[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 1248 Engrossed in House (EH)]


                In the House of Representatives, U. S.,

                                                         July 30, 2008.
Whereas the USS Farenholt (DD 491) was launched on November 19, 1941, by 
        Bethlehem Steel Company in Staten Island, New York, and commissioned on 
        April 2, 1942, at the Brooklyn Navy Yard;
Whereas the Farenholt, a 1620-ton Benson-class destroyer, sailed from San Diego 
        on July 1, 1942, for the Pacific;
Whereas the Farenholt, known as the ``Fightin' F'', participated in the invasion 
        of Guadalcanal on August 7, 1942, which marked the first American land 
        offensive of the war;
Whereas the Farenholt, a flagship for Destroyer Squadron 12, served as an escort 
        for the carrier, the USS Wasp, which on September 15, 1942, was attacked 
        by two enemy submarines;
Whereas, as the Wasp sunk, the Farenholt rescued 143 survivors;
Whereas the Farenholt, during the Battle of Cape Esperance on the night of 
        October 11, 1942, exhibited tactical might by joining an American force 
        that successfully intercepted and defeated enemy destroyers and 
        cruisers;
Whereas, during the Battle of Cape Esperance, the Farenholt helped to sink an 
        enemy destroyer, despite having received three hits and having her 
        torpedo tube rendered inoperative, which left three of the Farenholt's 
        crew dead and 43 wounded;
Whereas, during the Battle of Cape Esperance, the Farenholt remained afloat 
        despite the amount of water that flooded aboard the ship due to the 
        severe damage inflicted by the three hits;
Whereas the crew saved the Farenholt from sinking by shifting oil, water, and 
        topside weight to starboard, thus bringing the holes created by direct 
        shell hits out of the water and saving the Farenholt so she could fight 
        another day;
Whereas on the night of February 17, 1944, the Farenholt steamed up the St. 
        George Channel and bombarded Rabaul, Solomon Islands, a stronghold of 
        the enemy;
Whereas Rabaul was heavily fortified and hosted approximately 100,000 enemy 
        troops;
Whereas during the Rabaul raid, the Farenholt fired 214 salvos and inflicted 
        heavy damage on shore installations at Rabaul and sunk two merchant 
        ships;
Whereas General MacArthur said of the February Rabaul raid, ``Heartiest 
        congratulations to you and all concerned in Rabaul air strikes. The 
        relentlessness of the attacks and their effectiveness have aroused 
        admiration and enthusiasm everywhere. The daring and successful 
        destroyer raids were also splendid in every way and were conceived and 
        accomplished in the best Farragut manner'';
Whereas one week later, on February 25, 1944, the Farenholt participated in a 
        similar raid, this time at Kavieng which drew heavy fire from the shore, 
        and the Farenholt was damaged on the starboard side and, once again, her 
        men saved the ship;
Whereas the men of the Farenholt accounted for two Navy Cross awards, two 
        members of the crew were awarded the Silver Star Medal, five members of 
        the crew were awarded the Bronze Star Medal, eight members of the crew 
        received Letters of Commendation, and approximately 46 Purple Hearts 
        were awarded for the members of the crew who were killed or wounded in 
        action;
Whereas the men of the Farenholt and their loving spouses, widows, and children 
        celebrated their 16th reunion in Fort Collins, Colorado, in 2007, and 
        will celebrate their 17th reunion in Santa Clara, California, on 
        September 17, 2008 through September 21, 2008; and
Whereas the men of the Farenholt represent the bravery and selfless sacrifice of 
        the greatest generation: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the United States House of Representatives--
            (1) recognizes and commends the courageous and honorable men who 
        served aboard the USS Farenholt in the South Pacific during World War II 
        for their selfless service to the United States; and
            (2) recognizes the contributions of the USS Farenholt and her crew 
        in protecting America and its freedoms during World War II.
            Attest:

                                                                          Clerk.