John W. Morris
great help for me. I have offered and encouraged a similar arrangement with the Chiefs. If they
need me, fine, but I've tried not to become a nuisance.
I called Kansas City the other day for something, and the lady that answered the phone said,
"Oh, I remember you when you were division engineer in Omaha." We had a long
conversation. I enjoyed it a great deal, but that's very unusual. It doesn't take long for Chiefs
to become has-beens. And that's good too! All retirees have the same situation-I believe they
should nourish becoming "has-beens" unless needed.
In recent years you have received a number of awards, including the prestigious Founder's
Award from the National Academy of Engineering. Tell me about those awards.
I guess if you live long enough and remain active, you will receive awards. In my case there
A
has been a small flood lately. The Beaver's Engineering Award, the Construction Industry
Institute Award of Excellence, the National Academy of Engineering Founder's Award, the
Gold de Fleury Medal from the Army Engineer Association and the Distinguished Engineering
Alumni Award from the University of Iowa in February 1998. In March 1998 the Society of
American Military Engineers selected me for their Golden Eagle Award. Finally in May 1998
the Association of Graduates of the United States Military Academy gave me a Distinguished
Graduate Award during a parade of the Corps of Cadets as part of the annual alumni program.
Each is for a different field and a truly outstanding recognition, so I would not want to
compare or select a favorite. I can say, however, that the National Academy of Engineering's
Founder's Award and the Distinguished Graduate Award were the most unexpected and have
been received by some great Americans. I am honored and humbled by each and really wish
everyone who helped me over so many years could, in some way, share and enjoy these
acknowledgments. After all, only because of them were the awards given to me. No one can
achieve these accolades by himself, and nowhere is this truer than in the Corps of Engineers
and our industry.
Conclusion
Q ..
What do you see in the future for the Corps of Engineers?
A
A tough subject, which has concerned me since 1970. Most of my thoughts apply to
[U.S. Army Corps of Engineers] primarily. One thing is clear-as General Heiberg said
recently, "The Corps' future will be different." The truth of this statement comes into better
focus when I reflect on the Corps of Engineers I joined in 1943. At that time, the Chief of
Engineers was the commander of all engineer soldiers and was responsible for Fort Belvoir,
the Engineer Center. He assigned all officers in accordance with his career development
policies, and he was responsible for the traditional engineer staff and engineer construction
missions to include the politically sensitive public works program.
Beginning in the early
a series of Army reorganizations, personnel management
changes, and other modifications steadily reduced the scope of the Chief's responsibilities and
authorities to their present level. The
established in 1979, consolidated under the
Chief of Engineers, as commander, those functions that survived and remained under his
jurisdiction.
While the basic role and purpose of the Chief and his command to support the Army have not
changed, the Corps today is much different than it was a few years ago.
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