[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 57 (Thursday, April 29, 2004)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4684-S4685]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        HONORING AN ARMY LEGEND

 Mr. MILLER. Mr. President, I rise today to honor the 
Commanding General, United States Army Forces Command, General Larry R. 
Ellis. General Ellis has served as the Commanding General of U.S. Army 
Forces Command from November 19, 2001, to May 7, 2004.
  General Ellis, an outstanding American Soldier from the great State 
of Maryland, will soon complete over 35 years of selfless service to 
this great Nation in the United States Army. General Ellis' dedication 
to our Soldiers, commitment to excellence, and performance of duty has 
been extraordinary throughout his career, a lifetime of service 
culminating in an assignment as the Commanding General of the largest 
major command in the United States Army. He will retire on July 1, 
2004.
  During more than 35 years in uniform, General Ellis served in a 
succession of command and staff positions worldwide. As a junior 
officer, he served in combat in the Republic of Vietnam, and 
subsequently with troop units in positions of increasing responsibility 
throughout the continental United States, Europe, and the Republic of 
Korea.
  While the Deputy Director for Strategic Planning and Policy at U.S. 
Pacific Command, and as the Assistant Chief of Staff, J3, for United 
States Forces Korea, General Ellis supervised the training and 
performance of American military forces throughout the Far East.
  He commanded units at every echelon of the Army, including the First 
Armored Division in Germany and when deployed as the Multinational 
Division (North), in Bosnia and Herzegovina, a combined task force that 
included units from 13 nations. In this capacity General Ellis 
coordinated European military and civil efforts to implement an 
extensive array of operations and programs to provide stability and 
restore favorable economic and political conditions in that war-torn 
region.
  As the Army's Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations, General Ellis 
oversaw multi-year, multi-billion dollar programs supporting United 
States Army budget strategic objectives, and executed annual operating 
budgets of more than $15 billion across 16 major subordinate 
organizations. He directed the development of comprehensive strategic 
plans supporting the Army's continued success across the next three 
decades by resourcing plans through decisive application of deliberate 
management systems, strategic planning processes, environmental 
assessments, and periodic situational appraisals to ensure full 
integration and compliance with strictly defined performance 
objectives. He spearheaded the Army's effort to translate the senior 
leadership's Strategic Vision into an executable Transformation 
Campaign Plan.
  Soon after the United States went to war in 2001, General Ellis 
assumed command of U.S. Army Forces Command, the Army's largest major 
command. He aggressively orchestrated the training, mobilization, and 
deployment of more than 500,000 Soldiers and more than a million tons 
of equipment to locations worldwide which represents the largest 
mobilization since the Korean War. In addition to providing resources 
and directing long-range planning to move Army forces, he maintained 
close operational control of ongoing events to ensure his subordinate 
units could respond to emerging trends and circumstances. The strategic 
communications plan he instigated to engage disparate and complex 
audiences to include academia, Congress, local public officials, 
industry, and members of the Department of Defense, ensured that his 
commands' operations were understood and supported.
  General Ellis holds degrees from Morgan State University, B.S., 1969, 
and Indiana University, M.S., 1975. His honors include the NAACP 
National Service Award, 1999; Honorary Doctor of Law, Morgan State 
University, 2000; Honorary Master of Strategic Studies, U.S. Army War 
College, 2001; Distinguished Alumni Service Award, Indiana University, 
2003. His military awards include the Defense Distinguished Service 
Medal, the Army Distinguished Service Medal, and the Combat Infantryman 
Badge.
  His three and a half decades of service earned for General Ellis a 
reputation as one of the Department of Defense's most forward thinking 
and insightful leaders. General Ellis represents the epitome of what 
Army leaders, Soldiers, and the country expect

[[Page S4685]]

from our officers. He is a sterling example for young Soldiers to 
emulate . . . well known as a ``Soldiers' General.'' His service to the 
Nation has been exceptional, and General Ellis is more than deserving 
of this recognition.
  General Ellis will be sorely missed by those who have had the 
opportunity to serve with him over these many years. I join with his 
friends and family as he celebrates this richly deserved upcoming 
retirement and wish him my best as he enjoys everyday of this new 
journey.

                          ____________________