[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 59 (Friday, May 13, 1994)]
[House]
[Page H]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: May 13, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
 THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE U.S.S ROBINSON'S SINKING OF THE JAPANESE 
                            SUBMARINE RO-501

  Mr. WARNER. Madam President, today the United States Senate is 
privileged and indeed honored to recognize the officers and men, 
together with a number of their wives and family, of the destroyer 
escort U.S.S Francis M. Robinson, DE 220, on the 50th anniversary of 
that ship sinking the Japanese submarine RO-501 in the Atlantic Ocean. 
We hereby recognize and thank the heroic crew members who took part in 
that action which hastened the end of World War II.
  The Japanese submarine RO-501 was the only Japanese submarine sunk in 
the Atlantic Ocean by a surface ship.
  I shall discuss shortly a second sinking that took place with 
aircraft off the U.S. carrier U.S.S. Bogue.
  The action occurred at 1908 hours at latitude 18.08 north, longitude 
33.13 west, west of the Cape Verde islands.
  The U.S.S. Francis M. Robinson, under the command of Lt. Comdr. J.E. 
Johansen, U.S.N.R., was part of the screening unit for task force 22.2. 
At the time of the engagement, the U.S.S. Robinson was escorting the 
aircraft carrier U.S.S. Bogue [CVE 9]. The action commenced when the 
U.S.S. Francis Robinson made sound contact with the Ro-501 at 825 
yards. Within seconds of identifying the Japanese submarine, the crew 
of the U.S.S. Robinson engaged the Ro-501 and minutes later the 
Japanese vessel went to the bottom of the ocean--Davey Jones' locker.
  Following the engagement, the U.S.S. Francis M. Robinson was awarded 
the Presidential Unit Citation as part of the antisubmarine task group 
22.2.
  Madam President, at this time I would like to cite a few excerpts 
from the Presidential Unit Citation. The citation states that the 
U.S.S. Robinson was reognized for ``extraordinary heroism in action 
against enemy submarines,'' for ``carrying out powerful and substantial 
offensive action during a period of heavy German undersea 
concentrations threatening our uninterrupted flow of supplies to the 
European theater of operations,'' and for ``gallantry and superb 
teamwork of the officers and men who fought.''
  The citation further states that the U.S.S. Francis M. Robinson and 
the other vessels in the task force were ``largely instrumental in 
forcing the complete withdrawal of enemy submarines from supply routes 
essential to the maintenance of our established military supremacy.''
  Madam President, I would like to add that on June 24, 1944, aircraft 
from the U.S.S. Bogue, which the U.S.S. Robinson was escorting on the 
same mission, sank another Japanese submarine, the I-52. These were the 
only two recorded sinkings of Japanese submarines in the Atlantic 
during World War II.
  Madam President, the U.S. Senate and the Nation recognize and commend 
the crew of the U.S.S. Francis Robinson for their service to our Nation 
during the course of World War II. Their contribution will never be 
forgotten.
  And I am grateful to a member of that crew, Howard Kaye, a valued 
friend of mine, for arranging this commemoration by the U.S. Senate.
  I yield the floor.
  Mr. BAUCUS addressed the Chair.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The Senator from Montana.

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