[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 21 (Thursday, February 2, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Page S1979]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


      RECOGNIZING THE 200TH BIRTHDAY OF THE U.S. NAVY SUPPLY CORPS

  Mr. THURMOND. Mr. President, I rise today to recognize the more than 
5,000 men and women of the U.S. Navy Supply Corps, active and reserve, 
who on February 23, 1995, will celebrate the 200th birthday of their 
distinguished service to our Nation and Navy. The naval officers who 
proudly wear the Supply Corps oak leaf are the business managers of the 
Navy and are responsible for the logistics support of operating forces 
in the fleet and naval shore installations worldwide.
  The Supply Corps has come a long way since its birth in 1795, when 
Teach Francis of Philadelphia took the helm as the first Purveyor of 
Public Supplies. The original charter of the Supply Corps was to 
support the six wooden frigates of a young American Navy. The Supply 
Corps has distinguished itself throughout its long history by ensuring 
that the United States has been ready to defend American freedom and 
interests in every conflict since the War of 1812. Its responsibilities 
have grown tremendously and have kept pace with the challenge of 
providing logistics support to a modern and highly technological Navy, 
which has grown in size and complexity. Today, the Navy Supply Corps 
employs the latest technologies and management skills to supply our 
Navy at the lowest possible cost and with the greatest efficiency.
  Having progressed from supplying wooden frigates with cannon balls to 
supplying AEGIS destroys with Tomahawk cruise missiles, the U.S. Navy 
Supply Corps continues to carry out its vital mission to keep our Navy 
well equipped and ready to respond at a moment's notice. I ask my 
colleagues to join me in congratulating the officers of the U.S. Navy 
Supply Corps on its 200th birthday.

                          ____________________