[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 51 (Monday, March 31, 2003)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4555-S4556]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               TRIBUTE TO GENERAL WALLACE M. GREENE, JR.

  Mr. JEFFORDS. Mr. President, I rise today to mourn the passing on 
March 8, 2003, of GEN Wallace M. Greene, Jr., of Waterbury, VT. General 
Greene served with distinction as Commandant of the Marine Corps from 
1964 until he retired in 1967.
  General Greene was born on December 27, 1907, in Waterbury, a small 
city in central Vermont. He began his academic career at the University 
of Vermont, and after one year he entered the armed forces at the U.S. 
Naval Academy, Annapolis, MD, graduating in 1930, commissioned as a 
Second Lieutenant.
  After Annapolis, General Greene first assignment was the Philadelphia 
Navy Yard and from there, his career took him to Portsmouth, NH; San 
Diego, CA; on board the battleship USS Tennessee; Quantico, VA; and 
Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. During World War II, General Greene took part in 
planning the invasion of the Marshall Islands in 1943

[[Page S4556]]

and, in 1944, in the Saipan and Tinian operations.
  After the war, General Greene returned to the Marine Corps 
Headquarters and in 1953, he graduated from the National War College, 
after which he served as Special Assistant to the Joints Chiefs of 
Staff for National Security Affairs. Beginning in 1955, he commanded 
the bases at Parris Island, SC, and Camp Lejeune, NC. After holding the 
post of Deputy Chief of Staff for Plans, General Greene earned his 
third star in 1960 and became Chief of Staff. In 1964, after his 
promotion General, he became Commandant of the Marine Corps.
  During General Greene's career, he earned myriad citations, 
commendations, and awards including the Distinguished Service Medal, 
with one gold star, and prestigious medals from the governments of 
China, Korea, Brazil, and Vietnam.
  I have come to the Senate floor on many occasions to extol 
Vermonters' contributions to the United States and to our military 
forces. General Wallace Greene served his country and his people with 
honor, pride, and dignity. General Greene will be laid to rest at 
Arlington National Cemetery on Thursday, April 3, 2003, among the many 
other Americans who have dedicated their lives to public service in the 
Armed Forces.

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