Retiring Joint Chiefs chairman leaves U.S. 'in great hands'

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Benjamin Rojek
  • 51st Fighter Wing Public Affairs
OSAN AIR BASE, Republic of Korea --  Gen. Peter Pace, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, spoke here Aug. 16 as part of a final tour through military sites across the globe before he retires in October. 

General Pace spoke to a standing-room only town hall gathering of 7th Air Force servicemembers and family members. 

The general's overall message was one of gratitude. 

"We traveled a long way to say two very important words here, and they are, quite simply, thank you," said General Pace. "Thank you for what you are doing for your country." 

Speaking informally, General Pace focused the event on answering questions from the audience. The questions touched on everything from standing up the U.S. Africa Command to working in joint environments. 

One Osan Airman asked the general about the U.S. presence in Iraq. 

"If we pull out of Iraq, is it going to look to other nations that ... we're weak?" asked Tech. Sgt. Christopher Clark, 51st Civil Engineer Squadron. "Isn't that going to cause us more of a problem later on?" 

Countries that are not democracies view the U.S.'s dialog on Iraq as a weakness, when in actuality it is a strength of our democracy, replied the general. 

"Some folks think that the discussion right now is whether or not we're going to be in a war," said General Pace. "Wrong. If we think that leaving [Iraq or Afghanistan] is going to take us out of a war, we'd be wrong. 

"It's not about if we're in or out," he continued. "It's how we're going to win, how we're going to prevail. And we will prevail." 

Airmen in attendance said they enjoyed the general's candor. 

"He answered our questions honestly and sincerely," said Staff Sgt. David Heitzenroeder, 8th Maintenance Squadron. "I am proud to be in the service with him as chairman of the Joint Chiefs." 

Before leaving for Yongsan Army Garrison in Seoul for a similar event, General Pace and Army Command Sgt. Major William Gainey, the general's senior enlisted advisor, took time to thank everyone in attendance individually. 

"At the end of 40 years, I leave sad ... but really proud and extremely comfortable for our nation," said General Pace. "It's in such great hands." 

General Pace has served as the 16th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff since Sept. 30, 2005. A Brooklyn native and 1967 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, he is the first Marine ever to sit as chairman. 

(Editor's note: General Pace's full biography is available at: http://www.defenselink.mil/bios/biographydetail.aspx?biographyid=85)