- [Announcer] Ladies and
gentlemen, your head tables
for the AUSA George Catlett
Marshall Memorial dinner.
(uplifting music)
- [Man] We're ready for your shot.
I'm sorry.
We're waiting for your camera.
(uplifting music)
- [Announcer] Colonel Dennis Dougherty,
United States Army retired.
AUSA first region president.
(uplifting music)
Command Sergeant Major Douglas Gibbons,
United States Army retired.
AUSA's Second Region President
(uplifting music)
Kris McBride, AUSA Third Region President.
(uplifting music)
Gus Rodriguez, AUSA
Fourth Region President.
(uplifting music)
Command Sergeant Major Rick Morris,
United States Army retired.
AUSA Fifth Region President.
(uplifting music)
Colonel Phil stage, United
States Army retired.
AUSA Sixth Region President.
Colonel Sam Thiessen,
United States Army retired.
AUSA Seventh Region President.
(uplifting music)
Colonel Benjamin Lukefahr,
United States Army retired.
AUSA Pacific region president.
- [Man] All right.
(uplifting music)
- [Announcer] Chief Warrant
Officer three, Anthony Williams.
United States Army retired.
AUSA European Region president.
(uplifting music)
Chaplain Major General Thomas Solhjem,
Chief of Chaplains, United States Army.
(uplifting music)
Philip Sakowitz Jr.,
AUSA Vice-Chairman For Civilian Affairs.
(uplifting music)
Lieutenant General David Ohle,
United States Army retired.
AUSA Vice-Chairman for
Retiree and Veteran Affairs.
(uplifting music)
Master Sergeant Leroy Petry,
Medal of Honor recipient,
United States Army retired.
AUSA Council of Trustees.
(uplifting music)
Chief Warrant Officer
Five, Phyllis Wilson,
United States Army retired,
AUSA Council of Trustees.
(uplifting music)
Mitch Schneider, AUSA Council of Trustees.
(uplifting music)
Mark Roualet, AUSA Council of Trustees.
(uplifting music)
Andy Hove, AUSA Council of Trustees.
(uplifting music)
Frank St. John, AUSA Council of Trustees.
(uplifting music)
Major General Patricia Hickerson,
United States Army retired,
AUSA Council of Trustees.
(uplifting music)
Lieutenant General Jack Stultz,
United States Army retired,
AUSA Council of Trustees.
(uplifting music)
Lieutenant General Larry Jordan,
United States Army retired,
AUSA Council of Trustees.
(uplifting music)
Leanne Caret, AUSA Council of Trustees.
(uplifting music)
Sergeant Major of the
army, Michael Princeton.
(uplifting music)
General Dennis Reimer 33rd
Chief of Staff of the Army,
United States Army retired,
AUSA Council of Trustees.
(uplifting music)
The Honorable Rudy de Leon,
AUSA Council of Trustees.
(uplifting music)
General James McConville,
the 40th Chief of Staff of the Army.
(uplifting music)
The Honorable Ryan McCarthy,
Secretary of the Army.
(uplifting music)
The President and Chief Executive Officer
of the Association of
the United States Army,
General Carter Ham,
United States Army retired.
(uplifting music)
Ladies and gentlemen,
the 2019 awardee of the
George Catlett Marshall medal,
and our guest of honor,
General Martin Dempsey,
the 37th Chief of Staff of the Army,
and the 18th chairman of
the Joint Chiefs of Staff,
United States Army retired.
(uplifting music)
Ladies and gentlemen,
your 2019 Marshall Dinner head tables.
(uplifting music)
- Holy shit, there's a lot
of people here tonight.
(audience laughing)
I don't think they came to see me, Marty.
I think they're here,
we're really thrilled that you're here for
the 2019 General George C.
Marshall medal presentation.
Please remain standing
for the presentation of the
colors, our national anthem
and the invocation by the
Army Chief of Chaplains,
Chaplain Solhjem.
(uplifting music)
♪ Oh, say can you see by
the dawn's early light ♪
♪ What so proudly we hailed at
the twilight's last gleaming ♪
♪ Whose broad stripes and bright stars ♪
♪ Through the perilous fight ♪
♪ O'er the ramparts we watched
were so gallantly streaming ♪
♪ And the rocket's red glare,
the bombs bursting in air ♪
♪ Gave proof through the night ♪
♪ That our flag was still there ♪
♪ Oh, say does that
star-spangled banner yet wave ♪
♪ O'er the land of the free ♪
♪ And the home of the brave ♪
(audience applauding)
(uplifting music)
- General George C Marshall got it right
and captured the essence of this evening
when he said that the soldier's heart,
the soldier's spirit,
the soldier's soul are everything.
On that note please join
me in a word of prayer.
Lord God Almighty, everlasting Father,
we pause to thank you for this time
for your provision and
your abundant blessings.
Thank you for the inspiration of those
who have gone before us,
and help our leaders as they
guide the army into the future.
As we care for soldiers and families,
help us to understand
the essence of leadership
that brings hope and life
to the soul of the army.
Since the founding of our country
men and women have fought
to secure the liberty
to which you have called us.
We have trusted in you for
guidance, wisdom and insight
and you have sustained
our soldiers and families
for over 244 years.
Continue, Lord, as you have
since the founding of our country
to fortify the army, to
protect and defend our Republic
and ensure victory for years to come.
