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Congressional Gold Medal.com |
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Congressional Gold Medal Recipient
General Hugh Shelton
With America squarely focused on national security, American heroism is seen in the men and women of her armed forces. Perhaps no man embodies this heroism more than General Henry Hugh Shelton. As Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff under both President Bill Clinton and President George W. Bush, he was in charge of all U.S. Armed Forces worldwide and was a chief architect of the ongoing war on terrorism. In addition to his first hand expertise on the present international situation, Gen. Shelton is also available to offer his lessons on leadership crafted from his years overseeing the militarys $300 billion-plus budget and several hundred thousand employees. These keys to efficient management and leadership are invaluable at all levels of corporate America. An inspiring figure in his own right, this 6-foot-6 Green Beret and veteran of Special Forces shocked the medical community in 2002 by his miraculous recovery from a crippling spinal injury. Told by his doctors that he would probably never walk again after a serious fall earlier in the year, Shelton was literally back on his feet in a matter of months.
Biography As America responds to the attacks of September 11th, perhaps no one is more qualified to discuss our national security than Congressional Gold Medal honoree, General Hugh Shelton. Commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Infantry through the Reserve Officer Training Corps, he spent the next 37 years in a variety of command and staff positions in the continental United States, Hawaii, and
Vietnam, serving two combat tours in Vietnam - the first with the 5th Special Forces Group, the second with the 173rd Airborne Brigade. He also commanded the Third Battalion, 60th Infantry in the Ninth Infantry Division at Fort Lewis, Washington, served as the Ninth Infantry Division's chief of staff for operations, commanded the First Brigade of the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, and was the Chief of Staff of the Tenth Mountain Division at Fort Drum, New York. Selected for promotion for brigadier general in 1988, General Shelton served two years in the Operations Directorate of the Joint Staff. In 1989, he began a two-year assignment as the Assistant Division Commander for Operations of the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, during which he participated in the liberation of Kuwait during Operation DESERT SHIELD/STORM. After the Gulf War, General Shelton was promoted to major general and assumed command of the 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, NC. In 1993, he was promoted to lieutenant general and assumed command of the XVIII Airborne Corps. In 1994, during his tenure as Corps commander, General Shelton led the United States Joint Task Force that restored democracy in Haiti. In March 1996, he was promoted to general and became Commander in Chief of the U.S. Special Operations Command. General Shelton became the 14th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff on October 1, 1997, and served two 2-year terms. Throughout his tenure as Chairman, U.S. forces were in heavy demand and participated in numerous joint operations around the globe. During his tenure, he worked tirelessly on behalf of service members, their families, and military retirees by championing a number of landmark quality of life initiatives, including: the largest pay raise in 18 years, pay table and bonus reform, and critical improvements in both retirement and healthcare programs. He made great strides in improving the readiness and retention of the current force while simultaneously crafting Joint Vision 2020 - the roadmap for the Future Joint Force. General Shelton also established Joint Forces Command to consolidate joint experimentation efforts and guide the transformation of the U.S. armed forces for the 21st Century. General Shelton holds a Master's Degree from Auburn University, and has attended Harvard University, the Air Command and Staff College, and the National War College. He has been decorated for distinguished service by numerous military and civilian organizations in the United States and overseas. Honored with the
Congressional Gold Medal, the highest award the United States Congress can bestow, Shelton has been internationally recognized for his public service and, in 2001, he was knighted by Queen Elizabeth. Among his many military awards, he has received four Defense Distinguished Service Medals, two Army Distinguished Service Medals, the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star Medal for Valor and the Purple Heart. He has been decorated by 15 foreign governments. Highlights of his civilian awards include North Carolina's highest Award for Public Service, the Eisenhower Award from the Business Executives for National Security, the American Academy of Achievement's Golden Plate Award, Intrepid Freedom Award, and recognition as National Father of the Year, among others. Gen. Shelton joined NBC News as an on-air commentator for breaking national security news in 2002. In a further testament to Gen. Shelton's strong character, determination, and positive attitude, he can also speak about his recovery from the spinal cord injury he suffered after an accident in the spring of 2002. Initially given little chance of walking again or using his hands, he is now close to a full recovery and continues to be an inspiration to others.
