[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 204 (Tuesday, December 19, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2385-E2388]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

[[Page E2385]]


       COMMEMORATING THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF END OF WORLD WAR II

                                 ______


                            HON. JIM SAXTON

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, December 18, 1995

  Mr. SAXTON. Mr. Speaker, as we draw to a close of 1995 I thought it 
appropriate to once again remember the 50th anniversary of World War 
II. Our Nation owes deep gratitude to the men and women who proudly 
served our country during its time of need.
  One such veteran, a constituent of the Third District of New Jersey, 
Harold Loeffler, served aboard the USS Missouri during World War II. 
While serving on the Missouri, Mr. Loeffler witnessed the signing of 
the Japanese surrender. In a letter by Mr. Loeffler to my office, he 
expressed his thoughts on the battleship and the war. I have included 
his letter and a history of the USS Missouri, as it appeared in the 
commemoratorive program honoring the battleship, 10-2-95, so that they 
may help us remember our victory 50 years ago.

                            We Are the Last

       We are the last. After we are gone there will be no more. 
     No one will follow in our wake. For over 100 years we were 
     the pride of the Navy. We were battleship sailors!!!
       We were with Dewey at Manilla. We died on the Maine in 
     Havana. We manned the dreadnaughts and sailed around the 
     world in Teddy Roosevelt's Great White Fleet. We patrolled 
     the Atlantic during the ``War To End All Wars'' as the 6th 
     Battle Squadron in the British Grand Fleet.
       As the battleships grew larger we grew with them becoming 
     more technically skilled as improvements in armament, 
     engineering and communciations advanced. As technology 
     progressed, we progressed to be the finest sailors in the 
     world. . . . Battleship Sailors!
       Then came Pearl Harbor. We gallantly fought off the sneak 
     attack. We saved what we could to fight another day, but our 
     losses were devastating. Every battleship sustained damage. 
     The Arizona became a water mausoleum for her ghostly heroic 
     crew.
       Fittingly, when the end came, the surrender instruments 
     were signed aboard a battleship!
       Extended life was given battleships with Korea, Nam, the 
     Mid-East and Desert Storm and now they are needed no more. 
     The last were removed from the Naval Registry in August 1995.
       We are the last. After we are gone there will be no more. 
     No one will follow in our wake. For over 100 years we were 
     the pride of the Navy. We were BATTLESHIP SAILORS!

                 History of the U.S.S. Missouri (BB-63)

       The U.S.S. MISSOURI was built by the Navy Yard, New York, 
     her keel being laid on 6 January 1941. She was Christened by 
     Miss Margaret Truman on 29 January 1944, and placed in full 
     commission by the Commandant Navy Yard, New York on Sunday, 
     11 June 1944. Captain William M. Callaghan, U.S. Navy, 
     accepted the ship and assumed command.
       The ship remained in New York Harbor until 3 August 1944, 
     then operated in Chesapeake Bay until 21 August 1944. On that 
     date the U.S.S. MISSOURI departed for the Gulf of Paria, 
     Naval Operations Base, Trinidad, B.W.I., arriving on 25 
     August 1944. The ship conducted gunnery, flight, engineering 
     and other shakedown exercises in the area until 17 September 
     1944. MISSOURI then returned to New York. The ship remained 
     in New York Harbor until final departure with Task Group 27.7 
     on 11 November 1944 for Cristobal Canal Zone. Transited the 
     Panama Canal and arrived in Balboa on 18 November on which 
     date the ship joined the Pacific Fleet. Departure from the 
     Panama Canal Zone was in company with Task Unit 12.7.1 on 19 
     November and the ship arrived in San Francisco Bay on 28 
     November. The U.S.S. MISSOURI escorted by the destroyers 
     BAILEY and TERRY departed San Francisco on 18 December 1944 
     as Task Unit 12.7.1 and entered Pearl Harbor, T.H. on 24 
     December 1944. The U.S.S. MISSOURI as part of Task Unit 
     12.5.9 departed Pearl Harbor on 1 January 1945 headed 
     westward. On 13 January 1945 the MISSOURI arrived at Ulithi, 
     Western Caroline Islands and reported to Commander Third 
     Fleet for duty and on 26 January to Commander Fifth Fleet. 
     The ship operated from Ulithi conducting provisioning and 
     training exercises until 10 February 1945.