Holy God, fuel our
hearts, guide our spirit
and restore our souls,
and may the lamp of liberty
shine bright on our nation
and the United States Army.
To you be the glory and
the honor and power,
forever and ever.
Amen.
- [Audience] Amen.
- Thanks, Chaplain Solhjem.
Ladies and gentlemen please be seated.
What a week, huh?
Not bad, not bad.
General Patricia and her team
report that over the past three days
we've had well over 32,000 people
attend the AUSA annual meeting.
That's a big number.
(audience applauding)
And during the annual meeting
folks that have joined the Association
we now have over 162,000
members in our association.
Well done, well done.
(audience applauding)
It has been a remarkable week
learning about America's Army,
ready now and investing in the future.
We've had great speakers,
we've had wonderful family events,
exciting floor demonstrations,
we've have had the eSports
team, the xTechSearch,
the warrior fitness team,
and in case you hadn't heard
we learned that winning matters.
(audience applauding)
I'd like to take a moment
and first of all thank
each and every one of you
for attending this evening,
but call out a couple of special
folks that have joined us.
We are truly honored this evening
to have three recipients
of our nation's highest award for valor,
the Medal of Honor, Lieutenant
General Robert Foley.
(audience applauding)
Master Sergeant Leroy Petry.
(audience applauding)
And Staff Sergeant David Bellavia.
(audience applauding)
You know, one of the
things that's striking
about each of those three heroes
is they don't think
they're anything special.
We know different.
They are truly special
and we're honored that
they're joining us tonight.
We have several members of Congress
have joined us this evening.
We're very proud of that.
Representative Don Bacon from Nebraska,
Representative Anthony
Brown from Maryland,
Judge Carter from Texas.
Representative Trent
Kelly from Mississippi,
and Representative Joe
Wilson from South Carolina.
Gentlemen, thank you.
Thank you.
(audience applauding)
Former secretaries of
the army have joined us.
The Honorable Louis Caldera.
The Honorable Patrick Murphy
and the Honorable Robert Speer.
Gentlemen, thanks for
your continued leadership.
(audience applauding)
We have a number of former Chiefs of Staff
of the United States Army.
The 32nd Chief of Staff
of the United States Army
and a recipient of the
Marshal Medal himself,
General Gordon Sullivan.
(audience applauding)
I'm told that General Sullivan
knows a little bit about AUSA.
(audience laughing)
The 33rd Chief of Staff
the United States Army,
General Dennis Reimer.
(audience applauding)
The 34th Chief of Staff
the United States Army
and the seventh Secretary
of Veterans Affairs,
General Eric Shinseki.
(audience applauding)
The 36th Chief of Staff
of the United States Army,
General George Casey.
(audience applauding)
And once again the 37th Chief of staff
for the United States Army,
General Martin Dempsey.
(audience applauding)
To keep all those generals straight,
former Sergeants Major
of the army are here,
the 13th Sergeant Major of the army,
Sergeant Major of the Army, Ken Preston.
(audience applauding)
Where are ya?
There he is.
The 14th Sergeant Major
of the Army, Ray Chandler.
(audience applauding)
And the 15th Sergeant Major
of the Army, Dan Dailey.
(audience applauding)
I'm told that the happiest
guy in the room tonight
is Ray Chandler 'cause he's no longer
the junior former
Sergeant Major of the Army
That's right.
(chuckles)
I'd also like to thank,
after this extraordinary week
I'll take the prerogative
of being at the podium
and thank the AUSA national staff.
General Mcquistion, General Swan,
Sergeant Major of the Army Preston,
and their extraordinary teams
for putting together an
absolutely wonderful week.
Thank you for that.
(audience applauding)
And as many of you know, AUSA
is a volunteer organization.
Our region, state and chapter presidents,
if you would please stand.
Thank you very very much.
(audience applauding)
If you were here last night
at the Gary Sinise conference,
or concert, you knew you had a great time.
There was another minor event occurring
not too far from here,
the National League Championship Series.
Lots of Nets fans,
and this is for you Nets fans!
I don't know, Chief, somebody
said winning matters.
The Nets got it.
All right, ladies and gentlemen,
enjoy your dinner enjoy
one another's company.
We'll see you back here
shortly for the program.
Thank you.
(audience applauding)
Good evening, and once again welcome
to the 2019 George C
Marshall Metal Awards Dinner
for a wonderful evening.
Hey, how about a hand
for that wonderful staff,
the convention center staff,
a wonderful meal.
(audience applauding)
All right, who was here Monday morning
for the opening ceremony?
All right, was that cool or what?
I saw Major General Omar Jones
and Command Sergeant Major Woodring,
the soldiers of the United
States Army Band and chorus,
the soldiers of the old guard,
the Military District of Washington.
They put all that on.
They've been puttin' this
together all week long.
Extraordinary work by all of
the soldiers and civilians
of the Military District of Washington.
How about a great round
of applause for all them?
(audience applauding)
A special thanks to
Brigadier General Amy Hannah
and the office of the
Chief of Public Affairs,
and her team for all they've done
over the past many months
in preparation for tonight.
A great team.
And the two, present company excepted,
the two hardest-working
people at headquarters DA,
Lieutenant General Walt Piatt,
the Director of the Army Staff
and Miss Kathy Miller.
Thank you for your extraordinary support
to make this so successful.
(audience applauding)
It really is a family
effort and a team effort
and we thank everyone for that.