Public Law 107-127 authorizes the Department of Treasury to produce and award the Congressional Gold Medal to General Henry H. Shelton. General Shelton and his subordinates brilliantly planned and coordinated at the national level the successful air campaign in support of Operation Allied Force. General Shelton's leadership, foresight, and determination were directly responsible for ensuring a decisive military victory without a single allied combat casualty in Kosovo in 1999. As the principal military adviser to the President of the United States, the National Security Council, and the Secretary of Defense, General Shelton's assessments, judgments, recommendations, and determination were invaluable and instrumental in the unprecedented military victory against the forces of Slobodan Milosevic. General Shelton's distinction as a "soldier's soldier", as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and throughout his military service, including command of the Special Operations Command, the 18th Airborne Corps at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, helicopter forces in Operation Desert Storm, and special forces Green Berets in Vietnam, serves as an inspiration to the Congress and the people of the United States, a grateful Nation.
Design: Obverse - Donna Weaver
Reverse - John Mercanti Authorizing Legislation: Public Law 107-127, approved January 16, 2002 Place Minted: Philadelphia Mint (no mint mark) 2002 General Henry H. Shelton General Shelton served our nation for many years and in many ways, including as military advisor to the President. He helped to coordinate the air part of Operation Allied Force, a victory without a single allied casualty in Kosovo in 1999. This medal also recognizes his work as a military advisor, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and commander of helicopter forces in Operation Desert Storm and of
Green Berets in Vietnam. General Shelton "serves as an inspiration to the Congress and the people of the United States."
The obverse design concept features a portrait of General Shelton with the inscription "GENERAL H. HUGH SHELTON CHAIRMAN, JOINT CHIEFS Of STAFF" centered along the borders of the medal. The reverse design concept features General Shelton parachuting with the inscription "By Act of Congress 2002" centered next to the right laurel branch. The inscription "In Recognition of His Leadership, Integrity and Professionalism in the Service of Our Nation" is centered between the two laurel branches.
Remarks of General Hugh Shelton
Congressional Gold Medal Ceremony
September 19, 2002 Mr. Speaker, Distinguished Members of Congress, Department Secretaries, Members of America's Armed Forces and family members, Friends and other Distinguished Guests. Secretary Cohen, thank you for your very generous words and for the service you have given and continue to give to our Nation. Thanks, also, for the tremendous character and integrity that you demonstrate to all those that have the opportunity to work for or with you. Thanks to Senators Daschle and Speaker Hastert for your kind words, and most importantly for the great bi-partisan and bi-cameral way that you support our men and women in uniform and National Security issues. A special thanks to Congressman Bob Etheridge, Senator John Edwards, Senator Jesse Helms, and the entire North Carolina delegation for your strong support. Likewise, I'm indebted to Congressman Ben Gilman and the New York delegation, also. During the floor debate on this bill they had so many nice things to say about me that I thought they must have me confused with someone else! I am also grateful to all the folks whose extraordinary work went into making this event happen. I want to pay special tribute to the men and women in America's armed services with whom I have had the honor to serve and whom I have had the privilege to lead. Long gone are the days when as General Pershing said, "All a soldier needs to know is how to shoot and salute." Today's service personnel are the most highly trained, skilled, versatile, professional military force ever assembled in human history and only one who has been blessed with the opportunity to lead them can admire them as completely as I do. You know, since my days wearing a ROTC uniform at NC State, my wardrobe my entire adult life has been Army green. But I am supremely proud of the fact that as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, I had the opportunity to command the outstanding men and women from each of the branches of our armed services. And to do so at a time of unparalleled joint operations was one of the great highlights of my career. Joint missions play such an important role in our modern military because they maximize the strengths of each of the services while maintaining uniqueness that fires such pride in each of our services. And as the first product of special operations to chair the Joint