[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 22 (Thursday, February 26, 2004)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1676-S1677]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               TRIBUTE TO ADMIRAL (RETIRED) THOMAS MOORER

  Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. President, I rise today before the Senate to 
recognize a great American and one of the finest patriots this Nation, 
and my home State of Alabama, has ever produced. We are truly saddened 
by the loss of Retired U.S. Navy Admiral Thomas Moorer, former Chairman 
of the Joint Chiefs of Staff from July 1970 to June 1974 and former 
Chief of Naval Operations from 1967 to 1970.
  Admiral Moorer's distinguished service in our great Navy spanned 41 
remarkable years during which he dutifully stood the watch against our 
adversaries. He was our 7th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and 
the 18th Chief of Naval Operations. These accomplishments were 
consistent with his outstanding service record that had placed Admiral 
Moorer on our front lines throughout his career. Admiral Moorer was 
serving in Pearl Harbor with Patrol Squadron Twenty-Two on December 7, 
1941. He witnessed that ``day of infamy'' and answered with bravery as 
he was one of the first pilots to get his aircraft airborne after the 
Japanese attack.
  Never shying from battle, he was wounded in aerial combat when his 
aircraft was shot down near the Australian coastline. Indeed, 
indicative of the ferocity of the combat, the rescue ship that 
recovered him was sunk by enemy action the same day as his rescue. 
Still, he would not quit and went on to receive the Distinguished 
Flying Cross for valor. He flew through hostile areas with full 
knowledge of overpowering enemy aircraft superiority flying badly 
needed supplies into the besieged island of Timor and flying 
evacuations of the wounded. He also stood watch during the Korean 
conflict, during the Cuban Missile crisis, during our engagement in 
Vietnam and during our outreach to China.
  Admiral Moorer distinguished himself in many positions including 
command of our Seventh Fleet, arriving at full Admiral in June 1964 
when appointed to Commander in Chief of the Pacific Fleet. He was the 
first naval officer to command both the Pacific and Atlantic Fleets. 
Admiral Moorer stood his watch as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of 
Staff, the highest position any military officer can achieve, under 
President Nixon as the Nation extracted itself from our conflict in 
Vietnam. Writing in White House Years, Dr. Henry Kissinger remarked 
that Admiral Moorer `` had spent the 1960s in command positions which, 
while not without their frustrations, did not produce the physical and 
psychological exhaustion of high-level Washington. A canny bureaucratic 
infighter, Moorer made no pretense of academic subtlety. If anything, 
he exaggerated the attitude of an innocent country boy caught up in a 
jungle of sharpies. What his views lacked in elegance they made up in 
explicitness. By the time he took office, Vietnam had become a 
rearguard action. He conducted its heartbreaking phaseout with dignity. 
No President could have had a more stalwart military advisor.''
  He did not waiver. Admiral Moorer strongly disagreed with the Panama 
Canal giveaway. In fact, he testified before the Senate Armed Services 
Committee several years ago on this subject. The public had again 
become concerned about this issue as a Chinese company had won the 
contract to operate both ends of the canal. Admiral Moorer noted the 
danger this posed to the movement of our fleet.
  As a young Alabamian, I followed Admiral Moorer's career. He was from 
the small rural community of Mt. Willing. Mt. Willing was on the road 
to Montgomery from my home in the rural community of Hybart near 
Camden. I would frequently go through Camden up Highway 21 through Mt. 
Willing on my way to Huntingdon College in Montgomery where I was a 
student. I would pass Moorer's grocery operated by a relative, and have 
the chance to think of the extraordinary accomplishments of this 
remarkable Admiral from the heart of Alabama. He carried those values 
with him as can be seen from Dr. Kissinger's comments and those who 
knew him. Mt. Willing is an old

[[Page S1677]]

community. Its post office was established not long after Alabama 
became a State in 1819.
  Admiral Moorer actually attended a one-room schoolhouse. Later, his 
family moved to Montgomery which is where he graduated from high 
school. He was the Valedictorian of his class, graduating at the age of 
15. Two years later he entered the Naval Academy. During this period 
his family moved to Eufaula, AL, which is where he met his wonderful 
life partner, Carrie Foy. Mrs. Moorer, a most delightful person in her 
own right, was tremendously supportive of Admiral Moorer's career and 
his beliefs, and remains proud of his exceptional service, as well she 
should.
  It is appropriate that we reflect today on the sacrifices made by 
this veteran Sailor and great military leader. I am proud of him for 
serving our great country through challenging times. And I join all of 
the citizens of Alabama in prayer for one of our own, this country boy 
from Mt. Willing, Alabama who turned top Admiral. His story is one that 
all Americans can be proud of. We wish him and his family Godspeed and 
fair winds and following seas as he leaves us for his final watch.
  He came from rural America. He was learned of the greatness of 
America. He was not bombarded by the ``blame America first-crowd.'' 
Because of his recognized ability, he was selected for the Naval 
Academy. Because of his record of accomplishment he rose to the highest 
position a uniformed military officer can achieve--Chairman of the 
Joint Chiefs of Staff. He delivered for his beloved homeland there just 
as he did in all his previous positions. These values, taught best in 
our small towns, sustain us in difficult times. Admiral Moorer, like 
all the other wonderful Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines, fully 
understood that when he put on that uniform, he was prepared to give 
his life for his country.

                          ____________________