Well as you know we are
assembled here this evening
united in our love of country,
and the profession of arms,
concerned about America's security
and its role in maintaining stability
and peace throughout the world.
We take inspiration
from the highest qualities of
statesmanship and leadership
which have been evident and present
in the thoughts and actions
of General of the Army, George Marshall
to whose enduring memory
this dinner is dedicated.
As we look back at some of
some distinguished citizens
who have received the Marshall medal,
we're encouraged by their example
in guiding our great nation and our army
through arduous times.
Names like Eisenhower,
Bush, Powell, Brokaw,
Scowcroft, Becton, Albright, Sullivan
and the American soldier.
These recipients distinguished
themselves as presidents
and statesmen, ambassadors,
cabinet secretaries,
generals and countless
generations of soldiers,
patriots one in all.
This year another such
person joins their ranks,
as we recognize they truly
distinguished American soldier,
General Marty Dempsey.
An inspirational leader.
Absolutely right.
(audience applauding)
An inspirational leader,
leading by example.
Doesn't have to tell us what's right,
he shows us what's right
as he has for generations,
an unselfish, compassionate,
but yet tough leader and commander.
He's joined tonight by his wife Deanie
who is the strength behind
him, underneath him.
(audience applauding)
Daughters Megan and Caitlin,
and son-in-law.
We thank you all, for the
Dempsey family for being here.
(audience applauding)
Ladies and gentlemen,
is my great honor to introduce to you
the 2019 Medal of Honor
recipient, my friend,
the 37th chief of staff
the United States Army,
the 18th Chairman of the
Joint Chiefs of Staff,
General Marty Dempsey.
(audience applauding)
- [Announcer] Would General
Dempsey and Mr. de Leon
please join General Ham at the podium.
(audience applauding)
The Council of Trustees
of the Association of
the United States Army
hereby awards the George
Catlett Marshall Medal
to General Martin Edward Dempsey,
United States Army retired
for selfless service to the
United States of America
through his extraordinary
career in uniform
and his continued service to our nation.
Admired for bluntness,
vision and character,
General Dempsey exemplified
wise, steady and conscientious leadership
during more than four decades
in the United States Army.
He commanded at the troop,
battalion, regiment,
division and combatant command level,
accumulating 42 months in combat
during Operation Desert Storm
and Operation Iraqi Freedom.
His roles became ever more demanding,
including serving as the
37th Army Chief of Staff
in an appointment that
lasted only 149 days
because he was quickly selected
to serve as the 18th
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs.
(audience applauding)
Described by his peers as someone
who exudes quiet confidence
and boundless energy,
General Dempsey was a model
of someone who believed leadership
was both a commitment to the people he led
and acceptance of
responsibility for the outcome.
He was a strategist who knew how
to focus on choices and consequences.
A leader who emphasized the value of duty
and a humanist who displayed
how trust and humility
were invaluable traits.
Since his retirement he
continues public service,
teaching ethical leadership
as a Rubenstein fellow
at Duke University,
and serving as chairman of
the board of USA basketball,
the organization representing
the men's and women's national teams.
In his own words, "the best
leaders help us use our time
"to reach beyond ourselves."
For this sentiment and the
many other guiding acts
and thoughts he's provided,
for his integrity and ethics
and devotion to our nation,
we present our highest award,
the George Catlett Marshall
medal to General Martin Dempsey.
(audience applauding)
- Thanks.
You know the...
By the way, Carter, thanks so much.
And Rudy thank you so much for the honor.
Thank all of you for turning out tonight.
But I am kind of self aware
if the Nets hadn't won last night...
(audience laughing)
I might be looking at
half of the number of you
in this audience.
It's really an incredible honor.
You know, before the picture
of George Marshall was up there,
and many of you know that in my office,
when I became chairman
I asked the Center for military history
or one of the places in the district
where we archive photographs and things
for a picture of Marshall.
And it was about, it
felt to me in my office,
it was about that big,
and I would often sit at my desk,
and you know how certain photographs
can be a little bit
deceiving and unnerving,
and they feel like they're looking at you.
And I honestly always had the feeling
that Marshall was looking at me.
And I couldn't tell whether
it was a look of admiration,
disdain, or disbelief,
but I did have the the feeling
that he was looking at me.
So this particular award
means a great deal to me.
I wanna start by thanking, Carter,
you and your team.
You and Christi both personally,
because you've always been
so kind so Deanie and I
and to our family.
We've been good friends through the years.
I will tell you when I retired
I intentionally moved to North Carolina.
Where's my North Carolina table?
(audience cheering)
(laughing)
And you know we did that
because we had fallen in
love with North Carolina
when we were there as a graduate student.
Also, frankly I wanted to get a little bit
away from Washington.
Not so far that I couldn't
get back if I needed to,
but far enough where I
could say, "Ooh, you know,
"I would love to help you out but..."
And then I went off the grid for a while,
but one day about, I think it's
at least six months ago now.
Katie my daughter is
my executive assistant,
which is really another
way of saying firewall.
And one day she said,
"Hey, General Ham wants to talk to ya."
And I thought, shit, he found me.
(laughs)
And then I thought, yeah,
I wonder if he's gonna ask me
to like sit on a commission.
Because when I was the chairman,
we put Carter Ham
through some of the most
difficult, dangerous commissions
ever conceived by the
United States government,
and I thought he's gonna get me back.
