[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 186 (Monday, November 20, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2230]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF U.S. BATTLESHIPS

                                 ______


                         HON. BRIAN P. BILBRAY

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, November 20, 1995

  Mr. BILBRAY. Mr. Speaker, I come to the floor today to honor and 
commemorate the hundredth anniversary of the U.S. battleship, and the 
men who served on-board.
  The battleship has played a vital role as a symbol of U.S. power. 
President Theodore Roosevelt sent 16 battleships, known as the ``Great 
White Fleet,'' to sail around the world from 1906-1909 to demonstrate 
to European powers American strength and a willingness to use it to 
support our national interests. The U.S.S. Missouri (BB-63) epitomized 
the symbology of the battleship by serving as the platform for Japanese 
surrender at the conclusion of World War II. The battleship has served 
in every major conflict this century, including our most recent in the 
Persian Gulf.
  The first battleship, the U.S.S. Indiana (BB-1), was commissioned on 
November 20, 1895 and set sail under the command of Captain Robley D. 
Evans. At the beginning of the Spanish-American War, the Indiana helped 
define the United States as a great power, when she formed up with 
Admiral Sampson to intercept Spanish Admiral Cervera's squadron, which 
was positioning itself to defend Spain's colony on Cuba. The two forces 
clashed outside of Santiago, Cuba where the Indiana quickly sunk two 
Spanish destroyers, leading to the freedom of Cuba from Spain's 
dominion, and ushering in an era of the supremacy of the battleship.
  During World War II, the battleship played an important role in the 
defeat of the Axis powers. The South Dakota (BB-57), the North Carolina 
(BB-55) and the Washington (BB-56) helped to protect the first U.S. 
ground offensive of the Pacific at Guadalcanal. When General MacArthur 
made good his promise to return to the Philippines at Leyte Island in 
1944, he came with battleships. The Maryland (BB-46), Pennsylvania (BB-
38), Tennessee (BB-43), West Virginia (BB-48) and the California (BB-
44), all resurrected from the disaster at Pearl Harbor, participated in 
the liberation of the Philippine Islands, seeing their most important 
action at the battle of Surigao Strait. In that battle, the battleships 
were tantamount in the effort to repulse the Japanese Navy, and saved 
the very vital supply ships. At Okinawa, one of the war's most 
difficult engagements, the battleships were able to repel Japaneses 
Kamikaze attacks while protecting the landing of the Marines.
  In the European theater, battleships played an important support role 
during the D-Day landing of allied forces at Omaha and Utah beaches. 
The U.S.S. Nevada (BB-36), Texas (BB-35), and the Arkansas (BB-33) were 
primary in this effort.
  Throughout the cold war, the Pentagon saw fit to recommission 
battleships for a variety of important roles. During the Korean War, 
the Iowa (BB-61), New Jersey (BB-62), Missouri (BB-63), and Wisconsin 
(BB-64) were dusted off and called on to support U.N. troops. They also 
served important missions to destroy enemy railroads and coastal 
artillery batteries. In Vietnam, the battleship returned to service to 
provide long range artillery support to ground troops. The New Jersey 
(BB-62) was praised for its ability to create a 200 yard wide 
helicopter landing zone out of a triple canopy jungle in record time. 
The battleship also saw active duty during Desert Shield and Desert 
Storm. Outfitted with sophisticated Tomahawk cruise missiles, Harpoon 
surface-to-surface missiles, and the Phalanx close-in weapons system, 
American battleships participated in the initial missile strikes 
against Baghdad, and in gunfire support of U.S. Marines during the 
ground offensive.
  Today, the battleships again lay idle, and their names have been 
stricken from the Naval register. Thankfully, they will be preserved as 
a symbol of U.S. strength, and in memorial to those who served and died 
in the service of their country.
  Mr. Chairman, the battleship is a proud testament to American 
Maritime power. I would like to submit for the record a list of names 
of the surviving battleship commanders. These men should be respected 
for the service they have provided to their country, and envied for 
their place in history. Congratulations to these survivors and to all 
who serve on this occasion, the hundredth anniversary of the American 
Battleship.

 Roster of Surviving Former Commanding Officers Who Commanded a United 
                           States Battleship


                            uss iowa (bb-61)

     RADM. Fred J. Becton, USN (ret)
     RADM. J.W. Cooper, USN (ret)
     RADM. G.E. Gneckow, USN (ret)
     Capt. Fred P. Moosally, USN (ret)
     Capt. John P. Morse, U.S. Navy
     Capt. Larry P. Seaquist, USN (ret)


                         uss new jersey (bb-62)

     RADM. W.M. Fogarty, USN (ret)
     RADM. W. Lewis Glenn, USN (ret)
     VADM. Douglas Katz, U.S. Navy
     RADM. Richard D. Milligan, USN (ret)
     Capt. Robert C. Peniston, USN (ret)
     RADM. J. Edward Synder, USN (ret)
     RADM. Ronald D. Tucker, U.S. Navy


                          uss missouri (bb-63)

     Capt. James A. Carney, USN (ret)
     Capt. John Chernesky, USN (ret)
     Capt. A.L. Kaiss, USN (ret)


                         uss wisconsin (bb-64)

     RADM. David S. Bill, U.S. Navy
     Capt. Jerry M. Blesch, USN (ret)
     RADM. G. Serpell Patrick, USN (ret)
     Capt. Coenraad van der Schroeff, USN (ret)

                          ____________________