[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 45 (Monday, April 8, 2013)]
[Senate]
[Page S2452]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    RETIREMENT OF GENERAL CARTER HAM

  Mr. McCAIN. Mr. President, today I honor an exceptional warrior. 
After a lifetime of service to our Nation, GEN Carter F. Ham is 
retiring from the U.S. Army and his current position as Commander of 
the U.S. Africa Command. On this occasion I believe it is fitting to 
recognize General Ham's years of uniformed service to our Nation.
  General Ham has served and led at all levels in the Army. He began 
his career as an enlisted infantryman in the 82nd Airborne Division and 
he retires as a theater level commander. He was commissioned as a 
second lieutenant through the Reserve Officers' Training Corps in the 
Infantry as a Distinguished Military Graduate of John Carroll 
University in Cleveland, OH in 1976. General Ham's distinguished 
military service has taken him all over the United States, Italy and 
Germany. Prior to his current command he served as the commanding 
general of U.S. Army Europe.
  During these last 24 months as Commander, U.S. Africa Command, he has 
led combat operations to oust a tyrant, coordinated economic and 
infrastructural development programs to improve conditions on the 
ground, and orchestrated international security cooperation activities 
aimed at strengthening the abilities of American and African forces to 
deal with the range of complex challenges facing the continent. These 
were no small tasks and all the while he continued to make the well-
being of our service men and women his highest priority. I can think of 
no better leader to have had carrying the guidon!
  Our Nation and our international partners will feel the loss of this 
distinguished soldier and statesman. I join many members of the Senate 
Armed Services Committee in expressing my respect and gratitude to 
General Ham for his outstanding service to our Nation. The strength of 
our Nation is our Army; the strength of our Army is our soldiers. Thank 
you, General Ham, for your service as a soldier and general, and for 
keeping our Nation Army Strong! I wish him and his wife Christi ``fair 
winds and following seas.''

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