Joint Meritorious Unit Award

Joint Meritorious Unit Award

Presented by: Army General Henry H. [Hugh] Shelton
May, 2000

The Joint Meritorious Unit Award, the only ribbon award granted by The Department of Defense, is given in recognition of organizations for outstanding heroism or exceptionally meritorious achievement or service performed during periods of war, international tension, national emergencies, or extraordinary situations that involve national interests.

The award was established by Secretary of Defense, Caspar Weinberger in 1981 (and made retroactive to 1979), filling a void for the increasing numbers of events involving joint units rather than separate services or individuals.

Army General Henry H. [Hugh] Shelton, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, opened the May 2000 Stuttgart ceremony and presented European Command with the Joint Meritorious Unit Award, the highest recognition awarded to a joint organization.

General Shelton said, of Clark:

"Operation Allied Force is certainly the most well known of your accomplishments -- as well it should be. Allied Force was the largest air campaign in Europe in over 50 years, the most precise bombing campaign in history. It set the conditions for a peace settlement. Your ability to carry out the multitude of day-to-day activities, along with major operations, proves once again that you are equal to any task," he continued.

"You are responsible for a very vital and dynamic area of the world. … You have never let us down, and I know that you never will."

In his farewell address, Clark called European Command the "glue which binds America's commitments across the Atlantic and provides the first means of military cooperation, support or, if necessary, action should the need arise."

He credited the command's success to "the incredible teamwork" at the command's top levels. He also honored the "incredible performance" of the command's soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines, Coast Guardsmen and civilians, "who have borne this unprecedented tempo with skill, determination and unfailingly high morale."

Two time-tested principles guided the command in all its engagements, Clark said. "Accomplish the mission and take care of the troops. And that's what we did."

Sources:

http://www.defenselink.mil/news/May2000/n05032000_20005033.html
http://www.eucom.mil/english/CommandStaff/ECJ1/ECJ1-PAD/JMUA/jmuamain.asp
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joint_Meritorious_Unit_Citation
http://www.defenselink.mil/photos/May2000/000503-D-2987S-067.html
http://www.gruntsmilitary.com/jmuw.shtml
http://www.amervets.com/replacement/jmua.htm