[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 142 (Monday, September 24, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1954]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  TRIBUTE TO GENERAL PETER PACE, CHAIRMAN OF THE JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. IKE SKELTON

                              of missouri

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, September 24, 2007

  Mr. SKELTON. Madam Speaker, today I want to recognize and pay tribute 
to a true patriot and exceptional leader of our military, General Peter 
Pace, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, for his more than 40 years 
of dedicated service to the U.S. Armed Forces and to our country.
  General Pace was born in Brooklyn, NY, and grew up in Teaneck, NJ. A 
1967 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, he holds a Master's Degree in 
Business Administration from The George Washington University and 
attended Harvard University for the Senior Executives in National and 
International Security program. The General is also a graduate of the 
Infantry Officers' Advanced Course at Fort Benning, Georgia; the Marine 
Corps Command and Staff College, in Quantico, Virginia; and the 
National War College, at Ft. McNair, Washington, DC.
  In 1968, upon completion of The Basic School, Quantico, Virginia, 
General Pace was assigned to the 2d Battalion, 5th Marines, 1st Marine 
Division in the Republic of Vietnam, serving first as a Rifle Platoon 
Leader and subsequently as Assistant Operations Officer. He joined his 
platoon, their third platoon leader in as many weeks, during the battle 
for Hue City. He was decorated for valor during his tour in Vietnam, 
yet General Pace holds as one of his most valued treasures the photo of 
LCpl Guido Farinaro, the first Marine he lost in combat. The lance 
corporal's forever young likeness is under the glass on General Pace's 
desk, each day reminding him of the impact of his decisions as a 
military leader. Following Vietnam, he was assigned to Marine Barracks, 
Washington, DC, where he served as Security Detachment Commander, Camp 
David; White House Social Aide; and Platoon Leader, Special Ceremonial 
Platoon.
  General Pace has held command at virtually every level, and served in 
overseas billets in Nam Phong, Thailand; Seoul, Korea; and Yokota, 
Japan. While serving as President, Marine Corps University, then 
Brigadier General Pace also served as Deputy Commander, Marine Forces, 
Somalia, from December 1992-February 1993, and as the Deputy Commander, 
Joint Task Force-Somalia from October 1993-March 1994.
  After an assignment as the Director for Operations (J-3), on the 
Joint Staff in Washington, DC, then Lieutenant General Pace served as 
the Commander, U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Atlantic/Europe/South. He was 
promoted to Generaleral and assumed duties as the Commander in Chief, 
United States Southern Command in September 2000.
  General Peter Pace was sworn in as the sixteenth Chairman of the 
Joint Chiefs of Staff on September 30, 2005, giving him the distinction 
of being the first Marine to serve in this role. In this capacity, he 
served as the principal military advisor to the President, the 
Secretary of Defense, the National Security Council, and the Homeland 
Security Council. Prior to becoming Chairman, General Pace served as 
the Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff from October 2001 to 
August 2005, also earning him the distinction as the first Marine to 
have served in this capacity.

  General Pace and his wife, Lynne, have a son, Peter, a daughter, 
Tiffany Marie, and a daughter-in-law, Lynsey Olczak Pace.
  General Pace represented the U.S. Armed Forces with great distinction 
for the past 2 years as its senior military officer and throughout his 
more than four decades of service to our great Nation. He is a highly 
respected source of military counsel for our country's leaders, always 
keeping at the forefront the best interests of our men and women in 
uniform. General Pace is known for his thoughtful manner, his sense of 
humor, and his integrity. One Pace trademark we have all come to value 
is his constant consideration of ``PFC Pace'' in all military-related 
discussion, thereby ensuring the President, the Secretary of Defense, 
the National Security Council, the Homeland Defense Council, and this 
body of Congress consider the impact of their decisions on even the 
most junior members of our military. General Pace's leadership 
significantly contributed to the success of military operations in 
recent years and improved the security of the United States.
  General Pace took every opportunity to recognize the tremendous 
efforts of the 2.4 million active, guard and reserve members of the 
Armed Forces, and he likewise recognized the invaluable dedication and 
sacrifices of the family members who sustain our all-recruited force. 
During his tenure as Chairman and Vice Chairman, General Pace traveled 
more than 715,000 miles to meet with his counterparts around the world, 
and visit troops stationed overseas and across the United States.
  Madam Speaker, I know the Members of the House will join me in paying 
tribute to General Pace and in thanking him for his dedicated 
leadership to our country.




                          ____________________