(audience laughing)
And then she said, "No, I don't think so."
I said "Okay."
Then I thought dammit he's
gonna ask me for money.
Everybody's asking me for money.
But I thought, you know what,
Carter Ham's been so good to me,
I said go ahead, give him my phone number.
So he calls me and he says,
and with some trepidation
I answered the phone.
And he said, "Chairman,
if you would honor us,
"we would love to present you
"the George Catlett Marshall award."
And I said, "Are you kidding me?"
I mean that is the award, you know,
and certainly for anyone in retirement.
And so I was very touched by it.
And so this evening has a
very special meaning, Carter,
for my whole family really.
And also, by the way,
for those of you who on
whose shoulders we climbed
for 41 years
to be recognized tonight with this award.
And it was really interesting
coming down the rope line.
I don't think that's what we called it,
but when you're standing in
line waiting for everybody else
to get seated.
A lot of you said hey
I was with you in here,
and I was with you there.
And, you know, I can't
tell you how touching it is
to have someone...
First of all to be
remembered is pretty cool,
but secondly to be remembered
with a certain degree of fondness.
So this award which I've just accepted
and I'm now wearing
is clearly an award that has been earned
by a whole bunch of people.
So Carter, much more important though,
that what you've done for Deanie and I
and for our family is what
you've done for our army.
You and the Association
of the United States Army
and your predecessor Gordon Sullivan.
(audience applauding)
AUSA's been a incredible combat,
we call it combat multiplier for our army,
through the years.
and look I'll be honest with ya,
I think in the future
the Army is gonna have
some heavy lifting to do,
and so this relationship
between AUSA and our army
is something that's gonna be
I think even more important in the future
than it may have been in the past.
When I retired, one of
the things I wanted to do
was find another family.
You know that the military,
you're all out there,
many of you still in it,
and it's all about relationships,
and so you know the
things you'll remember,
I hope the things you remember right now,
but certainly the things
that you'll remember
when you take the uniform off
are all about relationships.
Almost like a family.
And so one of the things I wanted to do
was find that second family.
It's hard, by the way.
But I looked around and I did.
I managed to do it,
and the three things in my life
that I would describe to you
is my second career, second family
are Duke University, the
National Basketball Association
and the USA Basketball.
And they're all represented here tonight.
Tonight the president of Duke
University, Vincent Price,
is here as well as the
athletic director Kevin White,
and they're over there someplace
and I thank you for making
us part of the Duke family.
The National Basketball Association
where I do some consulting
on leader development,
social responsibility youth programs
is represented by the
Senior Vice President
for international player
development, Kim Bohuny,
who just came back from China.
so she hasn't been busy at all.
(audience laughing)
And then USA Basketball
which is all of our international programs
from age 14 to the Olympics.
men and women five-on-five,
three-on-three,
is represented by Sean Ford
who's back over there someplace
at one of those tables.
And they've been absolutely great to me.
I also want to mention
that my brother's here.
My brother was the Deputy Director
of National Intelligence for Jim Clapper,
and there were moments in the sit room
where I was on one side the
table and he was on the other.
And my memory of that is
that I gave good advice,
and he was kind of reluctant
to give any advice.
(audience laughing)
No, I'm kiddin'.
No, I'm kiddin'.
He was in the army as an artillery man,
he couldn't get in the tank corps.
(audience laughing)
And then he got out
and went into our intelligence community.
Let me tell you something.
The intelligence community in
this country is magnificent,
and it's represented by my brother.
(audience applauding)
So.
So it's a little hard to describe
what something like the Marshall award
might mean to you,
and in this case to me,
but you know since you invited me to speak
after giving it to me
I should at least give it a try.
George Marshall is an icon of service.
There's no better way to say it.
And service to our nation.
Perhaps only George Washington
probably helped us understand
and contributed more
to our understanding of what
it means to serve than he did.
And we all know that.
However, few of us, maybe none of us
talk about the service and sacrifice
of George Marshall's wives.
Elizabeth who died in 1927,
and Katherine who died in 1978.
Katherine went through...
I'm sorry, Elizabeth
went through World War I
with George Marshall,
and Katherine went through World War II.
Like all of us,
General Marshall promised
his wife Katherine
a quiet life in retirement.
Just kidding.
As the story goes,
the day after he resigned
from his position
as Chief of Staff of the Army in 1945,
Marshall got a call from President Truman
who asked him to go to
China as his special envoy.
The day after.
Now we don't know exactly
how the conversation went with Katherine
about the possibility of going to China,
or later about the possibility
of serving Secretary of State,
or later still about the possibility
of serving as Secretary of Defense.
But what we do know is
that he went to China,
he became the Secretary of State,
and then he became the
Secretary of Defense.
We do know that they served on together.
My conversations with
Deanie through the years
haven't been quite that lofty,
but they were moments
when we had to reflect
on whether there were limits
to our willingness to serve.
And in those moments
Deanie was there for me,
for our soldiers,
and for their families.
So...
(audience applauding)
So I accept this award fully aware
that without Deanie I wouldn't
be standing here tonight.
Thank You, Deanie.
I love you.
(audience applauding)
Now as you've all heard,
all three of our children
served in the army.
Our son, Chris,
is currently deployed with
his tank battalion 166 army,
the oldest tank battalion
in the United States Army.
