[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 154 (Wednesday, October 21, 2015)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1504]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          TRIBUTE TO GENERAL ROBERT SHOEMAKER OF THE U.S. ARMY

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                          HON. JOHN R. CARTER

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, October 21, 2015

  Mr. CARTER of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the 
distinguished career of General Robert Shoemaker of the U.S. Army. For 
more than 36 years Gen. Shoemaker served his country in many of our 
most trying times and has honored both his nation and the Army through 
his long and distinguished military service.
  Robert Shoemaker hails from Almont, Michigan. He was commissioned as 
a Second Lieutenant upon graduation from West Point in 1946. Early 
troop assignments included Platoon Leader and Company Commander in 
Germany from which he went on to serve in Korea. General Shoemaker also 
served numerous tours in Vietnam and excelled through several echelons 
of Command.
  His hard work did not go unrecognized. General Shoemaker rose to the 
highest levels of the military and was promoted to four star general 
and led the U.S. Army Forces (FORSCOM). This command consists of more 
than 750,000 soldiers, nearly 90 percent of the Army's combat power, 
and provides expeditionary, campaign-capable land forces to combatant 
commanders. Under his steady leadership, FORSCOM held fast and true to 
its motto as ``Freedom's Guardian.''
  Life after retirement for Gen. Shoemaker continues to be one of 
humble service that feeds his passion to help his fellow man. Gen. 
Shoemaker has served eight years as the County Commissioner for Bell 
County, three years as the Heart O' Texas council for the Boy Scouts, 
and served on the Board of United Way for Texas. Today, Gen. Shoemakers 
days are filled with regular attendance at extra-curricular activities 
in the Killeen-Fort Hood area.
  When I reflect on the life and service of Gen. Shoemaker, I am 
reminded of an oft quoted passage by J. M. Barrie, ``the life of every 
man is a diary in which he means to write one story, and writes 
another; and his humblest hour is when he compares the volume as it is 
with what he vowed to make it.'' I have little doubt Gen. Shoemaker 
will find any discrepancies when he compares his diaries.

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