[Congressional Bills 107th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 239 Introduced in Senate (IS)]







107th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. RES. 239

Recognizing the lack of historical recognition of the gallant exploits 
 of the officers and crew of the S.S. Henry Bacon, a Liberty ship that 
    was sunk February 23, 1945, in the waning days of World War II.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             April 12, 2002

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

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
Recognizing the lack of historical recognition of the gallant exploits 
 of the officers and crew of the S.S. Henry Bacon, a Liberty ship that 
    was sunk February 23, 1945, in the waning days of World War II.

Whereas during World War II the S.S. Henry Bacon was assigned the task of 
        conveying war materials and supplies to the beleaguered Russian nation 
        via the dangerous Murmansk Run, and faithfully fulfilled its mission;
Whereas in 1945 the S.S. Henry Bacon saved 19 refugees from Nazi-controlled 
        Norway and accepted these Norwegian refugees from the British for 
        passage to Murmansk;
Whereas the S.S. Henry Bacon, with a full crew and refugees aboard, set sail for 
        Scotland amid the worst storms ever registered in the Arctic Ocean and 
        suffered damage from the force of the storms and from internal 
        mechanical problems;
Whereas the S.S. Henry Bacon, while suffering from a loss of steering capacity, 
        lost its place in Convoy RA 64 and became a stray, unable to communicate 
        with the convoy and required to maintain radio silence;
Whereas the S.S. Henry Bacon was left to its own devices: engine room workers 
        used a sledgehammer and wedge to physically turn the ship;
Whereas the S.S. Henry Bacon, alone in that freezing sea, came under attack by 
        23 Junker JU-88s of the German Luftwaffe;
Whereas armed with only several small guns, the United States Navy Armed Guard 
        and the ship's Merchant mariners fought gallantly against the oncoming 
        torpedo
        bombers;
Whereas mortally wounded after 1 German pilot was successful in delivering a 
        payload to the ship, the S.S. Henry Bacon fought back, shooting down 9 
        enemy planes;
Whereas when the S.S. Henry Bacon began to sink, her captain ensured that all 19 
        Norwegian refugees would receive a place in a lifeboat;
Whereas when the lifeboat supply was exhausted, crewmen made rough rafts from 
        the railroad ties that had been used to secure locomotives delivered to 
        Russia;
Whereas the S.S. Henry Bacon went down with 28 casualties, including Captain 
        Alfred Carini, Chief Engineer Donald Haviland, Bosun Holcomb Lammon Jr., 
        and the commanding officer of the United States Navy Armed Guard, Lt. 
        John Sippola, but in its sinking kept the German planes from looking 
        further and locating the main body of the convoy;
Whereas the 19 Norwegian refugees were saved and ultimately returned to Norway; 
        and
Whereas the actions of the officers and crew of the S.S. Henry Bacon, in the 
        finest tradition of the United States Merchant Marines and the United 
        States Navy, have been recognized by the people of Norway and Russia 
        but, until now, have not been acknowledged by our grateful Nation: Now, 
        therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) recognizes the valiant efforts of the crew of the S.S. 
        Henry Bacon; and
            (2) requests that the President issue a proclamation, 
        calling to memory the deeds, exploits, and sacrifices of the 
        officers and crew of the S.S. Henry Bacon.
                                 <all>