[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 10] [Extensions of Remarks] [Pages 13751-13752] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]COMMENDING BRIGADIER GENERAL JOSEPH J. McMENAMIN ON HIS DISTINGUISHED SERVICE TO OUR NATION UPON HIS RETIREMENT FROM THE UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS ______ HON. ROBIN HAYES of north carolina in the house of representatives Thursday, June 29, 2006 Mr. HAYES. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and to pay tribute to Brigadier General Joseph J. McMenamin, United States Marine Corps, on the occasion of his retirement from active duty. General McMenamin has served our great Nation for more than 32 years. The departure of General McMenamin marks not only the end of an illustrious career filled with many honors, but also the commencement of several initiatives which, by virtue of his dynamic leadership, forward thinking approach, and accomplished diplomatic skills, will ensure that U.S. national strategy is prepared to meet and defeat the challenges of the 21st century. A native of historical Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, General McMenamin graduated from Villanova University with a degree in political science in May, 1974 and later completed his Master of Arts degree in Strategic Studies and National Security Affairs graduating with distinction in May 1995 from the Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island. Upon his commission as a Second Lieutenant in the Marine Corps via the Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps program, General McMenamin was assigned to 2d Battalion, 9th Marines, 3d Marine Division, Okinawa, Japan where he served as the 81mm Mortar Platoon Commander and Headquarters & Service Company Executive Officer. For heroism during a mission on the Koh Tang Island in the Gulf of Siam, General McMenamin earned a Bronze Star Medal with Combat ``Y''. Upon returning from Okinawa in February 1976, General McMenamin was assigned to Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego, where he served as a Series Officer, Battalion Adjutant and Regimental Adjutant. In October 1979, he transferred to the 1st Marine Division, Camp Pendleton, California where he served as the Weapons Company Commander and the Battalion Fire Support Coordinator with the 2d Battalion, 7th Marines for three years. Following this tour, he attended and graduated from Amphibious Warfare School with honors at Quantico, Virginia. Whereupon, General McMenamin reported to The Basic School to serve as a Tactics Instructor, Tactics Section Chief, Student Company Commander and Assistant Tactics Group Chief guiding the integration of tactics and weapons utilizing classroom instruction, field applications and live fire in order to produce a better trained basic Marine Officer. Selected for recruiting duty, he served as the Commanding Officer of Recruiting Station, Cincinnati, Ohio from June 1986 to June 1989. In Cincinnati, he focused on quality recruiting while reducing entry-level attrition. After recruiting duty, General McMenamin attended Marine Corps Command and Staff College graduating with honors. Completing school in June 1990, General McMenamin served an air-ground exchange tour with the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing in Okinawa, Japan participating in Operation Sea Angel in Bangladesh. Returning to the United States in July 1991, General McMenamin was initially assigned as the G-3 Training Officer of the 2d Marine Division, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. He later assumed command of the 2d Light Armored Infantry Battalion in July 1992 applying the post Desert Storm lessons learned into manuals for Command and Control and Combat Operations. He developed a comprehensive training program that laid the foundation for increased combat readiness and the professional development of his Marines and Sailors. Completing this assignment in February, 1994, General McMenamin completed his tour with the 2d Marine Division as the Assistant Chief of Staff, Readiness. In 1995, General McMenamin reported for joint duty with the United States Central Command serving as the Strategy Branch Chief and Division Chief, Policy and Strategy Division in the J-5 Plans and Policy Directorate where he guided the development of the initial CENTCOM Theater Engagement Plan and the significant expansion of the Humanitarian Demining Program. In June, 1999, he reported for duty as the Commanding Officer of the Sixth Marine Corps District where he re- energized the District into a cohesive team increasing quantity and quality, reducing attrition, and focusing leadership development on long term success. [[Page 13752]] General McMenamin then served as the Commanding General, Marine Corps Recruit Depot/Eastern Region, Parris Island, South Carolina from June, 2001 until May, 2004. Under his leadership, Parris Island provided reception, processing and recruit training for 17,500 enlisted male and 2,200 enlisted females annually to accomplish entry-level skills. In addition, Parris Island achieved a historically low 10 percent male attrition over the course of three years. In June, 2004, General McMenamin was assigned as the Director, Iraq Survey Group (ISG), Baghdad, Iraq leading the presidential directed joint coalition intelligence operations group in Baghdad, Iraq. The ISG was charged with the missions of assessing Iraq's weapons of mass destruction programs, supporting counter-terrorism and the POW/MIA search under combat conditions in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM. General McMenamin assumed duties as the Assistant Division Commander of 2d Marine Division during December of 2004, returning to Iraq in February, 2005. Most significantly was his personal effort in the engagement of the newly elected Iraqi Leadership of Al Anbar Province. Through his tireless efforts and leadership, he laid the foundation for the Division's governance, economics, security and influence Lines of Operation that enabled the Iraqi citizens to continue regional development and participate in Iraq's Constitutional Referendum and the National Elections. Upon returning to the Camp Lejeune, he served as the Commanding General (Rear) for over 17,000 Marines and Sailors. He oversaw the Division's Pre-deployment Training Plan and execution of evolving training requirements at Mojave Viper in preparation for deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan. General McMenamin's personal military decorations also include the Defense Superior Service Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of Second Award, Legion of Merit Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Joint Service Achievement Medal, Navy Achievement Medal and the Combat Action Ribbon. Throughout his career, General McMenamin demonstrated resolute character, discerning wisdom, and a sincere, selfless sense of duty to his Marines. General McMenamin's decisive decisions have and continue to contribute to the present day Marine Corps, as well as lay the foundation for the future of the Corps. We are grateful for General McMenamin's dedication, patriotism, advice and counsel. While the Marines will certainly miss him, General McMenamin's actions have already inspired the future leadership of the Corps. One needs to look no further than the Marines under his command for evidence of his mentorship and encouragement. On behalf of my colleagues on both sides of the aisle, I would like to recognize General McMenamin's extraordinary accomplishments and his devoted service to the Nation. Congratulations to him, and to his sons Joe and Jim, on a long and distinguished career. ____________________