[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 162 (Thursday, October 19, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1980-E1981]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         NAVAL ACADEMY'S CLASS OF 1955 PRESENTS COLD WAR MURAL

                                 ______


                        HON. CHARLES W. STENHOLM

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, October 19, 1995

  Mr. STENHOLM. Mr. Speaker, in June 1955, 742 young men graduated from 
the U.S. Naval Academy and received commissions in the Navy, the Marine 
Corps and the Air Force. Today the Class of 1955 returns to the Academy 
for its 40th reunion. The U.S. Naval Academy was founded in October 
1845. In recognition of the Academy's 150th anniversary, this evening 
the president of the class of 1955 will formally present an 85' x 10' 
mural to the superintendent of the U.S. Naval Academy. The mural is 
mounted in Alumni Hall and is described by the following text:

                          Winning the Cold War

       On the occasion of our 40th reunion, the Class of 1955 
     proudly presents this mural to salute the 150th Anniversary 
     of The United States Naval Academy. Conceived and 
     commissioned by the class, the mural reminds today's 
     midshipmen of the Cold War's scope and complexity. Through 
     numerous examples, the mural illustrates the extensive 
     efforts by our nation to win the longest war in our history. 
     The mural makes the point that winning the war occurred in 
     part as a result of values imparted to midshipmen of all the 
     classes of the era by the Academy.
       The historical purpose of the mural is to portray the world 
     as it evolved during the period of sustained tension between 
     the free world and the Communist nations from the late 1940's 
     to the early 1990's. This period generally coincides with the 
     active duty service of the Class of '55. The images of 
     historic events and Naval Academy activities are chosen to 
     remind viewers that the national security environment during 
     the Cold War was very different than today's, and that the 
     Naval Academy environment was different in many ways as well.
       The Cold War is but one of many periods in our nation's 
     history in which Naval Academy graduates made significant 
     contributions to the preservation of our freedom. Despite the 
     changing nature of the challenges, the Naval Academy prepares 
     midshipmen to make these important contributions by 
     emphasizing a traditional set of core values that provide the 
     foundation for continued success by Academy graduates. These 
     values are illustrated by the four themes in the mural: 
     Leadership, Academics and Technology, Athletics, and 
     Excellence and Professionalism.


                               leadership

       The Naval Academy consistently produces high quality 
     graduates who understand and practice the fundamental 
     principles of leadership. Academy graduates of every rank 
     lead men and women in training and battle, in the execution 
     of supporting technical and administrative duties, and rise 
     to the most senior positions in their services. During the 
     Cold War, Naval Academy graduates (including many members of 
     the Class of '55) commanded ships, planes, squadrons, 
     companies, battalions and other fighting units in the Navy, 
     Marine Corps and Air Force. The two glass panels flanking the 
     central world map present the insignia of all the services, 
     the Department of Defense, and the Naval Academy.
       The central panel of the mural illustrates the enormous 
     geographic size of the Communist Empire directed by the very 
     large and powerful Soviet Union. The comparatively small 
     United States mounted a sustained 40 year campaign of moral, 
     military, economic, and technical superiority to defeat the 
     Communist threat to our free existence. The hexagon shaped 
     panels illustrate some of the significant events that 
     collectively contributed to Winning The Cold War. Naval 
     Academy graduates participated in these events that resulted 
     in the total collapse of the Soviet Union and subordinate 
     nations of the Communist Empire. The mural suggests the 
     internal decay of that empire by the rusty steel and popped 
     rivets around the borders of Communist countries.


                        academics and technology

       The angled wall to the right of the map illustrates the 
     role of the Naval Academy in preparing midshipmen for future 
     intellectual challenges. Some of the most amazing 
     technological advances in history occurred during the years 
     spanned by the service of the Class of '55. As midshipmen, we 
     used the slide rule for general calculations and analog 
     computers for gun laying. A few years after graduation, the 
     digital computer entered our professional careers and 
     triggered an exponential technological explosion. The solid 
     academic foundation provided by the Naval Academy enabled 
     graduates to master emerging technologies and lead their 
     subordinates through the challenges of the computer and 
     nuclear age. The glass overlays on each end of the central 
     panel, together with the adjacent painted scenes, 
     illustrate representative ship, submarine and aircraft 
     systems of steadily increasing complexity in which Naval 
     Academy graduates served during the Cold War. The 
     consistent ability of our nation to stay ahead of the 
     former USSR in the development and application of 
     technology forced a series of Communist leaders to 
     recognize that they could not compete successfully in a 
     military confrontation with the United States.


                               athletics

       The angled wall to the left of the map illustrates the 
     important contribution of the Naval Academy athletic programs 
     in developing high quality graduates. Over the years, 
     brilliant performances by individuals, combined with a unique 
     Naval Academy emphasis on teamwork, resulted in significant 
     victories over national colleges and universities with much 
     stronger and heavily subsidized athletic programs. As an 
     example, the ``team called DESIRE'', led by the Class of `55, 
     overpowered favored Army and then defeated Mississippi, the 
     Southeastern Conference Champions, 21-0 in the 1955 Sugar 
     Bowl. Other teams and individuals represented on the panel 
     won Olympic, National, Eastern Intercollegiate, and League 
     Championships. A fierce competitiveness, the will to win, and 
     a refusal to quit characterize the performance of Navy teams 
     across a wide spectrum of collegiate sports. The special 
     tolerance for pressure and for leadership under stress 
     developed by participation in Navy sports enabled Academy 
     graduates to withstand the physically demanding requirements 
     of combat operations, space flight and in some cases 
     prolonged detention as a prisoner of war. The Naval Academy 
     athletic programs also motivate graduates to remain 
     physically fit and apply the same winning habits to their 
     professional careers.


                     excellence and professionalism

       The plebe at the left end of the mural represents all 
     midshipmen entering the Naval Academy. Each new plebe class 
     contains individuals from every state, a few foreign nations, 
     and some with previous military service. These fledgling 
     midshipmen represent a wide range of value systems, family 
     backgrounds and ethnic cultures. During their four years at 
     the Academy, these young people grow in their sense of 
     ethics, truthfulness and honor, and learn to respect the need 
     for spiritual guidance. The first class midshipman at the 
     right end of the mural is about to graduate, well prepared 
     for commissioning as an officer in one of the armed services. 
     The habit of excellence developed as midshipmen is 
     transformed into the professionalism that distinguishes Naval 
     Academy graduates as they lead military organizations, work 
     on the frontiers of technology, and participate in programs 
     of national importance.
       The Cold War is over. Our national ability to remain strong 
     and unyielding for over 40 

[[Page E 1981]]
     years in the face of a hostile and persistent Communist threat to our 
     freedom was due in significant part to dedicated service by 
     Naval Academy graduates. Unfortunately, the world is still a 
     dangerous place and our country will continue to call upon 
     the armed services to preserve our freedom. The men and women 
     in the service uniform of their choice will continue to 
     answer the call and will add new chapters to the proud 
     history of the Naval Academy developed over the past 150 
     years.

                          ____________________