[Congressional Bills 106th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 421 Introduced in House (IH)]







106th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. CON. RES. 421

       Expressing the sense of the Congress with respect to the 
  accomplishments of the U.S.S. TENNESSEE (BB-43) during World War II.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            October 10, 2000

  Mr. Bryant submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was 
              referred to the Committee on Armed Services

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION


 
       Expressing the sense of the Congress with respect to the 
  accomplishments of the U.S.S. TENNESSEE (BB-43) during World War II.

Whereas the U.S.S. TENNESSEE (BB-43) suffered significant damage during the 
        Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, after which the 
        ship was repaired and her crew retrained for battle in the Pacific 
        during World War II;
Whereas during the four years following the attack on Pearl Harbor, the U.S.S. 
        TENNESSEE fired 9,347 shells from her 14-inch guns, 46,341 shells from 
        her 5-inch guns, and more than 100,000 rounds from her antiaircraft 
        batteries;
Whereas the U.S.S. TENNESSEE's four-year tour through the Pacific marks the 
        largest number of shells fired by a ship in combat in the entire history 
        of the United States Navy;
Whereas the U.S.S. TENNESSEE and her crew participated in 13 major operations 
        during World War II, logging 339 days in combat;
Whereas the U.S.S. TENNESSEE suffered damage at Saipan, Iwo Jima, and Okinawa, 
        but remained in battle, with her crew making emergency repairs;
Whereas during the Battle for Leyte Gulf in the Philippines on October 23-26, 
        1944, the U.S.S. TENNESSEE assisted in defeating the last major Japanese 
        naval counteroffensive of the war;
Whereas during the Battle of Surigao Strait on October 24-25, 1944, the U.S.S. 
        TENNESSEE's accuracy of fire helped defeat the invading Japanese naval 
        fleet and save the Leyte landing beachhead;
Whereas the performance of the U.S.S. TENNESSEE during World War II excelled due 
        to her length of service, degree of enemy reaction encountered, amount 
        of main and secondary battery ammunition expended, and effectiveness of 
        gunfire delivered;
Whereas the crew of the U.S.S. TENNESSEE was awarded the Asiatic-Pacific 
        Campaign Medal with 10 battle stars and the World War II Victory Medal 
        for their World War II service;
Whereas the crew of the U.S.S. TENNESSEE was awarded 10 battle stars, for 
        actions during--

    (1) the Pearl Harbor attack on December 7, 1941, and the Aleutians 
Campaign, from June to August 1943;

    (2) the Gilbert Islands Operation, from November 18 to December 8, 
1943;

    (3) the Marshall Islands Operation, from January to March 1944;

    (4) the Marianas Operation, from June to August 1944;

    (5) the Tinian Capture and Occupation, from July 24 to August 1, 1944;

    (6) the Western Caroline Islands Operation, from September 6 to October 
14, 1944;

    (7) the Leyte Operation, from August to November 1944;

    (8) the Iwo Jima Operation, from February 15 to March 16, 1945;

    (9) the Okinawa Gunto operation, from March 24 to June 30, 1945; and

    (10) the Third Fleet Operations against Japan, from July 10 to August 
15, 1945;

Whereas after World War II, the Secretary of the Navy convened a special board 
        to review recommendations for awards of decorations and medals that had 
        been denied during World War II, which reviewed the case of the U.S.S. 
        TENNESSEE and did not recommend to the President the award of the 
        Presidential Unit Citation for the crew of the ship; and
Whereas the U.S.S. TENNESSEE was in action during World War II from December 7, 
        1941, to August 15, 1945, but in considering whether to recommend the 
        award of the Presidential Unit Citation, the Secretary of the Navy took 
        into consideration only the period from January 31, 1944, to June 21, 
        1945, which excludes the time during which four battle stars were 
        awarded: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Congress--
            (1) commends those who served on the U.S.S. TENNESSEE (BB-
        43) for their service to the Nation and their role in the 
        ship's 13 major operations during World War II, including the 
        Battle of Leyte Gulf, during which the U.S.S. TENNESSEE played 
        a role in the last naval action fought by a battle line; and
            (2) urges the Secretary of the Navy to reconsider the 
        decision whether to recommend to the President the award of the 
        Presidential Unit Citation to the World War II crew of the 
        U.S.S. TENNESSEE.
                                 <all>