                      10 february to 5 march 1945

       The ship departed Ulithi Anchorage on 10 February 1945 in 
     Task Group 58.2 and operated in Task Force 58 during the 
     period from 10 February to 5 March in preparation for and 
     support of the Iwo Jima operation. As part of Task Force 58 
     the ship participated in the first East Carrier Task Force 
     strikes against Tokyo on 16 and 17 February 1945. The 
     anticipated opposition to these strikes did not materialize. 
     However, on the evening of 19 February, while steaming off 
     Iwo Jima, several small groups of unidentified aircraft were 
     discovered by radar to be closing the formation. The ship 
     opened fire on one of these targets and an enemy aircraft 
     tentatively identified as a ``Helen'' burst into flames and 
     crashed for a successful conclusion to the ship's first 
     action against the enemy.
       The ship participated as part of Task Force 58 in the 19 to 
     23 February air strikes in support of the landing forces on 
     Iwo Jima, the 25 February strikes against the Tokyo area and 
     the 1 March 1945 strikes against Okinawa Shima.


                           5 to 13 march 1945

       As part of Task Force 58, the ship remained at anchor in 
     Ulithi Anchorage engaging in routine repairs and 
     replenishment from 5 to 13 March. On 9 March the ship was 
     reassigned from Task Group 58.2 to Task Group 58.4.


                        14 march to 14 june 1945

       The ship departed Ulithi Anchorage on 14 March as part of 
     Task Force 59 and following exercises in company with 
     Battleship Squadron Two on 14 and 15 March, the MISSOURI 
     joined Task Group 58.4 on 16 March. As part of Task Force 58 
     the ship participated in the 18 and 19 March carrier aircraft 
     attacks against Kyushu and the Island Sea area. During the 
     afternoon and night of 17 March enemy aircraft were known to 
     be in the vicinity of the Task Force, however, none closed to 
     within range of the ships of the formation. At 0741 on 18 
     March an enemy plane succeeded in dropping a bomb on the 
     U.S.S. Enterprise which was in formation off the MISSOURI's 
     port bow. At 0805 this ship together with others in the 
     formation opened fire at an enemy plane identified as 
     ``Nick'' or ``Helen''. The plane burst into flames and 
     unsuccessfully attempted to crash the U.S.S. Intrepid. At 
     0828 and 0850 the ship opened fire on enemy planes. The first 
     was observed to be damaged when the ship ceased fire and was 
     later splashed by the Combat Air Patrol while the second was 
     downed by gunfire. At 1316 the MISSOURI opened fire at a 
     plane which dropped a bomb near the U.S.S. Yorktown and at 
     1320 fired upon a plane which approached to 2,500 yards. Both 
     of these planes were destroyed by gunfire. A number of enemy 
     planes remained out of range in the vicinity of the formation 
     until 2115 when the last plane of the day was splashed by a 
     night fighter.
       On 19 March eight enemy raids were tracked by radar before 
     sunrise but none closed to within range. At 0708 firing was 
     seen on the horizon and almost immediately a carrier in Task 
     Group 58.2 was seen to burst into flame. This carrier was 
     later identified by TBS as the U.S.S. Franklin. During the 
     balance of the day there were a number of alerts and enemy 
     planes were downed by the Combat Air Patrol but none 
     approached within range of the formation. During the period 
     19 to 21 March there were numerous reports of enemy aircraft 
     in the area, however, these were either accounted for by the 
     Combat Air Patrol or did not approach within range of 
     MISSOURI's guns.
       On 24 March the ship, with others, was detached from Task 
     Group 58.4 to form Task Force 59. As part of Task Force 59 
     the ship participated in the bombardment of southeastern 
     Okinawa Shima on March 24. This was accomplished at extreme 
     range and accurate assessment of damage was therefore, not 
     possible. Thereafter the ship fueled and rejoined Task Group 
     58.4 on 26 March 1945 and as part of Task Force 58 the ship 
     continued to operate off Okinawa Gunto and participated in 
     strikes against Kyushu until May 6. During this period there 
     were frequent alerts and enemy aircraft were destroyed by 
     Combat Air Patrol in the vicinity. The ship opened fire on 29 
     March 1945 on a plane which unsuccessfully attempted to dive 
     upon the U.S.S. Yorktown and on 7 April the ship was with 
     Task Force 58 during the air strikes which sank the Japanese 
     battle ship Yamato.
       On 11 April 1945, Task Force 58 was engaged in neutralizing 
     sweeps against southern Kyushu airfields. During the morning 
     one enemy raid was destroyed by the Combat Air Patrol. At 
     1330 several groups of unidentified planes were reported 
     approaching the formation. By 1340 reports had been received 
     that 13 enemy planes had been splashed and that 3 others were 
     approaching the formation at high speed and low altitude. At 
     1442 the ship opened fire on a low flying ``Zeke'' and 
     although many hits were observed, the pilot succeeded in 
     crashing the side of the MISSOURI immediately below the main 
     deck at frame 169 on the starboard side. Parts of the plane 
     were scattered along the starboard side of the ship and the 
     pilot's mutilated body landed aboard. One wing of the plane 
     was thrown forward and lodged near 5 inch mount number 3 
     where gasoline started a fire which was rapidly extinguished. 
     The ship sustained only superficial damage and none 

