Boswell For Congress

Washington, DC – Today, Congressman Leonard Boswell supported and the House passed H.R. 1177, the Five-Star Generals Commemorative Coin Act, to honor the country’s five Five-Star Generals and support the Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.

“I had the opportunity to be both a student and instructor at the Command and General Staff College during my 20-year military career,” said Boswell, who was inducted into the College’s Hall of Fame earlier this month. “This legislation not only honors our country’s greatest military leaders, but it channels the proceeds generated from the coins back into training and developing the current students of the Command and General Staff College and future military leaders of this nation.”

Boswell cosponsored H.R. 1177 which directs the Secretary of the Treasury to mint and issue $5 gold coins, $1 silver coins, and half-dollar clad coins in recognition of five Army Five-Star Generals: George Marshall, Douglas MacArthur, Dwight Eisenhower, Henry "Hap" Arnold, and Omar Bradley, all alumni of the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.  Revenue generated from the sale of these coins will be directed to the Command and General Staff College Foundation to help finance its support of the College.

Below is the statement that Boswell submitted for the record on H.R. 1177.

Thank you Madam Speaker.  I ask unanimous consent to revise and extend my marks.

I rise today in strong support of H.R. 1177, the 5-Star Generals Commemorative Coin Act.  I believe this legislation is very important to not only recognize the contributions of the Command and General Staff College to our U.S. military but also to ensure that the programs at the College remain strong for our future military leaders.

For over 129 years the Command and General Staff College has produced some of the best military leaders in the world including the five 5-Star Generals who taught or studied at the College: George Marshall, Douglas MacArthur, Dwight Eisenhower, Hap Arnold, and Omar Bradley.  Colin Powell and David Petraeus also graduated from the school.

As Mr. Moore mentioned, I had the honor to both attend the college as a student and became an instructor during my military career and I can attest to the fact that those I served with were truly the best in the world.

Last fall I also had the privilege to be the keynote speaker at the Flag Ceremony for the International Military Students at the school.  A lot has changed from my time there and I had the opportunity to see the state-of-the-art training that our military personnel are receiving.

This legislation will require the Treasury to mint and issue $5 gold coins, $1 silver coins, and half-dollar coins in recognition of the five US Army Five-Star Generals.  The surcharges in the sale of such coins will be paid to the Command and General Staff College Foundation to help finance its support of the College. 

Some of those activities that the foundation performs include:

• ·         Research grants for the facility,
• ·         Support for the International Military Officer program,
• ·         And support for guest speakers and professional development

During my 20-year career in the Army I had the privilege to serve alongside many great men and women. The passage of H.R. 1177 will ensure that the Command and General Staff College remains the world-respected military institute of higher education that it is today.

I would like to thank Mr. Moore for introducing such an important bill and urge my colleagues to support H.R. 1177.

Thank you and I yield back.