But our two daughters
Megan and Caitlin are here,
and I wanna thank the two
of you and Chris in absentia
for what you've done to
support your mom and I
through these years of service.
And here's what it reminds me of.
We really accomplish very little
in our lives by ourselves.
That's part of what the George
Marshall award means to me.
Just last spring I became aware
that the last player
chosen in the NFL draft,
number 254, is called Mr. Irrelevant.
This is true, you can google this.
Thank God for Google.
It's done good naturedly, of course,
but it got me to thinking about
one of the things that makes
me most proud about our army.
In our army no one is irrelevant.
(audience applauding)
Good-naturedly or otherwise.
We make sure that the day
that they put on the uniform
and swear an oath to our Constitution,
that America's sons and daughters
feel like they belong
to something important.
We make sure that they know
that we value their contributions.
We give them something
in which they can believe
in a world and in which
it can sometimes be hard
to believe in anything.
That may be, may very well be
our most important
contribution to the nation,
and that's part of what this
Marshall award means to me.
When President Truman
asked General Marshall
to remain in Washington, DC
and forgo the opportunity
to lead the invasion of
Normandy during World War II,
Marshall replied simply,
"I will give you the best I have."
He would give that same
answer three more times
in his career.
The best we have.
That's what our country needs.
That's actually what our country deserves.
Bloom where you're planted,
my Irish immigrant grandmother told me,
long before I put on the uniform.
When she said it
I don't think I really
understood exactly what it meant.
When I first stood on the grassy expanse
called the plain at
West Point in July 1970,
I began to understand it.
Here's the point.
We don't expect perfection of
those who serve in our army,
but we do expect perfect effort,
and that's part of what this
Marshall award means to me.
I was at a battalion
change-of-command ceremony recently,
and in her remarks the
incoming battalion commander
had this to say to those
she was about to lead.
I'll provide the
guidance, tireless effort,
unwavering support and
the resources you need
to do your jobs.
All I need you to do is care.
That really stuck with me.
Is it possible that
everything we need to do
comes down to that?
Something as simple as caring?
Actually, I think it does.
The best soldiers and the best units
that I've ever seen
are the ones that care the most.
They care about the mission,
they care about protecting the innocent,
they care about each other,
they care about their reputation,
they care about their families,
and that's part of what the
Marshall award means to me.
(audience applauding)
For some reason the other day
I started to think back on my life
in 15-year increments.
I think, it must have been that,
you know my classmates and I who I'm-
Don't get nervous, I'm gonna
say something about you.
You should erupt at that
point in time but not before.
(audience laughing)
You know, we're getting ready to celebrate
our 45th reunion or 45th anniversary
of our graduation from West Point.
So I started thinking about
my life in 15 year increments,
or it could have been just because
it would have been too damn painful
to try to do it one year at a time.
But in any case think about this.
Here we are in 2019.
15 years ago, in 2004, I,
like many of you in the room,
was in Baghdad with some of the bravest
young men and women I've ever known.
15 years before that.
(audience applauding)
15 years before that, in 1989,
I was in Germany when
the Berlin Wall came down
and the Soviet Union right along with it.
(audience applauding)
15 years earlier in 1974,
I graduated from West Point
with a band of brothers
who would soon be asked
to rebuild the army
following the Vietnam War,
and some of them are here tonight.
Pride of the core!
(audience applauding)
15 years before that, in 1959,
President Eisenhower began working
on the famous farewell address
that he wouldn't give until 1961.
It went through 21 drafts,
and it was in that farewell address
that he warned the nation
about the military-industrial complex.
More about that in a moment.
And it was also the year
when Alaska and Hawaii
came into the Union.
Now though it was before my time,
if I bounced it back 15 years before that,
we'd be talking about the
Normandy invasion in 1944.
Here's why I thought that was interesting,
and I hope you agree.
When I thought about the
passage of time like that,
it all seemed like a blink of an eye.
I mean especially the part
that was from now back to 2004.
It feels like it was yesterday.
So what about 15 years from now?
If my quantum leaps backwards
seem to pass so quickly,
I have to assume that the next 15 years
are gonna pass pretty quickly to 2034.
Now, I know, 2034.
Imagine the changes that we'll see
in the next 15 years, 2034.
And here's the question for us all.
Will we be ready?
So here's my answer.
In my judgment, the answer is yes,
but back to Eisenhower's warning.
Eisenhower worried that by joining forces
the military and industry
would grow too powerful
and threaten our democracy.
I actually worry more that the
military-industrial complex,
those with new,
and especially those with
new and emerging technologies
could drift apart,
making it impossible for us
to work out the complex
challenges that we will face
in our democracy.
We're doing well but well
may not be good enough.
My worry is exactly the
opposite of Eisenhower's.
If we're gonna be ready for 2034,
we have no choice but to work together.
We have no choice but to trust each other.
And there's the "yes but" of it all.
We can be ready, but only
if we trust each other.
And not just industry.
If we expect to be ready for
2034, or 2020 for that matter,
we're gonna need to build
an unshakeable coalition
with our allies, with our
sister services, with academia,
veterans support
organizations and nonprofits.
We are.
(audience applauding)
We're gonna need to build broad and deep
public-private partnerships
so that we can see, understand,
collaborate and execute better and faster
than our potential adversaries,
whether those adversaries
are nation-states.
rogue groups, natural disasters, injuries,
illnesses or disease.
