R 121700Z JUL 01
FM CMC WASHINGTON DC//CMC//
TO ALMAR
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UNCLAS //N01000//
ALMAR 030/01
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC/OLA//
SUBJ/COMMANDANT'S CONDOLENCE MESSAGE REGARDING CH-46 MISHAP//
RMKS/1. YESTERDAY, AS I TESTIFIED BEFORE THE SENATE ARMED SERVICES
COMMITTEE, SENATOR LEVIN, WITH SENATOR WARNER FULLY CONCURRING,
SHARED THEIR SENTIMENTS WITH ME CONCERNING OUR RECENT LOSSES.
I QUOTE:
"GENERAL JONES, I JUST WANTED TO EXPRESS OUR CONDOLENCES TO YOU
PERSONALLY WHILE YOU'RE HERE AND HOPE THAT YOU'LL EXTEND ALL OF OUR
CONDOLENCES TO THE FAMILY AND FRIENDS OF THE VICTIMS AND TO THE
ENTIRE CORPS. THESE TRAGEDIES REMIND US OF THE RISKS THAT MEN AND
WOMEN IN OUR ARMED SERVICES TAKE EVERY DAY ON OUR BEHALF. SO WE'RE
GRATEFUL TO THEM, AND WE HOPE THAT YOU WILL PASS ALONG OUR
CONDOLENCES TO THE FAMILIES AND THE VICTIMS."
2. I SHARE THIS WITH YOU TO ASSURE ALL OF YOU THAT THE SACRIFICES
WE MAKE ON BEHALF OF FREEDOM DO NOT GO UNNOTICED AT THE HIGHEST
LEVELS OF OUR GOVERNMENT, AND THAT THOSE BENEFICIARIES OF YOUR
SERVICE UNDERSTAND THE RISKS INHERENT IN OUR PROFESSION, AND FURTHER,
THAT THEY APPRECIATE ALL THAT YOU DO FOR YOUR NATION.
3. NONETHELESS, IT IS OUR RESPONSIBILITY AS COMMANDERS TO MAXIMIZE
TRAINING WHILE MINIMIZING RISK. WE CANNOT BE SATISFIED UNTIL WE
HAVE DRIVEN OUR MISHAP RATES AS CLOSE TO ZERO AS IS HUMANLY
POSSIBLE - AND WE ARE NOT THERE YET. OUR YOUNG WARRIORS COUNT UPON
OUR LEADERSHIP AND JUDGEMENT TO KEEP THEM SAFE. THIS IS OUR
GREATEST RESPONSIBILITY AS LEADERS OF MARINES.
4. J. L. JONES, GENERAL, U.S. MARINE CORPS, COMMANDANT OF THE
MARINE CORPS.//
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