"wizzerd" typed:
> does someone know how to eliminate the resulting extra blank lines
> left after removing the messages from /etc/motd & /etc/issue?

John told you how to do something which might achieve what you want.
If on the other hand, you want to quieten down the messages that
appear on successful login, create an empty file ".hushlogin" in your
home directory.

~$ touch .hushlogin

--
Ayaz Ahmed Khan, fast-ce.org/ayaz

Nothing is more admirable than the fortitude with which millionaires
tolerate the disadvantages of their wealth.
-- Nero Wolfe