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







110th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. RES. 1248

Recognizing the service of the USS Farenholt and her men who served our 
Nation with valor and bravery in the South Pacific during World War II.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                              June 5, 2008

 Mr. Ellsworth (for himself, Mrs. Musgrave, Mr. Chandler, Mr. Hall of 
  New York, Mr. Altmire, Mr. Kennedy, Mr. Berry, Mr. Lincoln Davis of 
   Tennessee, Mrs. Cubin, Mr. Salazar, Mr. Grijalva, Mr. LaHood, Mr. 
  Rehberg, Mr. Renzi, Mrs. Tauscher, Mr. Visclosky, Mr. Gohmert, Mr. 
Smith of Washington, Mr. Van Hollen, Mr. Davis of Kentucky, Mr. Tiahrt, 
 Mr. Shimkus, Mr. Thompson of California, Mr. McCarthy of California, 
Mr. Stupak, Mr. Flake, Mr. Ross, Mr. Tancredo, Mr. Terry, Mr. McIntyre, 
 Mr. Latta, Mr. Shuler, Mr. Donnelly, Mr. Sullivan, Mr. McNerney, and 
 Mr. Honda) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to 
                    the Committee on Armed Services

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
Recognizing the service of the USS Farenholt and her men who served our 
Nation with valor and bravery in the South Pacific during World War II.

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 2 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 the Farenholt sunk an enemy destroyer despite receiving three hits and 
        having her torpedo tube rendered inoperative, leaving 4 of her men 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 men aboard the ship saved the Farenholt from sinking by shifting 
        topside weights to starboard, thus bringing the holes created by direct 
        shell hits out of the water 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 2 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 2 Navy Cross awards, 2 were 
        awarded the Silver Star Medal, 5 were awarded the Bronze Star Medal, 8 
        received Letters of Commendation, and approximately 46 Purple Hearts 
        were awarded for those killed or wounded in action;
Whereas the men of the USS 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 the courageous men who served aboard the USS 
        Farenholt in the South Pacific during World War II who 
        protected America and its freedom; and
            (2) recognizes the contributions of the USS Farenholt and 
        commends the honorable men who served aboard the USS Farenholt, 
        for their selfless service to the Nation.
                                 <all>