If we expect to be ready in 2020, 2034,
it we'll take this group in this room
to act less like colleagues
and business partners
and more like a family
committed to the same
values, to the same interests
and willing to give the same effort.
So it comes back to this.
If we're gonna ask perfect
effort of our soldiers,
then they deserve perfect effort from us.
And that's part of what the
Marshall award means to me.
(audience applauding)
That same beloved Irish grandmother
also once told me that the dinner speaker
at a large event like this
is a bit like the corpse at an Irish wake.
(audience laughing)
It's important that you have one there,
but you shouldn't really
expect too much out of them.
(audience laughing)
So, I will end my remarks by simply noting
that I'm humbled to receive the award
named for this great American.
I'm honored to be listed among those
who have received the award in the past,
and after spending time with you tonight
I'm confident that our army
will remain both effective and honorable
in the service of our fellow citizens.
Thank you.
(audience applauding)
- General Dempsey told me at dinner
that he was asked recently
"How would you define success?"
A lot of different
answers to that question.
I would say one measure of success,
of the quality, the
capabilities of the cohort
that comes behind you.
And I got to tell you, Marty,
that I and many in this
room were shaped by you,
by your example of selfless service,
your example of living by the Army values,
your example of being a leader
of strong character,
and I suspect George Catlett
Marshall is proud tonight.
Thank you very much.
(audience applauding)
Okay, that's probably enough seriousness.
How about welcoming
Downrange and Sergeant
Major Christal Rheams?
(audience applauding)
(uplifting music)
- I'm General Marty Dempsey,
18th chairman of the
Joint Chiefs of Staff.
I've just dropped in to say "Go Army!
"Beat Navy."
I've been in the Army for 40 years.
I didn't join the cavalry to be cool.
I didn't become a tank
commander to make a statement.
I just like it.
(dramatic music)
That's a rough lookin' goat.
Now, I think that's Old Bill.
75 pounds of Navy pride.
I can respect that.
But not today.
Step aside, Old Bill.
(goat bleating)
Thanks Bill.
Go Army.
Beat Navy.
(goat bleating)
And you've experienced it
already, I'm sure, you know.
Overcome your own challenges
and got back, you know
it's like Chumbawamba.
I get knocked down and
I get up again, right.
(audience laughing)
I'm trying to connect to the kids here.
(audience laughing)
- Ask any of your fathers.
- Well, look, at their age
you don't want me to break out
into "Uptown Funk You Up", do ya?
(audience laughing)
♪ Don't believe me just watch ♪
(upbeat music)
♪ I've been reading books of old ♪
♪ The legends and the myths ♪
♪ Achilles and his gold ♪
♪ Hercules and his gifts ♪
♪ And Spiderman's control ♪
♪ And Batman with his fists ♪
♪ And clearly I don't see
myself upon that list ♪
♪ She said, where'd you wanna go ♪
♪ How much you wanna risk ♪
♪ I'm not looking for somebody
with some superhuman gifts ♪
♪ Some superhero ♪
♪ Some fairytale bliss ♪
♪ Just something I can turn to ♪
♪ Somebody I can kiss ♪
♪ I want something just like this ♪
♪ Doo-doo-doo, doo-doo-doo ♪
♪ Doo-doo-doo, doo-doo-doo,
doo-doo-doo, doo-doo-doo ♪
♪ I want something just like this ♪
♪ Doo-doo-doo, doo-doo-doo ♪
♪ Doo-doo-doo, doo-doo-doo,
doo-doo-doo, doo-doo-doo ♪
♪ I want something just like this ♪
♪ I want something just like this ♪
♪ I've been reading books of old ♪
♪ The legends and the myths ♪
♪ The testaments they told ♪
♪ The moon and its eclipse ♪
♪ And Superman unrolls ♪
♪ A suit before he lifts ♪
♪ But I'm not the kind
of person that it fits ♪
♪ She said, where'd you wanna go ♪
♪ How much you wanna risk ♪
♪ I'm not looking for somebody
with some superhuman gifts ♪
♪ Some superhero ♪
♪ Some fairytale bliss ♪
♪ Just someone I can turn to ♪
♪ Somebody I can miss ♪
♪ I want something just like this ♪
♪ Yeah ♪
♪ I want something just like this, yeah ♪
♪ Woo ♪
♪ Yeah ♪
♪ I want something just like this ♪
♪ Oh, I want something just like this ♪
♪ Yeah ♪
♪ Yeah ♪
(audience applauding)
♪ Baby, lay on back and relax ♪
♪ Kick your pretty feet up on my dash ♪
♪ No need to go nowhere fast ♪
♪ Let's enjoy right here where we at ♪
♪ Who knows where this
road is supposed to lead ♪
♪ We got nothing but time ♪
♪ As long as you're
right here next to me ♪
♪ Everything's gonna be all right ♪
♪ If it's meant to be,
it'll be, it'll be ♪
♪ Baby, just let it be ♪
♪ If it's meant to be,
it'll be, it'll be ♪
♪ Baby, just let it be ♪
♪ So, come on ride with me, ride with me ♪
♪ See where this thing goes ♪
♪ If it's meant to be,
it'll be, it'll be ♪
♪ Baby, if it's meant to be ♪
♪ I don't mean to be so uptight ♪
♪ My heart's been hurt a couple times ♪
♪ By a couple guys that
didn't treat me right ♪
♪ I ain't gon' lie, ain't gonna lie ♪
