[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 54 (Friday, May 3, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E687]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

[[Page E687]]



         HONORING GENERAL THOMAS A. SCHWARTZ ON HIS RETIREMENT

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. DAVID L. HOBSON

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                         Wednesday, May 1, 2002

  Mr. HOBSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor General Thomas A. 
Schwartz, the outgoing Commander of United States Forces in Korea, and 
to share my hearty congratulations on his well-deserved retirement 
after 35 years of distinguished service to our country in the United 
States Army.
  A native of St. Paul, Minnesota, General Schwartz graduated from the 
United States Military Academy in 1967 and was commissioned a second 
lieutenant of infantry. He holds master's degrees in Education, 
Personal Management, and National Security and Strategic Studies from 
Duke University, Salve Regina and the Naval War College. His military 
schooling includes the Infantry Officer Basic Course, Ranger School, 
Armor Officer Advanced Course, Armed Forces Staff College and the Naval 
War College.
  General Schwartz is a distinguished combat veteran of the Vietnam 
War, where he served as a platoon leader and a company commander in the 
82nd Airborne Division earning the Bronze Star, the Silver Star and the 
Purple Heart. He subsequently commanded the 4th Infantry Division and 
completed several peacetime tours in Korea including posts as assistant 
chief of staff of the combined field army and as assistant division 
commander of the 2nd Infantry Division.
  I always appreciated General Schwartz's positive attitude, his 
willingness to fight hard for his troops and his ability to get things 
done efficiently and effectively. His invitation to me and other 
Members of Congress to come and see the poor living and working 
conditions at our installations in Korea, was instrumental in helping 
many in Congress see the severity of the situation and the immediate 
need for additional resources.
  Of all the military personnel with whom I has been my privilege to 
work on military construction issues, General Schwartz has been the 
most dedicated when it came to providing a better quality of life for 
the personnel under his command. Whenever I have encountered Army 
personnel who have served with General Schwartz, I have never heard 
anything but admiration from fellow general officers and appreciation 
from his junior officers for being a true role model.
  General Schwartz has proved to be a dynamic partner in working to 
secure hardship duty pay, e-mail service and eliminating the cost of 
movies for our personnel serving in the Republic of Korea. There is 
still much more that needs to be done, but he got the ball rolling and 
deserves a great deal of credit.
  When General Schwartz took command of the U.S. forces in Korea, then 
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Gen. Henry H. Shelton praised him as, 
``battle-tested warrior and a proven leader at every level with prior 
experience in Korea that will serve both our nations well.'' General 
Shelton's faith in General Schwartz was well placed, as his command 
history has demonstrated.
  No truly effective leader can ever make it to a position of 
prominence without assistance. General Schwartz has been aided every 
step of the way by his wife Sandy. Together, the Schwartz' have made a 
formidable team in their efforts to quality of military life in Korea.
  On behalf of all of the soldiers who have served under his command 
and the United States Congress, I thank General Schwartz for all he has 
done. We are going to miss the expertise, the tenacity, the optimism 
the leadership and the dedication he brought to the service of his 
country.

                          ____________________