William Helms: “North Carolina, down through history has been blessed with countless remarkable sons and daughters, and in my judgment…”

“North Carolina, down through history has been blessed with countless remarkable sons and daughters, and in my judgment, one of the truly great has been General Hugh H. Shelton, the 14th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, who was confirmed by the Senate on October 1, 1997, and reconfirmed by the Senate for a second 2-year term in 1999. In this capacity, this great son of Eastern North Carolina served as the principal military advisor to the President of the United States, the Secretary of Defense, and the National Security Council. Prior to becoming Chairman, General Shelton served as Commander in Chief of the U.S. Special Operations Command. The General was born in Tarboro, NC, in January 1942. He earned a bachelor of science degree from North Carolina State University and a master of science from Auburn University. His military education includes attendance at the Air Command and Staff College in Montgomery, AL, and at the National War College at Fort McNair, Washington, DC. He was commissioned a second lieutenant in the infantry in 1963 through the Reserve Officer Training Corps, and spent the next 24 years in a variety of command and staff positions in the continental United States, Hawaii, and Vietnam. He served two tours in Vietnam--the first with the 5th Special Forces Group, the second with the 173rd Airborne Brigade.”