♪ Oh I'm tired of the fake love,
show me what you're made of ♪
♪ Boy, make me believe ♪
♪ Oh hold up, girl, don't
you know you're beautiful ♪
♪ And it's easy to see ♪
♪ If it's meant to be,
it'll be, it'll be ♪
♪ Baby, just let it be ♪
♪ If it's meant to be,
it'll be, it'll be ♪
♪ Baby, just let it be ♪
♪ So, won't you ride
with me, ride with me ♪
♪ See where this thing goes ♪
♪ If it's meant to be,
it'll be, it'll be ♪
♪ Baby, if it's meant to be ♪
♪ So, c'mon ride with me, ride with me ♪
♪ See where this thing goes ♪
♪ So, c'mon ride with me, ride with me ♪
♪ See if it's meant to be ♪
♪ Maybe we do ♪
♪ Maybe we don't ♪
♪ Maybe we will ♪
♪ Maybe we won't ♪
♪ If it's meant to be,
it'll be, it'll be ♪
♪ Baby, if it's meant to be ♪
♪ If it's meant to be,
it'll be, it'll be ♪
♪ Baby, if it's meant to be ♪
♪ So, c'mon ride with me, ride with me ♪
♪ See where this thing goes ♪
♪ If it's meant to be,
it'll be, it'll be ♪
♪ Baby, if it's meant to be ♪
♪ If it's meant to be,
it'll be, it'll be ♪
♪ Baby, if it's meant to be ♪
♪ If it's meant to be,
it'll be, it'll be ♪
♪ Baby, if it's meant to be ♪
(audience applauding)
- [Audience Member] Would you
like to hear him sing a song?
And could we prevail upon you to-
(applause drowns out dialogue)
- Yeah.
- [People On Stage] Yeah.
- This is how I always end up on YouTube.
♪ Where at least I know I'm free ♪
♪ Come on ♪
♪ I love you ♪
♪ Anchors Aweigh ♪
♪ From the halls of Montezuma ♪
♪ Go rolling, off we go ♪
One of those.
They love to hear Papa sing.
♪ I'm telling you no blarney ♪
♪ The likes you've never known ♪
Come on, pay attention, man.
♪ Your heart ♪
At some point in this song
you will pick up the chorus,
and I will point to you
and you better deliver
because I'm the Chairman.
♪ Green alligators and long-neck geese ♪
♪ The brave ♪
(crowd applauding)
- So, Sir, we thought it was only fitting
to ask you, since you're
the singing General,
maybe you would grace us with a song?
(audience cheering)
(audience applauding)
No pressure, no pressure.
- No, I'm retired.
There is no pressure.
(audience laughing)
I do wanna say two things.
One is you probably saw
some of the young taps
kids in the picture,
and I should have mentioned
that I really have four
new families in my life,
'cause number four,
which is really number one
in our hearts, is taps.
The tragedy assistance
program for survivors.
And Bonnie Carroll, where's Bonnie?
(audience applauding)
And remember I said about the
public-private partnerships.
These nonprofits do things
that we just can't do ourselves.
The government cannot do it,
and they pick it up and do it,
and so God bless you.
Second thing I wanna say,
these are my guys right here.
(audience laughing)
Army's Got Talent.
I know, you know Simon Cowell
thinks it was America's Got Talent.
Nope, it's Army's Got Talent.
So, Voices of Service.
So here's what I wanted to say something
before I have them start
to the introduction
to a song near and dear to my heart.
I will sing this song
if I can get a commitment
from the really senior people in this room
to never touch any of our army bands.
(audience laughing)
Now you remember I said that
I don't have any pressure?
He does.
(laughing)
No, I know, I know sometimes
the budget gets tight,
but I gotta tell ya, God help us.
God forgive us
if we ever do away with
the soul of our army,
and oftentimes that's our bands.
So let's sing something...
You know, I want to say something
to try to help overcome this
hostile takeover of the army
by people from Boston.
Let's do it.
(audience laughing)
(upbeat music)
You don't think we planned this, do you?
Yep, we're in the play off.
♪ Start spreadin' the news ♪
♪ I'm leavin' today ♪
♪ I want to be a part of it ♪
♪ New York, New York ♪
♪ These vagabond shoes ♪
They're actually called Haans.
♪ Are longing to stray ♪
♪ Right through the very heart of it ♪
♪ New York, New York ♪
♪ I wanna wake up in the
city that doesn't sleep ♪
♪ And find I'm king of the hill ♪
♪ Top of the heap ♪
♪ These little town blues ♪
♪ Are melting away ♪
♪ I'll make a brand new start of it ♪
♪ In old New York ♪
♪ If I can make it there,
I'll make it anywhere ♪
♪ It's up to you, New York, New York ♪
Now if you know it, sing along.
♪ New York, New York ♪
♪ I wanna wake up in the
city that doesn't sleep ♪
♪ And find I'm king of the hill ♪
♪ Top of the list ♪
♪ And number one ♪
♪ King of the hill ♪
♪ These little town blues ♪
♪ Are melting away ♪
♪ I'm gonna make a brand new start of it ♪
♪ In old New York ♪
♪ And ♪
♪ If I can make it there ♪
♪ I'm gonna make it anywhere ♪
♪ It's up to you, New York ♪
♪ New York ♪
♪ New York ♪
(audience applauding)
(audience cheering)
- Now, Sir, before you
leave, before you leave,
I just wanted to say
what an honor it's been
all these years to share
the stage with you,
and to witness first
hand the healing impact
that an open, caring heart
can have on everyone you meet.
