[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 18]
[Senate]
[Page 23586]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




        RETIREMENT OF GENERAL JAMES L. JONES, U.S. MARINE CORPS

  Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, I would like to take this opportunity to 
commend GEN James L. Jones and to congratulate him on his retirement. 
General Jones has served this country through landmark events, 
including the Cold War and September 11, with consistent skill and with 
dedication, energy and intelligence. The country has greatly benefited 
from his service, and his clear-eyed counsel will be greatly missed.
  I have known Jim Jones for almost 30 years. I was immediately 
impressed with his calm manner and obvious intellect when I first 
encountered him as a major in the Senate's Marine Corps liaison office. 
I had heard of his distinguished background to that point, which 
included service in Vietnam, where he earned a Silver Star, and years 
as a company commander, motivating his marines with his steadfastness.
  Over the years, I, along with all of my colleagues in the Senate, 
have watched Jim Jones grow into a stellar leader. There are two sides 
to military service--the field operations and the administrative side. 
While each presents its own challenges, both are absolutely essential 
to a strong Marine Corps. Jim Jones has been simply superb in both 
roles.
  I remember encountering then Colonel Jones in northern Iraq after the 
first gulf war during Operation Provide Comfort, which sought to 
provide food and supplies to the Kurds. At one point, I accompanied him 
into the town of Zaku. While you would think that this would be one of 
the more dangerous places, with multitudes of refugees and harassing 
Iraqi forces, I must admit I have never felt safer as Marine helicopter 
gunships, Air Force A-10s, and well-orchestrated groups of marines 
provided cover. General Jones was utterly comfortable, and completely 
confident, in that environment.
  Yet he was just as at home in the conference rooms at Corps 
Headquarters, at the Pentagon, and walking the historic Halls of 
Congress. Serving as the 32nd Commandant of the U.S. Marine Corps, 
General Jones provided remarkable leadership to the Corps before and 
after the September 11 attacks. The marines under his command took on 
critical counterterrorist activities, forging strong ties with our 
special operations forces. General Jones' leadership led to the Marine 
Corps' successful operations in southern Afghanistan. Always a 
persuasive advocate for adequate resources for the Corps, he was an 
equally outstanding contributor to the Joint Chiefs of Staff, where he 
could only ``partly'' wear his service hat.
  For someone with such multifaceted talent, skill and experience, it 
is little surprise that General Jones performed in equally spectacular 
fashion in his last, two-pronged position as Commander of U.S. European 
Command and as the Supreme Allied Commander, Europe. The 14th Supreme 
Allied Commander, he has encouraged our NATO allies to take on greater 
military responsibilities outside of Europe, including more leadership 
in ongoing operations in Afghanistan. His clear, well-spoken manner and 
obvious credibility have made General Jones an invaluable asset.
  Through it all, General Jones has had no greater partner, confidant, 
and friend than his wife Diane. The commitment that they have shown in 
the good and bad times, to their children and to all who know them, is 
simply remarkable, and it is inspiring.
  I join with my wife Marcelle, my fellow Vermonters, and all Americans 
in expressing our deep thanks to General Jones and his family. We owe 
this outstanding American, great marine, and dedicated representative 
of the very best aspects of our Nation, a debt of gratitude that can 
never be repaid.

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