[[Page E2386]]
     of the ship's company was injured. Later during the day the ship 
     unsuccessfully fired upon a twin engine plane which passed 
     approximately 12,000 yards astern of the ship. Enemy planes 
     were known to be in the vicinity during the night and at 2327 
     the ship commenced firing at a twin engine plane which 
     crashed approximately one minute later. On the next day, 
     ships on the other side of the formation fired upon one enemy 
     plane and enemy snoopers were in the vicinity during the 
     period from 12 to 14 April 1945, but the MISSOURI did not 
     open fire.
       On 16 April Task Force 58 was again conducting raids in 
     support of the landing forces on Okinawa Shima and strikes 
     against the Japanese airfields on southern Kyushu. At 0038 
     the first Japanese planes approached the formation but 
     retired after being fired upon by ships of the screen. From 
     this time until 1303 numerous reports of enemy planes were 
     received but none closed to within range. At 1303 a group of 
     planes which later developed to be Kamikazes were discovered 
     heading for the formation. Shortly after 1326 the ship opened 
     fire on a low flying ``Zeke'' which crashed close aboard the 
     U.S.S. Intrepid. Two minutes later fire was opened on a 
     second ``Zeke'' and when hit the pilot of this plane 
     attempted to crash the MISSOURI. The wing tip of this plane 
     struck the ship's aircraft crane on the stern and the 
     ``Zeke'' crashed a short distance astern exploding violently. 
     Debris was thrown aboard ship but only minor material damage 
     was sustained. At 1335, nine minutes after the ship opened 
     fire on the first plane, a third plane identified as a 
     ``Hamp'' was fired upon while diving on the ship. The 
     ``Hamp'' burst into flame, passed over the ship at an 
     altitude of about 300 feet and crashed close aboard off the 
     starboard bow. One minute later two planes dove on the U.S.S. 
     Intrepid. One succeeded in crashing her and the other was 
     destroyed. From 1514 to 1516 the ship fired upon two planes. 
     One of these crashed forward of the Intrepid and the other 
     close aboard a destroyer. Two minutes later a third plane 
     which passed 6,000 yards astern of the ship was fired upon 
     and disappeared over the horizon. Shortly thereafter a plane 
     was observed to crash and burn in that general direction. 
     During the remainder of the afternoon planes were shot down 
     by other Task Groups but none came within range of the ship. 
     At 2050 and 2110 the ship opened fire on planes which came 
     within 5 inch gun range and both immediately withdrew. Enemy 
     planes dropped window in the vicinity during the balance of 
     the night but none closed the formation.
       On 17 April a 35 plane raid was destroyed by the Combat Air 
     Patrol approximately 60 miles from the formation. However, no 
     enemy planes closed the formation. During the night the ship 
     had a surface radar contact which was later developed by 
