[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 111 (Thursday, September 5, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1521]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                IN HONOR OF GENERAL MICHAEL J. WILLIAMS

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JOHN P. MURTHA

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 5, 2002

  Mr. MURTHA. Mr. Speaker, today I recognize General Michael J. 
Williams, United States Marine Corps on the occasion of his retirement 
from active duty. General Williams has served our great Nation for a 
total of 42 years.
  General Williams enlisted in the Navy in 1960, and served as a 
boatswain. He was commissioned a second lieutenant in the United States 
Marine Corps upon graduation from the U.S. Naval Academy in June 1967, 
and subsequently completed Naval Flight Training and was designated a 
Naval Aviator.
  General Williams' operational tours include various squadron 
assignments in the United States, Republic of Vietnam, and Okinawa; 
Presidential Helicopter Pilot with Marine Helicopter Squadron One; 
executive officer Headquarters and Maintenance Squadron 16; commanding 
officer of Marine Helicopter Training Squadron 301; 2d Marine Aircraft 
Wing Inspector; executive and commanding officer of Marine Air Group 
26, serving as commanding officer during Desert Shield and Desert 
Storm; assistant Division G-3 for 3d Marine Division and Commanding 
General of 2d Force Service Support Group and Commander Joint Task 
Force 160, responsible for providing humanitarian relief for Haitian 
and Cuban immigrants in Guantanamo Naval Base, Cuba.
  His staff assignments include: company officer and executive 
assistant to the Commandant of Midshipmen at the U.S. Naval Academy; 
Marine Corps Program Development Officer and branch head in 
Requirements and Programs Division, Headquarters Marine Corps; Vice 
Director for Operational Plans and lnteroperability, J-7, Joint Staff; 
Director of the Marine Corps Staff, Headquarters Marine Corps; 
Commander, Marine Corps Systems Command and Deputy Chief of Staff for 
Programs and Resources, Headquarters Marine Corps.
  General Williams is concluding his illustrious career having served 
as the Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps. In this capacity, he 
has been the principal advisor to the Commandant of the Marine Corps on 
all decisions of major consequence. His extensive and diverse 
background in operational and joint planning, professional military 
education and training, and budgetary and programmatic policy issues 
have been given wide credibility by decision makers in the Department 
of the Navy, the Joint Staff, the Office of the Secretary of Defense, 
and the United States Congress.
  General Williams has made a lasting contribution to the capabilities 
of today's Marine Corps and the future shape of tomorrow's Corps. We 
are grateful for General Williams' dedication, sense of duty, advice 
and counsel, and exceptional work ethic. The Marine Corps will miss 
him, but General Williams leaves a large legacy for others to follow 
and emulate. I wish him and his lovely wife, Barbara, his son, Matthew, 
and daughter-in-law, Kimberly, all the best as they enter this new 
chapter of their lives.

                          ____________________