[Congressional Bills 107th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 228 Introduced in Senate (IS)]







107th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. RES. 228

  Honoring the memory of the U.S.S. South Dakota and its World War II 
 crew on the occasion of the 60th Anniversary of the commissioning of 
                        the U.S.S. South Dakota.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             March 20, 2002

   Mr. Johnson (for himself and Mr. Daschle) submitted the following 
   resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Armed Services

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
  Honoring the memory of the U.S.S. South Dakota and its World War II 
 crew on the occasion of the 60th Anniversary of the commissioning of 
                        the U.S.S. South Dakota.

Whereas March 20, 2002, marks the 60th Anniversary of the commissioning of the 
        U.S.S. South Dakota;
Whereas the U.S.S. South Dakota and her crew served with distinction throughout 
        World War II;
Whereas the U.S.S. South Dakota served in many of the major battles of the 
        Pacific Campaign, including the engagements in support of the battle for 
        Guadalcanal, the Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands, the invasions of the 
        Gilbert Islands and Marshall Islands, the Marianas Campaign, the Battle 
        of the Philippine Sea, the invasions of Leyte and Luzon in the 
        Philippines, the invasions of Iwo Jima and Okinawa, and attacks on the 
        home islands of Japan;
Whereas, from February through August of 1943, the U.S.S. South Dakota operated 
        in the Atlantic Ocean, and served there with the British Home Fleet;
Whereas the U.S.S. South Dakota and her crew became the most decorated American 
        battleship of World War II, having been awarded 13 battle stars;
Whereas the U.S.S. South Dakota became one of only four battleships to be 
        awarded the Navy Unit Commendation;
Whereas Admiral Chester W. Nimitz used the U.S.S. South Dakota as his flagship 
        for the surrender of Japan in Tokyo Bay;
Whereas the U.S.S. South Dakota served as the flagship for Admiral William F. 
        Halsey on the return of the Navy's Third Fleet to the United States 
        after World War II ended; and
Whereas the memory of those who served and those who died on the vessel are 
        honored at the U.S.S. South Dakota Memorial in Sioux Falls, South 
        Dakota: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) remembers the service of the U.S.S. South Dakota and 
        its World War II crew on the occasion of the 60th Anniversary 
        of the commissioning of the U.S.S. South Dakota;
            (2) commends the members of the World War II crew of the 
        U.S.S. South Dakota for their dedicated service to the United 
        States during that war;
            (3) pays solemn tribute to those who were killed or wounded 
        on the decks of the U.S.S. South Dakota; and
            (4) honors the lasting legacy of the great fighting spirit 
        of the U.S.S. South Dakota and its crew.
                                 <all>