By Army Sgt. 1st Class Tyrone C. Marshall Jr.
DoD News, Defense Media Activity
WASHINGTON, Oct. 18, 2014 - Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel and Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, honored the USO and service members for their volunteerism and service at the 2014 USO Gala here.
"This time in which we live is as challenging and uncertain, and complicated, as I suspect, any time during our lifetimes," Hagel said.
Particularly important, he said, is the strength of the USO, with its vibrancy, character and values which it provides as it helps bring comfort to our men and women in uniform and their families.
Hagel thanked the USO for representing "a certain certainty" during "uncertain times," and congratulated their nominees for volunteer and service members of the year.
"I want to thank the enlisted men and women who are being honored tonight," he said, "and everyone here who serves his or her country, and [or] has served his or her country."
Hagel, who served as USO president from 1987 to 1990, praised the organization's new leader, J.D. Crouch, and its previous, Sloan D. Gibson, who now serves as deputy secretary for the Department of Veteran Affairs.
"I've known J.D. for many years -- he will be a terrific leader for this institution," he said. "You've had many good leaders in this institution."
"Sloan Gibson went on and continues to make big contributions to his country," Hagel said. "As I said ... I'm very proud that I had a small part to play in helping continue to build this institution many years ago."
"I have been a strong supporter [ever] since -- not just as secretary of defense -- but as a former soldier," he said, "but probably more importantly, as an American. All of America recognizes you and what you do, and how important you are."
Gen. Dempsey expressed his pride in serving with the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and pointed to numerous challenges the military now faces around the world.
"We have a lot going on in case you haven't noticed," Dempsey said. "If I'd had this conversation with you ... four months ago, we wouldn't be talking about insecurity in Europe, we wouldn't be talking about this thing -- [the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant], and we wouldn't be talking about Ebola -- and here we are."
"By the way," he said, "the Joint Chiefs and the men and women who serve -- we're going to figure it out."
The chairman noted even as service members are deployed on missions "we already know about," others are preparing to carry out others.
"We've got people packing their bags to go to Europe to reassure our allies or go to Iraq or Kuwait to make sure that this threat of ISIL doesn't continue to expand, and to go to places like Senegal and Liberia to make sure that this disease is contained, and therefore, doesn't become a threat to the homeland."
The chairman lauded the USO for its commitment to service members and assured they would continue to have work to do in taking care of America's troops and their families.
"So [to] the USO -- I hope you didn't think we were going to put you out of work," Dempsey said. "You're going to have some work to do, and we're proud to be partners with you in doing it."
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