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FM CMC WASHINGTON DC//CMC//
TO ALMAR
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UNCLAS //N05000//
ALMAR 032/00
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC DMCS//
SUBJ/ASSISTANT COMMANDANT OF THE MARINE CORPS CHANGE//
POC/CPL WOODS/ADMIN CHIEF/CSG/TEL:(703) 614-2326//
RMKS/1.  AS WE CHANGE ASSISTANT COMMANDANTS AND GENERAL TERRENCE R.
DAKE TRANSITIONS TO THE NEXT PHASE OF HIS LIFE AS A MARINE, IT IS
APPROPRIATE THAT WE PAUSE AND CELEBRATE HIS TREMENDOUS CONTRIBUTIONS
TO OUR CORPS OVER HIS 34 YEARS OF ACTIVE SERVICE.  AS ASSISTANT
COMMANDANT, HIS LEADERSHIP, WISDOM, AND COMMON SENSE ENSURED THAT
THE CORPS REMAINS READY TODAY AND IS WELL PREPARED FOR THE CHALLENGES
OF THE FUTURE.  HIS MANY ACCOMPLISHMENTS IN THAT CRITICAL ASSIGNMENT
WILL BENEFIT THE CORPS FOR YEARS TO COME.  GENERAL DAKE SAW COMBAT
IN TWO WARS, FLEW OVER 6000 HOURS IN MILITARY AIRCRAFT WHILE SERVING
AS A PRESIDENTIAL PILOT AND IN ALL THREE ACTIVE MARINE WINGS, AND
SERVED IN VARIOUS COMMAND AND STAFF BILLETS BOTH WITHIN OUR CORPS
AND IN THE JOINT COMMUNITY.  HIS ENTIRE CAREER WAS DISTINGUISHED BY
THE CALM, CARING AND THOUGHTFUL LEADERSHIP THAT IS HIS HALLMARK.
THROUGHOUT IT ALL, HIS WIFE, SUE, HAS BEEN A STAUNCH PARTNER,
CONTRIBUTING HER TIME, KNOWLEDGE, CARING, AND COMPASSION ON BEHALF
OF OUR CORPS AND THE MARINE FAMILY.  THIS EXCEPTIONAL COUPLE WILL BE
SORELY MISSED.
2.  GENERAL MICHAEL J. WILLIAMS HAS ASSUMED DUTIES AS OUR NEW
ASSISTANT COMMANDANT.  HIS SERVICE IN DIVISION, WING, AND FSSG
BILLETS; ON THE JOINT STAFF; AS COMMANDER, JOINT TASK FORCE 160 IN
CUBA; AND MOST RECENTLY AS DEPUTY COMMANDANT FOR PROGRAMS AND
RESOURCES HAS PREPARED HIM WELL FOR HIS NEW DUTIES.  HIS WIFE,
BARBARA, BRINGS HER OWN CONSIDERABLE TALENTS AS AN ENERGETIC AND
DEDICATED ADVOCATE FOR OUR MARINE FAMILIES.  FROM ANY PERSPECTIVE,
THEIR QUALIFICATIONS FOR THIS IMPORTANT POSITION ARE BEYOND QUESTION
AND THE CORPS WILL BENEFIT IMMENSELY FROM THEIR INSIGHT AND
JUDGEMENT.
3.  SEMPER FIDELIS, J. L. JONES, GENERAL, U.S. MARINE CORPS,
COMMANDANT OF THE MARINE CORPS.//
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