[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 139 (Thursday, September 29, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: September 29, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
            THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE BATTLE OF LEYTE GULF

                                 ______


                           HON. PETER T. KING

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 29, 1994

  Mr. KING. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate one of the 
monumental events in the global struggle against tyranny that was led 
by American forces in Africa, Europe, the Atlantic, Asia, and the 
Pacific from 1941 to 1945. This October marks the 50th anniversary of 
the Battle of Leyte Gulf--one of the largest naval engagements in the 
history of the world--the battle that cleared the way for the 
liberation of the Philippines and destroyed forever Imperial Japan's 
naval power.
  I would like to focus on one small, but significant portion of this 
huge action--the outstanding combat record compiled by the U.S.S. 
Orestes AGP-10, a PT-boat tender that found itself in the very thick of 
the battle.
  The U.S.S. Orestes was commissioned on April 25, 1994 and 
distinguished herself supporting the New Guinea Campaign. She was 
assigned to Gen. Douglas MacArthur's Philippines invasion forces, 
taking part in the historic Battle of Leyte Gulf.
  Serving as the flagship of Task Group 77:11, the Orestes led a convoy 
as part of a diversionary feint during the invasion of Luzon. Noted 
naval historian Samuel Eliot Morrison described the mission of TG 7:11 
as ``three days and nights of hell.'' The convoy downed over 200 
Japanese planes and was called by one historian, the ``most kamikazed 
convoy of the war.''
  Upon reaching Mangarin Bay, Mindoro on October 30th, 1994, the 
Orestes was hit by a kamikaze. The ship was badly damaged and many of 
its crew killed or seriously wounded. Later, the Orestes was again 
attacked, this time struck by a 500-lb. anti-personnel bomb. One of my 
constituents, Edward Uher of Farmingdale, was a survivor of that 
attack. He heroically carried a badly wounded fellow seaman off the 
stricken ship to a field hospital.
  The Orestes played an immeasurably valuable role in the success of 
the liberation of the Philippines. Throughout its service in the 
Pacific, the ship's crew suffered a casualty rate of 52 percent, with 
59 KIA's and 106 WIA's.
  The Orestes was the only ship of its class to suffer so high a 
casualty rate and the only PT boat tender authorized to carry the 
Navy's Amphibious shield. The Orestes was honored for its participation 
in four island assaults and its gunners credited with the destruction 
of 15 enemy planes.
  The men of the Orestes crew symbolized through their courage and 
devotion to duty, the commitment and determination of the millions of 
Americans who served in World War II.
  Next week, on October 6, 1994, the Orestes will be remembered by 
members of its crew in a ceremony at Battleship Cove in Massachusetts. 
Mr. Speaker, I know that every Member of this House joins me in 
saluting these brave men and their fallen comrades.

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