Chiefs of Staff, I am grateful I had the opportunity to offer that unconventional perspective to our nation's leaders at a time when the challenges to our nation are anything but conventional. And finally, I want to thank Carolyn and all the members of our family. A soldier's life is never easy on his family, and the Shelton family has sacrificed much so that I could experience this wonderful adventure of service to our nation at every level. I have traveled a long and wondrous road from my beginnings as a farm boy in Eastern North Carolina. And I want to thank from the bottom of my heart every one in this room for this high honor and all those who have helped me each in their own way on every step of that journey. EDWARDS, ETHERIDGE HONOR GENERAL HUGH SHELTON
AT GOLD MEDAL CEREMONY September 19, 2002 WASHINGTON Retired U.S. Army General and former Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Henry H. "Hugh" Shelton Thursday received the Congressional Gold Medal during a ceremony in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda featuring Congressman Bob Etheridge and Senator John Edwards. General Shelton, a native of Speed, North Carolina and a graduate of North Carolina State University, served as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff from October 1, 1997 to October 1, 2001. Earlier in his career, he commanded the XVIII Airborne Corps and the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. Congressman Etheridge, an Army veteran, wrote the bipartisan legislation conferring the honor on General Shelton for his 38 years of distinguished service to the nation. Senator Edwards shepherded the legislation through the Senate, securing the bipartisan support key to its passage. "For 38 years, General Shelton has served his country. Through his work on the battlefield and in Washington, he has fought to make our armed forces better prepared and America more secure," Senator Edwards said. "He has never forgotten his small town roots, and I am proud to have sponsored the resolution awarding the Congressional Gold Medal to General Shelton." "Today Congress bestowed a fitting award to a 'soldier's soldier' and a genuine American hero who is most deserving of the nation's highest honor," Congressman Etheridge said. "Throughout his 38 years of service to his country, his ascent through the ranks of the Army, two tours in Vietnam and duty in Operation Desert Storm, General Shelton has carried with him the North Carolina values of service, sacrifice, love of family, faith in God and devotion to country. As the author of the legislation that created the General Shelton Congressional Gold Medal, it gives me great pride to participate in Congress's recognition of the contributions of this extraordinary American. General Shelton expressed his thanks to Congress and to all the men and women serving the nation. "I am deeply honored that Congress has elected to bestow the Congressional Gold Medal upon me," he said. "Whether serving as an Army officer or as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, it was a privilege to serve with and lead the great, dedicated, selfless men and women of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard and their equally dedicated civilian counterparts. I am indebted to all of these hardworking men and women, and their families, who put patriotism above profit and service above self. I accept this honor on their behalf. Finally, my sincere thanks to Congressman Bob Etheridge and Senator John Edwards from North Carolina and their colleagues for initiating the legislation awarding me this honor." Since the American Revolution, Congress has commissioned gold medals as its highest expression of national appreciation for distinguished achievements and contributions. Today's ceremony was only the 125th time Congress has awarded a gold medal since 1776. Members of the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate attended the ceremony, which featured remarks by Senator Edwards, Congressman Etheridge and General Shelton. Former U.S Senator and Secretary of Defense William Cohen also spoke at the ceremony at the request of General Shelton. General Shelton is the only former Special Operations Commander to serve as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. General Shelton also served as Assistant Division Commander for Operations for the 101st Airborne Division during Desert Shield/Storm and Joint Task Force Commander leading peace-keeping troops from 24 nations into Haiti in 1994. General Shelton has earned the Purple Heart, Defense Distinguished Service Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit with Oak Leaf Cluster, Bronze Star Medal with V Device and three Oak Leaf Clusters, Combat Infantryman's badge, Master Parachutist badge, Pathfinder badge, Air Assault badge, Special Forces badge and a Ranger badge.
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