     destroyers of the screen and resulted in a kill on an enemy 
     submarine on the following day. There was no enemy activity 
     from April 23 to April 28.
       On 29 April enemy aircraft was reported destroyed by the 
     Combat Air Patrol in the morning. At 1645 the ships of the 
     formation including the MISSOURI fired upon and downed one 
     enemy plane. Later during the early morning of 30 April, 
     night fighters splashed enemy planes in the vicinity of the 
     formation but no ships fired during that day.
       On May first, second, and third, no enemy planes were known 
     to be in the area and on May four and five, although Japanese 
     planes were splashed by the Combat Air Patrol, none 
     approached the formation. On 6 May the MISSOURI was detached 
     from Task Group 58.4 and proceeded to Ulithi Anchorage Fleet. 
     The ship arrived in Ulithi on 9 May and remained there until 
     17 May. On 14 May Captain W. M. Callaghan, USN, was detached 
     from duty as Commanding Officer of the MISSOURI and was 
     relieved by Captain S. S. Murray, USN, the ship departed 
     Ulithi on 17 May and arrived Apra Harbor, Guam on 18 May 
     where, at 1527 Admiral W. F. Halsey, USN, Commander Third 
     Fleet, hoisted his flag aboard the U.S.S. MISSOURI.
       The ship and screening destroyers McNair and Wedderburn 
     formed Task Group 30.1 on 21 May and departed Apra Harbor for 
     Hagushi Anchorage, Okinawa Shima, arrived 26 May. While at 
     Hagushi Anchorage on 26 May the ship was twice alerted for 
     air attacks but none developed in the immediate vicinity. The 
     ship departed Hagushi Anchorage in the afternoon of 27 May 
     and conducted a bombardment of targets on southeastern 
     Okinawa Shima in support of the occupying forces, and then 
     proceeded to rendezvous with Task Force 38 off eastern 
     Okinawa Shima. At midnight of 27 May command of all forces of 
     the Fifth Fleet passed to Commander Third Fleet. The MISSOURI 
     rejoined Task Group 38.4 on 28 May. The Task Force remained 
     off Okinawa Gunto with the carriers furnishing air support to 
     the occupation forces. There was no enemy air activity in the 
     vicinity of the Task Force from 28 May to 10 June although 
     during this period the force again conducted strikes on 2 and 
     3 June against the Kyushu airfields. On 4 June reports of a 
     typhoon 50 miles south southwest of the Task Force were 
     received and the Task Force withdrew from position in the 
     path of the typhoon. Heavy weather was experienced during 5 
     May and very minor damage was sustained by the ship due to 
     the heavy seas. On 8 June the Force returned to strike 
     southern Kyushu airfields and on 9 and 10 June air strikes 
     were made against the islands of Daito Shoto. On 10 June Task 
     Force 38 commenced retiring to San Pedro Bay, Leyte, P.I., 
     arriving on 13 June 1945. The period 14 June to 1 July was 
     spent in upkeep, provisioning and recreation at Leyte 
     Anchorage.


