[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 132 (Tuesday, December 5, 2006)]
[Senate]
[Page S11188]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              HONORING LIEUTENANT GENENERAL JOHN R. VINES

 Mr. SHELBY. Mr. President, today I honor LTG John R. Vines, 
the commanding general of the XVIII Airborne Corps and Fort Bragg.
  General Vines, an outstanding American soldier from Alabama, will 
soon retire after more than 35 years of selfless service to this great 
Nation in the U.S. Army. General Vines' dedication to our soldiers, 
commitment to excellence, and performance of duty has been 
extraordinary throughout his career. General Vines' lifetime of service 
culminated in an assignment as the commanding general of the XVIII 
Airborne Corps and Fort Bragg, which he has held since 2003.
  During his time in uniform, General Vines served in a succession of 
command and staff positions worldwide. The embodiment of an Army 
Ranger, General Vines has served all over the world, commanding 
paratroopers in combat during three separate conflicts. As a battalion 
commander in the 82nd Airborne Division, General Vines led a combat 
parachute assault in Operation Just Cause in Panama in 1989 and then 
led the same soldiers in Operation Desert Shield as the first ground 
combat unit in the gulf.
  Soon after the United States went to war in 2001, General Vines, as 
commanding general of the 82nd Airborne Division, led his forces into 
Afghanistan as head of Coalition Task Force 82 and then assumed control 
of Combined/Joint Task Force 180 in Bagram. From January 2005 until 
January 2006, General Vines served as the joint forces commander of 
Multi-National Corps Iraq in Operation Iraqi Freedom, becoming the 
first general officer to command forces in both Iraq and Afghanistan.
  LTG John Vines holds a B.S. degree in chemistry from the University 
of Alabama and an M.A. degree in National Security and Strategy from 
the Naval War College. His numerous awards and accolades include the 
Defense Distinguished Service Medal; Distinguished Service Medal; 
Defense Superior Service Medal, with Oak Leaf Cluster; Bronze Star 
Medal, with Oak Leaf Cluster; Legion of Merit, with Oak Leaf Cluster; 
Combat Infantryman Badge; Master Parachutist Badge, with Combat Star 
and the Ranger Tab.
  During his distinguished Army career, General Vines earned a 
reputation as one of the Department of Defense's most forward-thinking 
and insightful leaders. Remembered by those who served under his 
command as both an extraordinary man and leader, General Vines wrote 
personal condolence letters to the families of each one of his soldiers 
killed in combat. General John Vines represents the epitome of what 
Army leaders, soldiers, and the country expect from our military 
officers. He is a sterling roll model for young soldiers. Well known as 
the ``Soldiers' General,'' his commitment to the troops he led was 
unparalleled, even being quoted as saying that success in combat is not 
about military hardware or technology. ``It boils down to the 
individual soldiers. It's about having people who have the commitment, 
the courage, the will, and the warrior values to confront the forces 
that threaten us. And only so long as we have those men and women who 
are able and willing to confront this will we be safe.''
  His service to the Nation has been exceptional, and General Vines is 
more than deserving of this recognition. His sacrifices are appreciated 
and important to the freedom we enjoy every day. I hope my colleagues 
will join me in thanking LTG John Vines for his commendable service to 
our Nation and the U.S. Army. I thank his wife Pamela and his sons, 
Joshua and Jacob, for their steadfast support while he fulfilled this 
essential duty to our country. I personally wish the Vines' family all 
the best as they celebrate General Vines' richly deserved 
retirement. 

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