Gates, who visibly choked up when speaking, said it had been a great honor to serve as Defense Secretary, first under President George W Bush and then under Obama. “Every single day I have been Secretary, our military has been engaged in two major wars and multiple other missions,” he said. “It has been the greatest honor of my life to serve and to lead our men and women in uniform and our defense civilians. They are the best America has to offer.” He added, “My highest priority from my first day in office has been to do everything I could for our uniformed men and women in harm’s way -- to help them accomplish their mission, to come home safely, and if wounded to get them the best possible care from battlefield to home front.”