                        1 July to 15 August 1945

       The MISSOURI departed Leyte on the morning of 1 July and 
     the first eight days at sea were spent in exercise periods 
     under Unit, Group and Task Force Commanders, while the Task 
     Force was heading in a general northerly direction. On the 
     evening of 9 July a high speed run toward the Tokyo area 
     commenced. At 0400 on the tenth the various air strikes 
     against airfields in the Tokyo area commenced and although 
     enemy aircraft were reported none succeeded in getting 
     through the air patrol. The Task Force proceeded northeast on 
     11 July and on 13 July was off northern Honshu and Hokkaido 
     prepared for air strikes which it developed could not be made 
     on account of poor weather and low visibility. On the 
     fourteenth the air strikes against northern Honshu and 
     Hokkaido shipping and airfields were made. On 15 July the 
     MISSOURI joined Task Unit 34.8.2 for the bombardment of 
     industrial targets located in Muroran Hokkaido. No opposition 
     developed during the approach, nor was there return fire from 
     shore while the Task Unit shelled the Nihon Steel Works and 
     Wanished Iron Works between 0935 and 1027 (Item) with good 
     results. The MISSOURI rejoined Task Group 38.4 in the evening 
     and proceeded south to fuel on 16 July. The Task Force was in 
     position on 17 July to conduct air strikes against airfields 
     in the Tokyo area. However, the weather was again unfavorable 
     for air operations. In the afternoon of the 17th the MISSOURI 
     again joined Task Unit 34.8.2 and proceeded to bombard the 
     Hitachi area, Honshu. There was again no opposition to the 
     approach of the bombardment group and no return fire during 
     the bombardment of industrial targets in the Hitachi area 
     from 2315 on 17 July to 0600 on 18 July. The bombardment was 
     conducted in exceedingly poor weather which made spotting or 
     illumination of targets as well as determination of the 
     bombardment results impossible.
       On 18 July the MISSOURI rejoined Task Group 38.4 which 
     conducted air strikes against targets in the Tokyo area on 
     that day. During 20, 21 and 22 July the most extensive 
     replenishment of fuel, ammunition and provisions were 
     attempted at sea was completed and on 23 July the Task Force 
     again was en route for strikes against combatant shipping in 
     the Kure-Kobe area of the Inland Sea and although enemy 
     planes were reported in the vicinity none succeeded in 
     evading the Combat Air Patrol. Poor weather had prevailed 
     during these strikes and they were therefore repeated on 28 
     July, again with no enemy air activity over the Task Force. 
     On the twenty-ninth a return to the Tokyo area commenced and 
     on 30 July aircraft of the Task Force hit the Tokyo-Nagoya 
     area. Again there was no enemy air opposition over the Task 
     Force. The first six days of August were spent in fueling and 
     maneuvers to avoid the paths of two typhoons which moved 
     north along the Japanese coast. On 7 August the Task Force 
     commenced a run to position to strike northern Honshu and 
     Hokkaido, however, on 8 August fog and low visibility 
     prevented flight operations and the Task Force proceeded 
     south in search of more favorable weather. On 8 August 
     Japanese aircraft were encountered by the Combat Air Patrol 
     and on 9 August the picket destroyers of the formation had 
     been under attack and at 1610 a ``Grace'' was splashed astern 
     of the MISSOURI and close aboard the U.S.S. Wasp. Due to the 
     Missouri's position in the formation the 40 MM guns only were 
     able to fire at this plane. The tenth to twelfth of August 
     were spent in replenishment and many conferences of Task 
     Force and Group Commanders were held aboard the MISSOURI as a 
     result of the information received concerning Japanese 
     surrender proposals.
       On 13 August other Task Groups of Task Force 38 were under 
     air attack but no enemy aircraft were over Task Group 38.4. 
     14 August was spent in getting into position for further 
     strikes against the Tokyo area. These strikes were launched 
     on 15 August but were recalled as a result of an urgent 
     dispatch from CincPac. At 1109, by direction of Commander 
     Third Fleet the MISSOURI's whistle and siren were sounded for 
     a period of one minute while battle colors were broken and 
     Admiral Halsey's personal flag was raised in official 
     recognition of the end of active hostilities against the 
     Japanese Empire. During this day the Combat Air Patrol 
     splashed Japanese aircraft in the vicinity of the Task Force 
     but none penetrated the patrol.
       From 15 to 26 August the MISSOURI operated off the coast of 
     Japan awaiting orders to proceed with the occupation of 
     Japan. On 27 August the MISSOURI and escorting destroyers 
     proceeded into Sagami Wan, Honshu, having taken aboard 
     Japanese emissaries and a pilot. The 28th of August was spent 
     at anchor and on 29 August the MISSOURI got underway and 
     entered Tokyo Bay anchoring off Yokosuka Naval Station at 
     0925.
       The ship remained at anchor in Tokyo Bay without incident, 
     until 2 September on which day the formal document of the 
     Japanese surrender was executed aboard the U.S.S. MISSOURI. 
     On that day Fleet Admiral C. W. Nimitz boarded the MISSOURI 
     at 0805 and his personal flag was broken. At 0843 General of 
     the Army Douglas MacArthur came aboard. At 0856 the Japanese 
     representatives arrived and between 0902 and 0906 the 
     Japanese representatives signed the Instrument of Surrender 
     and two minutes later 

