, ``Civilization will not last, freedom
will not survive, peace will not be kept unless a very large
majority of mankind unite together to defend them.''
Ladies and gentlemen, recently, evil and barbaric attacks
have been made against the United States and the citizens of
the world. Our President responded with a similar call to all
nations to join together in a combined campaign against
international terrorism. And in President Bush's recent
speech to the joint session of Congress, he ordered those of
us in uniform to ``be ready.'' Mr. Secretary, on this day as
I leave office, I'm proud to report to you that America's
military is ready!
Farewell my friends, my colleagues, and farewell to you,
our Nation's splendid Armed Forces. Carolyn and I shall miss
you all. As President Bush said recently, ``In all that lies
before us, May God grant us wisdom and may he watch over the
United States of America.'' Thank you and may God Bless.
Mr. WARNER. Madam President, I commend my distinguished colleague
from North Carolina. I, too, want to associate myself with his remarks
on the distinguished career of General Shelton. In my 23 years in the
Senate, I have worked with many chairmen and each has had his own
strengths. The strengths of this fine man were towering. He had a sense
of humility and composure that was always with him. I never thought
that there was a time when he overreached. He was always calm,
collected, and confident and rendered magnificent service to two
Presidents, which is unique. Above all, I remember when the Senate
Armed Services Committee would have him come before it, most often with
the other chiefs, and, frankly, in a respectful way to the Commander in
Chief--at that time President Clinton--would properly say, I respect my
Commander in Chief but we do not have sufficient funds in the budget
for the defense of this Nation to meet our needs. Then he would very
carefully lay out those requirements that he and his fellow chiefs
sitting there before the committee--and indeed I think it was before
the Appropriations Committee--the Presiding Officer who recalls the
time that he appeared, and he laid down with clarity the needs of the
men and women of the Armed Forces in our defense, even though those
figures were at variance with the budgetary submissions by the
President.
In the very simple, plain language that the foot soldier understands,
that man had guts.
Mr. LEVIN. Will the Senator yield so I may add my compliments to the
Senator from North Carolina for his remarks?
Mr. WARNER. Yes.
Mr. LEVIN. I join with the Senator from North Carolina in paying
tribute to Hugh Shelton. I have also had the opportunity to work with
him, and I am a great admirer and fan of his. I also must join my good
friend from Virginia in saying that his appearances--and there were
many before our committee--would be the highlight of our committee's
activities. His briefings were always to the point and delivered with
extraordinary modesty for somebody who had a right to really deliver
them with claims of experience, but he never used that. He just used
common sense, calm, and wisdom. His authority came from inside, not
kind of an outward claim to boast.
He was an extraordinary human being, and I just want to thank the
Senator from North Carolina for his remarks. I join with him. I always
remember that air campaign in Kosovo, of which he really was a leader.
I think it was a magnificent success in good measure because of that
leadership.
Mr. HELMS. I thank the Senator.
Mr. EDWARDS. Madam President, I rise today to pay tribute to a great
North Carolinian, General Hugh Shelton.
Since 1997, General Shelton has served our nation well as the 14th
chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. But the men and women stationed
in my State benefitted from his leadership long before he was confirmed
as Chairman.
Early in his career, General Shelton commanded the 1st Brigade of the
82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, NC. In 1989, he began a two-year
assignment as Assistant Division Commander for Operations of the 101st
Airborne Division-Air Assault. That tour included a seven-month
deployment to Saudi Arabia for Operations Desert Shield and Desert
Storm. When he returned from the Gulf, he was promoted to major general
and returned home to assume command of the 82nd Airborne Division
stationed at Fort Bragg.
In 1997, the Senate confirmed his nomination to chairman, making him
the first Green Beret to command our military. The Senate reconfirmed
him in 1999.
For 38 years, General Shelton has served his country honorably. He
has received the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star Medal with V device
as well as the Purple Heart. Among other honors, he also earned the
Master Parachutist Badge, the Air Assault Badge, the Combat Infantryman
Badge and the Military Freefall Badge. And in a ceremony today at the
Pentagon, the general will receive his fourth Defense Distinguished
Service Medal.
He is a native of Tarborro and a graduate of North Carolina State
University. He and his wife Carolyn have three sons. The Sheltons'
children have followed their father's example of service to the
country--his son Jonathan is a special agent for the U.S. Secret
Service and his son Jeffrey is a U.S. Army Special Operations soldier.
These are uncertain and difficult times for our Nation. And, true to
his dedication as a soldier in the U.S. Army, General Shelton admitted
to being reluctant about retiring now. In fact, last week, the general
said ``I feel like the quarterback of a football team that went out on
the field and he's behind by one touchdown but he knows his team's
going to come through and win. But you're in the first quarter and all
of a sudden the coach sends a player out to tell you your eligibility
just expired.''
But as General Shelton must surely know, his retirement does not end
the tremendous influence he has had on our military and the defense of
this nation. His work will live for years to come. I am so grateful to
call him my
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friend, and North Carolina is proud to call him our son.
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