- Thank you.
- I feel such gratitude
for you and Mrs. Dempsey
for reminding all of us
that a truly fulfilled life
is one of love and service.
Thank you, sir.
(audience applauding)
So this next one's for you, sir.
We ready, band?
- [Dempsey] You don't get
to go anywhere, though.
- Can't go anywhere.
♪ Of all the money that e're I've had ♪
♪ I spent it in good company ♪
♪ And of all the harm I've ever done ♪
♪ Alas it was but none to me ♪
♪ So fill to me the parting glass ♪
♪ And drink a health whate'er befalls ♪
♪ Then gently rise and softly call ♪
♪ Good night and joy be to you all ♪
♪ Of all the comrades that e'er I had ♪
♪ They're dying for me to stay ♪
♪ And all the sweethearts
that e'er I've had ♪
♪ They'd wish me one more day to stay ♪
♪ But since it fell into my lot ♪
♪ That I should rise and you should not ♪
♪ I'll gently rise and softly call ♪
♪ Good night and joy be to you all ♪
♪ So fill to me the parting glass ♪
♪ And drink a health whate'er befalls ♪
♪ Then gently rise and softly call ♪
♪ Good night and joy be to you all ♪
♪ So fill to me the parting glass ♪
♪ And drink a health whate'er befalls ♪
♪ And gently rise and softly call ♪
♪ Good night and joy be to you all ♪
♪ So fill to me the parting glass ♪
♪ And drink a health whate'er befalls ♪
♪ And gently rise and softly call ♪
♪ Good night and joy be to you all ♪
♪ Good night and joy be to you all ♪
(lively music)
- [Announcer] Ladies and
gentlemen, the US Army, Downrange.
(audience applauding)
Ladies and gentlemen
the US Army, Downrange.
- How about...
How about that?
Hey, General Sullivan,
I don't remember you singing like that
when you got the medal.
(audience laughing)
Hey, Sergeant Major, let's ask.
Do you think they got one more?
(audience cheering)
Sergeant Major, you got one more?
- [Sergeant Major] We
always have one more, sir.
- Okay, thank you.
Downrange.
(audience applauding)
♪ If tomorrow all the things were gone ♪
♪ I worked for all my life ♪
♪ And I had to start again ♪
♪ With my family by my side ♪
♪ I thank my lucky stars ♪
♪ To be living here today ♪
♪ 'Cause the flag still
stands for freedom ♪
♪ And they can't take that away ♪
♪ And I'm proud to be an American ♪
♪ Where at least I know I'm free ♪
♪ And I won't forget the ones who died ♪
♪ Who gave that right to me ♪
♪ And I'd gladly stand up next to you ♪
♪ And defend Her still today ♪
♪ 'Cause there ain't no doubt ♪
♪ I love this land ♪
♪ God Bless the U.S.A. ♪
♪ From the lakes of Minnesota ♪
♪ To the hills of Tennessee ♪
♪ Across the plains of Texas ♪
♪ From sea to shining sea ♪
♪ From Detroit down to Houston ♪
♪ And New York to L.A. ♪
♪ Where's pride in every American heart ♪
♪ And it's time we stand and say ♪
♪ That I'm proud to be an American ♪
♪ Where at least I know I'm free ♪
♪ And I won't forget the ones who died ♪
♪ Who gave that right to me ♪
♪ And I'd gladly stand up next to you ♪
♪ And defend Her still today ♪
♪ 'Cause there ain't no doubt ♪
♪ I love this land ♪
♪ God Bless the U.S.A. ♪
♪ And I'm proud to be an American ♪
♪ Where at least I know I'm free ♪
♪ And I won't forget the ones who died ♪
♪ Who gave that right to me ♪
♪ And I'd gladly stand up next to you ♪
♪ And defend Her still today ♪
♪ 'Cause there ain't no doubt ♪
♪ I love this land ♪
♪ God Bless the U.S.A. ♪
- Downrange.
(audience applauding)
Truly awesome, truly awesome.
Okay, all right, Mr. Secretary,
Chief, SMA, that's it.
All right.
That's the annual meeting 2019,
but guess what?
It's less than a year.
(audience laughing)
Be right back here October
12th through 14th 2020
for AUSA 2020.
(audience cheering)
(audience applauding)
All right.
Let's close this out with our song.
Please join in our song.
(lively music)
♪ March along, sing our song,
with the Army of the free ♪
♪ Count the brave, count the true ♪
♪ Who have fought to victory ♪
♪ We're the Army and proud of our name ♪
♪ We're the Army and proudly proclaim ♪
♪ First to fight for the right ♪
♪ And to build the Nation's might ♪
♪ And the Army goes rolling along ♪
♪ Proud of all we have done ♪
♪ Fighting till the battle's won ♪
♪ And the Army goes rolling along ♪
♪ Then it's hi hi hey ♪
♪ The Army's on its way ♪
♪ Count off the cadence loud and strong ♪
♪ For where'er we go ♪
♪ You will always know ♪
♪ That the Army goes rolling along ♪
(audience cheering)
(audience applauding)
