WASHINGTON — US Defense Secretary Robert Gates issued a heartfelt farewell statement to all US military personnel Wednesday, the day before his final day at the Pentagon.
“Your dedication, courage and skill have kept America safe even while bringing the war in Iraq to a successful conclusion and, I believe, at last turning the tide in Afghanistan. Your countrymen owe you their freedom and their security,” Gates wrote, adding that serving as Secretary of Defense for more than four years had been “the greatest honor of my life.”
“I have signed the orders deploying you, all too often into harm’s way. This has weighed on me every day. I have known about and felt your hardship, your difficulties, your sacrifice, more than you can possibly imagine. I have felt personally responsible for each of you,” Gates continued.
“You are the best that America has to offer. My admiration and affection for you is without limit, and I will think about you and your families and pray for you every day for the rest of my life,” he added.
The 67-year-old Gates, who was named Defense Secretary by President George W. Bush in 2006 and was kept on by President Barack Obama when he took office in 2009, will be replaced by CIA Director Leon Panetta.
Obama will hold a farewell dinner for Gates Wednesday night at the White House and an additional ceremony honoring his tenure on Thursday afternoon at the Pentagon.