[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 128 (Thursday, August 3, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Page S11321]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


              TRIBUTE TO U.S.S. ``SOUTH DAKOTA'' VETERANS

  Mr. PRESSLER. Mr. President, with a sense of pride and honor I rise 
today to pay special tribute to Floyd Gulbrandson, Al Rickel, Charles 
Skorpik, Willie Wieland, and the rest of the crew of the U.S.S. South 
Dakota, one of the most decorated battleships during World War II. 
Commissioned on March 20, 1942, the U.S.S. South Dakota quickly became 
the flagship of Admiral Nimitz's 3rd Fleet, and originally was intended 
to host the Japanese surrender which ultimately was held on the U.S.S. 
Missouri.
  Stretching more than 600 feet and displacing more than 43,000 tons of 
water, the U.S.S. South Dakota defended our Nation in World War II by 
traveling across 276,000 miles of ocean with massive firepower which 
included nine 16-inch guns, sixteen 5-inch guns, sixty-eight 40-
millimeter guns, and seventy-six 20-millimeter guns. During her years 
of active service, more than 7,000 brave individuals would serve aboard 
the South Dakota. Collectively, the crew of the U.S.S. South Dakota 
endured her many battles and earned several distinguished awards, 
including the Navy Unit Commendation, the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign 
Medal with 13 battles stars, the World War II Victory Medal, and the 
Navy Occupation Service Medal.
  Mr. President, I want to highlight some of many moments of naval 
combat from the many successful battles experienced by the crew of the 
U.S.S. South Dakota. On October 26, 1942, the U.S.S. South Dakota 
entered its first battle with a freshman crew on deck and was attacked 
by 180 enemy bombers in what is now know as the Battle of Santa Cruz 
Island. Defending both the Enterprise and Hornet aircraft carriers, the 
U.S.S. South Dakota offered a bold retaliation of gunfire that shot 
down an unprecedented 30 enemy aircraft and helped render two enemy 
aircraft carriers inoperative. For their valiant action during the 
repeated attacks and heavy fire, Captain Gatch was decorated with the 
Navy Cross, the crew was presented with the Navy Unit Commendation and 
the U.S.S. South Dakota received its first of 13 battle stars. That was 
an extraordinary beginning to an extraordinary vessel that symbolized 
gallantry, honor, and service at sea.
  Mr. President, on October 25, 1962, the first and only U.S.S. South 
Dakota, one of the greatest battleships ever to sail during World War 
II, was sold for scrap metal. Although gone, the U.S.S. South Dakota 
continues in the memory of those who served on her decks. I am proud of 
the heritage of the U.S.S. South Dakota. She was instrumental during 
World War II in fighting successfully for the freedoms we now enjoy. I 
commend the brave crew of the U.S.S. South Dakota for their courage and 
commitment to duty. In honor of the crew, their dedicated service, and 
the memory of this great battleship, I have asked the Secretary of the 
Navy to name one of the new attack submarines the U.S.S. South Dakota. 
That would be a fitting tribute--to have one of the next generation's 
great submarines carry the same name of one of America's truly great 
battleships.


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