[[Page E2387]]
     General MacArthur signed the Instrument. The ceremony was completed at 
     0925 and the various dignitaries departed the ship. 
     Thereafter the MISSOURI remained at anchor in Tokyo Bay until 
     6 September 1945, when she departed for Apra Harbor, Guam. 
     Admiral William F. Halsey transferred his flag as Commander 
     Third Fleet to the U.S.S. South Dakota on 5 September 1945. 
     Passage from Tokoyo Bay to Guam was without incident and the 
     MISSOURI arrived in Apra Harbor on 9 September. The ship 
     departed Guam with homeward bound veterans on 12 September 
     1945 and arrived Pearl Harbor, T. H. on 20 September 1945.


                           post world war II

       On 29 September 1945, MISSOURI departed Pearl Harbor and 
     headed for the Eastern seaboard of the United States. 
     Transiting the Panama Canal, she headed for New York where 
     she became the flagship of Admiral Jonas Ingram, Commander in 
     Chief, United States Atlantic Fleet, on 24 October 1945. On 
     27 October 1945, the MISSOURI boomed out a 21 gun salute as 
     she was boarded by President Harry S. Truman during Navy Day 
     celebration ceremonies.
       After overhaul in the New York Yard, and a training cruise 
     to Cuba, the MISSOURI was on her way to Gibralter in March 
     1946. From there she passed into the Mediterranean on a 
     goodwill mission that served also as an impressive 
     demonstration of American military power. Her presence 
     symbolized U.S. support for the rights and freedom of Greece 
     and Turkey, both in danger on being drawn into the Soviet 
     orbit of satellite states.
       In Rio de Janeiro, on 2 September 1947, the MISSOURI was 
     again a symbol of American strength in support of its allies 
     against the advances of Communist aggression. The MISSOURI 
     provided the site for President Truman to sign the Rio Treaty 
     which made the Monroe Doctrine a multilateral pact. Business 
     and ceremonial duties concluded, President Truman, 
     accompanied by Mrs. Truman and his daughter Margaret, 
     returned to the United States aboard the battleship. From 23 
     September 1947 to 10 March 1948, the MISSOURI was in the New 
     York Navy Yard for overhaul and then went on a training 
     cruise to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. She arrived in Annapolis in 
     June to take on midshipmen for a training cruise to Portugal, 
     France, Algeria and back to Cuba.
       On 17 January 1950, heading to sea from Hampton Roads, the 
     MISSOURI ran aground. It was 0825, close to high tide, when 
     the battleship ran aground 1.6 miles from Thimble Shoals 
     Lights near Old Point Comfort. She traversed shoal water a 
     distance of three ship lengths, about 2,500 feet, from the 
     main channel. Lifted about seven feet above the water line, 
     she stuck hard and fast. It took many tugs, pontoons, and an 
     incoming tide to free her finally on 1 February. The incident 
     provided Navy personnel with valuable experience in extensive 
     and diverse salvage work.


