Gen. John Shalikashvili suffers stroke

TACOMA, Wash., Aug. 9 (UPI) -- Retired Gen. John Shalikashvili was in guarded condition Monday at a Tacoma, Wash., military hospital after suffering a stroke.

The former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and now an adviser to Democratic presidential nominee John F. Kerry was admitted Saturday to Madigan Army Medical Center at Fort Lewis in Tacoma, KIRO-AM reported in Seattle.

The 68-year-old Shalikashvili served as the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff from 1993 to 1997. Previously he was NATO's 10th supreme allied commander in Europe.

Born in Warsaw, Poland, his family immigrated in 1952 and six years later he enlisted in the U.S. Army and attended Officer Candidate School. He served in a variety of posts during his military career in South Korea; Fort Lewis, Wash.; Washington D.C. and Europe. He is now a resident of Steilacoom, Wash.

Most recently he endorsed Kerry at the Democratic National convention in Boston.

Kerry, in a Monday statement, said: "Shali is a good friend, a trusted advisor, and a great American whose life and example embody the values at the heart of America -- opportunity, service and family. I called his wife, Joan, Saturday to let them know that Teresa and I are praying for a speedy recovery and stand ready to do anything we can to help."