June Z HON. L. MENDEL RIVERS
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7816 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD - HOUSE June Z EXTENSIONS OF RE.MARKS tinguished alumni have done, to follow mili the certain knowledge that the ships and The Role of the Military tary careers. the men of the American Fleet were ready But even if you do not choose to continue to do their job. EXTENSION OF REMARKS as professional soldiers--and I use the term There is a parallel for this readiness in OF soldiers to refer to all military men-the our more modern times. As President Eisen training and the sense of integrity instilled hower has said: "We will never commit ag HON. L. MENDEL RIVERS in you by The Citadel will prove invaluable gression, but we must always be ready to OF SOUTH CAROLINA to you and to the Nation in whatever pro d efeat it." fession you may pursue. I wish I could assure each of you person IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES In my judgment, the greatest opportunity ally that the threat to our security has so Tuesday, June 7, 1955 to which you can aspire is the opportunity diminished that the United States no longer of service--both military and civilian. You requires strong military forces-and that Mr. RIVERS. Mr. Speaker, on the oc gentlemen have this opportunity for service there is no possibility of a war resulting casion of the graduating class of 1955 at directly on behalf of the United States of from today's conflict between two opposing The Citadel, the military college of South America. There is no greater honor than ideologies. Carolina, Charleston, s. c., the distin that. But I cannot. I must state flatly that a guished Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of It is on the subject of this role of the mili strong military posture is not only essen Staff, Adm. A. W. Radford, delivered the tary that I want chiefly to speak, and it is tial to our security, but it is clearly neces address on Saturday, June 4. His sub to you graduates that I primarily address my sary for all the free world. remarks. There has been, of course, a noticeable ject was The Role of the Military. Perhaps some of you wonder why so many change in tactics on the part of the Com In plain, simple, and everyday lan of your contemporaries are needed by the munist high command. Symptoms of this guage, this outstanding officer, the holder military services; and why so many, having change are the successful conclusion of the of innumerable decorations and citations completed their military service, must con Austrian Treaty, and the apparent Soviet for leadership, courage, and valor, in the tinue available for Inilitary duty in a na willingness to participate in Four-Power most deadly wars in which this country tional emergency. t alks. But there has been no real indica has ever been engaged, related to the The answer is simple: Today our Nation is tion so far that this represents a funda graduates of that fine institution the tre confronted with the world's greatest and mental change, either in their character or most dangerous menace to our freedoms and in their basic long-term objectives. mendous necessity for participation in our way of life; namely, militant interna Thus, while all America sincerely hopes the mission assigned to the military dur tional communism. and works for peace, there is still a definite ing the years in which they, as gradu Communism is backed by an immense requirement for us to maintain strong mili ates, will be called upon to give service military establishment, and is led by a hand tary forces in being. In this day, ready to their country. ful of ruthless individuals who, at any forces are strong forces. I stress this word Admiral Radford's address demon time they see fit, could plunge us into war. "ready." Our active forces must be ready Communist leaders have declared their in forces. So must our Reserve forces be ready strates to these fine young men how the tention to dominate the entire planet on military man, during this global partici forces. And all America must be ready to which we live-and they have demonstrated promote unity of action among free nations pation to which this Nation is committed, extraordina:ry capacities for pursuing this in establishing long-term security. among other things is part and parcel of intention. Needless to say, it is a struggle our economic and diplomatic life as we must not lose. ADVISORY ROLE well as the military. This being the case, what would you say A third important role or function of the I doubt that any man in the Nation is must be done by the Armed Forces in order Armed Forces, and these are not set forth in to protect our peace and security? What any order of priority, is to give military ad better qualified to speak on this subject is the role of the military? -vice on national security matters. Let's ex than Admiral Radford. The Congress The Armed Forces exist for one ultimate amine for a moment just what this role has confidence in his leadership. · The purpose: the security of the United States. means. Nation likewise knows that Admiral Rad They are organized, trained, and equipped Vvhen I was a young man most of us in ford regards its safety and security as for prompt and sustained combat opera uniform were inclined to regard foreign pol one of his most sacred obligations. tions-land, sea, and air-when and as di icy as an interesting subject for an evening's The address of the distinguished rected by the President and the American academic discussion. We did not feel di people in accordance with our constitutional rectly affected by foreign policy decisions un Chairman follows: processes. less the decision involved the use of military THE ROLE OF THE MILITARY Our :fighting role is probably our most ob force. (Graduation address by Adm. Arthur Rad vious role. It is our hardest and most diffi This has changed-just as the world itself ford, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, cult role, but it is also our last-resort role, has changed. Fifty years ago our own secu before The Citadel, Charleston, S. C., June and one used only when our Government rity was relatively self-sufficient. Today our 4, 1955) calls upon us to use force in defense of security is bound up with the security of the our vital interests. free world. Fifty years ago the military had Quite naturally, a ceremony like this car READINESS ROLE but little concern with foreign policy. To ries me back around 40 years to when I was day there is often no clear line of demarca a member of the brigade of midshipmen at Our second role is our readiness role. tion between foreign and military policy. the United States Naval Academy. I saw the "Readiness" is the word for the graduates Instead, there is overlap. There are mili graduation ceremonies then, including my of The Citadel on this day-a glad and happy tary implications in foreign policy, and, con own, and I have seen quite a few since. day. versely, political implications in military As a result of my visit here, yesterday and Readiness means preparedness. Readi policy. ness is your response to your country's call. today, I have become impressed by the high In our democracy military men do not standards in your scholastics and training. Readiness is years of practice. It is train ing, and training means skill, and skill pro make foreign policies. Such policies are de It makes me very proud to take part this termined by the Chief Executive and the morning in your graduation. duces efficiency, and efficiency is economical of human life and resources. State Department. But their studies are not Like other top military schools, The Citadel made without advice of other governmental has more than a century of honorable tra Admiral Dewey demonstrated his keen un derstanding of the philosophy of readiness agencies in pertinent fields; for example, leg dition in contributing to the security of our islative, economic, scientific, and military. country. Its graduates have gone out to when he said: "You may fire when ready, Gridley." His words became an epigrarp. Hence, there must be a breadth of compre serve the Nation both as soldiers and as hension and understanding by the special civilians. As one of the oldest schools in destined to live as a part of American mili ists of each as to the roles of the others. the country, The Citadel has the reputation, tary tradition. After all, the United States is a partnership the curriculum, and the tradition of good Reflect for a moment on the significance of au America. education combined with a sound military of those timeless words. Note how the orientation. thought construction of that quiet com INDIVIDUAL ROLE In this day and age, most of you are going mand describes so well the complete confi Gentlemen, seldom has there been an op to be given the opportunity of service to dence and faith Admiral Dewey had in Grid portunity for service to your country such as your :D.ag. Some of you probably expect to ley's judgment and courage on the eve of now. You must realize, as I a.m. sure you begin a tour of duty as a member of one of that great victory in Manila Bay. do, your country expects great things from our active services.