                                 korea

       Until called to support United Nations Forces in embattled 
     Korea in 1950, the MISSOURI trained thousands of naval 
     reserves, midshipmen, and other naval personnel on cruises 
     from New England to the Caribbean and across the Atlantic to 
     English and European waters.
       Leaving Norfolk 19 August 1950, MISSOURI became the first 
     American battleship to reach Korean waters just one day in 
     advance of the Inchon landings on 15 September 1950. On 
     arrival off Kyushu, Japan, MISSOURI became the flag ship of 
     Rear Admiral A.E. Smith, and the next day was bombarding 
     Samchok in a diversionary move coordinated with the Inchon 
     landings.
       In company with the cruiser U.S.C. Helena and two 
     destroyers, she helped prepare the way for the Eighth Army 
     offensive. In a bombardment of the Pohang area 17 September 
     1950, Missouri's 16-inch shells assisted the South Korean 
     troops in the capture of that town and their advance to 
     Yongdok.
       Her bombardment of the Mitsubishi Iron Works and the 
     airfield at Chongjin on 12 October were a significant factor 
     in the advance of American and other United Nations forces 
     embattled ashore. Her guns did considerable damage to 
     marshaling yards and a strategic railroad bridge on the 
     Tanchon area. She moved on to bombard Wonsan and then moved 
     into Hungnam 23 December 1950. Her powerful guns hit enemy 
     troop concentrations, command posts, and lines of 
     communication, providing cover for the evacuation of the last 
     of the UN troops from Hungnam on Christmas Eve, 1950. In the 
     opening weeks of 1951, MISSOURI continued coastal bombardment 
     aimed at destroying transportation facilities and disrupting 
     the flow of enemy reinforcements and supplies to central 
     Korea. She joined a heavy bombardment group off Kansong on 29 
     January 1951 in a simulated amphibious assault which provided 
     a diversion some 50 miles behind the enemies front lines.
       During the first week of February, she gave fire support to 
     assist the advance of the Tenth U.S. Army Corps in the area 
     of Kangnung. She systematically bombarded transportation 
     facilities and enemy troop concentrations in the vicinity of 
     Tanchon and Songjin. She made similar gun strikes between 14 
     and 19 March at Kojo Wan, Songjin, Chaho, and Wonsan aimed 
     primarily at transport complexes necessary for the continued 
     reinforcement and supply of enemy forces in central Korea.
       Then, on 28 March 1951, MISSOURI was relieved of duty in 
     the Far East and left for the United States and Norfolk, 
     arriving there 27 April 1951. She again joined the Atlantic 
     Fleet to train midshipmen and other prospective naval 
     officers until 18 October 1951 when she entered Norfolk Naval 
     Shipyard for an overhaul which lasted until January 1952. On 
     4 August 1952, MISSOURI was again in the Norfolk Naval 
     Shipyard for overhaul being prepared for her second tour 
     of the Korean Combat Zone. She stood out of Hampton Roads 
     11 September 1952, and by end of October, as flagship of 
     the U.S. Seventh Fleet, she was providing seagoing 
     artillery support to Republic of Korea troops in the Chaho 
     area.
       Throughout the remaining months of 1952, MISSOURI was on 
     ``Cobra Patrol'' along the East coast of Korea. She 
     participated in a combined air-gun strike at Chongjin on 17 
     November and on 8 December was bombarding in the Tanchon-
     Songjin area. The next day it was Chaho, and 10 December 
     Wonsan felt the power of her guns. During the bombardment of 
     the Hamhung and Hungnam areas MISSOURI lost three of her men 
     when her spotter helicopter crashed into the wintry sea on 21 
     December 1952. On patrol in early 1953, MISSOURI made 
     repeated gun strikes running swiftly just 25 miles offshore 
     in direct support of troops on land. Missouri sustained a 
     grievous casualty 26 March, when her Commanding Officer, 
     Captain Warner R. Edsall suffered a fatal heart attack while 
     conning her through submarine nets at Sasebo, Japan. Her last 
     fighting mission of the Korean War was on 25 March 1953 was 
     to resume ``Cobra'' patrol where she bombarded the Kojo area.
       The MISSOURI was relieved as flagship on 6 April 1953 and 
     left Yokosuka the following day to return to the Atlantic 
     Fleet. She arrived at Norfolk 4 May 1953 and put out almost 
     immediately for a midshipman training cruise to Brazil, 
     Trinidad, Panama, and Cuba. She was back again for overhaul 
     in the Norfolk Naval Shipyard from 20 November 1953 to 2 
     April 1954. In May, she picked up midshipmen from Annapolis 
     and started a training cruise to Europe. Standing out of 
     Hampton Bays, MISSOURI aligned with the other Iowa Class 
     battleships for the one and only time. IOWA, NEW JERSEY, 
     MISSOURI, and WISCONSIN sailed together as the future 
     ``Strength for Freedom.'' MISSOURI visited the ports of 
     Lisbon, Portugal and on 6 June 1954, the Port of Cherbourg, 
     celebrating the 10th anniversary of the Normandy landings or 
     ``D-Day.'' In August she left Norfolk for the west coast and 
     inactivation. MISSOURI traversed the Panama Canal and made 
     ports of call in Long Beach, San Francisco, and Seattle where 
     tens of thousands of citizens visited the ship. The ship then 
     went to the Bremerton Naval Shipyard for mothballing. There 
     she was decommissioned 26 February 1955 and assigned to the 
     Bremerton Group, U.S. Pacific Reserve Fleet.
       MISSOURI served as headquarters ship of the Bremerton Group 
     where she was open year round to visitors. As many as 100,000 
     people a year visited MISSOURI to see the place on her deck 
     where the Japanese surrendered ending the Second World War.


