[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 126 (Monday, September 12, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: September 12, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
 TRIBUTE TO THE CREWMEN OF THE U.S.S. ``ARCHER-FISH'' (SS 311) ON THE 
                     OCCASION OF THEIR 16TH REUNION

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                          HON. PAUL E. GILLMOR

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, September 12, 1994

  Mr. GILLMOR. Mr. Speaker, it gives me great pleasure to rise today 
and pay tribute to the courageous crew of the celebrated submarine 
U.S.S. Archer-Fish (SS 311). The city of Sandusky, OH is currently 
hosting these brave sailors on the occasion of their 16th reunion since 
their tour of duty in the Pacific Ocean during World War II was 
completed.
  Built in Portsmouth Naval Shipyard and commissioned on September 4, 
1943, the U.S.S. Archer-Fish transited the Panama Canal into the 
Pacific on November 13, 1943, and completed her impressive war service 
in Tokyo Bay when Japan surrendered on September 2, 1945. During this 
critical period she conducted seven war patrols against Japanese 
shipping, including the legendary fifth patrol for which the coveted 
Presidential Unit Citation was conferred.
  It was during this fifth patrol that the crew of the Archer-Fish 
bravely attacked and sunk the destroyer-protected Japanese aircraft 
carrier Shinano on November 29, 1944. This was the largest vessel ever 
sunk by submarine and the most tonnage recorded by an American 
submarine during a single patrol.
  Mr. Speaker, the city of Sandusky, OH, located on America's North 
Coast, has a proud seafaring tradition of its own. The citizens 
recognize the extraordinary heroism and historic contribution to the 
national effort, that these career seamen and citizen-sailors of the 
U.S. Navy's renowned silent service have performed.
  I ask my colleagues to join me in commending the crew of the U.S.S. 
Archer-Fish on a job well done and wish them future success in all 
their endeavors.

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