[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

[[Page S9969]]

     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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