                               new birth

       After almost 30 years at rest, MISSOURI, on 14 May 1984 
     left her berth in Bremerton and was towed to the Long Beach 
     Naval Shipyard for modernization and scheduled 
     recommissioning in June, 1986. MISSOURI was recommissioned in 
     San Francisco and departed on an around-the-world shakedown 
     cruise, the first battleship to circumnavigate the world 
     since President Theodore Roosevelt's ``Great White Fleet'' of 
     1907-1909. The ship was home ported in Long Beach, 
     California.
       In 1987, MISSOURI journeyed to the troubled waters of the 
     Persian Gulf, supporting operations near the Strait of 
     Hormiz. During 1988, MISSOURI participated in the Rim of the 
     Pacific (RimPac) Exercise off the coast of Hawaii. Following 
     a routine shipyard period in early 1989, MISSOURI returned to 
     sea and later in the year participated in Pacific Exercise 
     (PacEx) '89 and visited Pusan Korean.


                              persian gulf

       MISSOURI deployed to the Persian Gulf in support of Desert 
     Shield. On the first day of Desert Storm, she fired her 16'' 
     guns at Iraqi targets inside Kuwait. The USS Nicholas (FFG-
     47) escorted her in and she began shelling targets first. 
     From 4-6 February, she fired 112 16'' shells, along with 
     Tomahawk missiles. The ship was finally relieved by the USS 
     Wisconsin.
       As for the 1990's, MISSOURI is as she was during the 
     1940's; ready for sea and always ready to answer the call of 
     battle. In November, 1993, MISSOURI departed Long beach for 
     Pearl Harbor, where she was the host ship for the 50th 
     anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor. She returned to 
     Long Beach and was decommissioned on March 31, 1992. She was 
     towed to the Bremerton, Washington shipyard where she has 
     rested as part of the Naval Reserve Fleet.
       On 2 September 1995, the U.S.S. MISSOURI ASSOCIATION, INC. 
     will hold ceremonies at the ship in Bremerton, WA, honoring 
     those who have served aboard the ship and have passed on, as 
     well as those who have served aboard at the time and are 
     attending the 50th anniversary of the surrender signing.
       Upon call, MISSOURI will still be a powerful and fearful 
     dreadnought in the best tradition of the U.S. Navy.
       Postscript: On the 5th of January 1995, the Department of 
     the Navy Chief of Naval Operations, by reference of President 
     Clinton and the Board of Inspection and Survey, recommended 
     that the Iowa Class Battleship, 

[[Page E2388]]
     including the U.S.S. MISSOURI, be stricken from the Naval Vessel 
     Register. This was approved by the Secretary of the Navy John 
     H. Dalton on 12 January 1995 and the ships await their final 
     destiny. (2 September 1995)

                          ____________________