[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 155 (Friday, November 7, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2214-E2215]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  JOINT RESOLUTION--NAVY ASIATIC FLEET

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. WALTER B. JONES

                           of north carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, November 6, 1997

  Mr. JONES. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise today to introduce 
legislation commending the sailors and marines who served in the U.S. 
Navy Asiatic Fleet. I commend the actions of Senator Warner  who first 
heard and responded to the call of these forgotten heroes with his 
introduction of Senate Joint Resolution 30.
  While many of my colleagues may not be familiar with the efforts 
waged by the Asiatic Fleet, I am here today to tell you of their 
critical role in American security interests. From the early 1900's 
until just after Pearl Harbor, the fleet sailed courageously across the 
coastal waters between China and the Philippines, as well as in Russian 
waters and on the straits and narrows of Malaysia and Indonesia during 
this very dynamic period in history.
  The Asiatic Fleet had originally been established in August 1910 as a 
successor of the Asiatic Station, to protect American lives and 
property in the Philippines and in China. The Asiatic Fleet sailed the 
seas in defense of American interests in the Southeast Asian waters 
until 1942.
  In the final years of the Asiatic Fleet operations, these sailors and 
marines distinguished themselves by defending against the tidal wave of 
Japanese aggression. Fighting against the larger modern Japanese naval 
forces were the fleet's 3 cruisers, 13 WWI-vintage destroyers, 29 
submarines, and a handful of gunboats and patrol aircraft. In all, the 
fleet lost 22 ships. 1,826 were killed and over 500 were said to be 
placed in prison camps. Sadly, many of these sailors taken prisoner 
were beaten, tortured, and killed in the most gruesome of manners.
  Regrettably, Congress and the American people have never risen to 
recognize the valiant actions of this Asiatic Fleet, the precursor to 
today's 7th Fleet. I rise today dedicated to granting long overdue 
recognition of the heartbreaking struggles of the fleet that fought 
alone against the overwhelming modern Japanese Navy. It is altogether 
fitting and appropriate that this Nation pause and reflect upon the 
noble actions of these fine sailors and marines of the Asiatic Fleet.
  It is for these reasons that today I will join my colleague in the 
Senate, Senator Warner, to introduce a resolution calling for the 
recognition of the 56th anniversary of the sinking of the Asiatic 
Fleet's flagship, the U.S.S. Houston. This resolution supports the 
efforts of the Senate to designate March 1, 1998 as the ``United States 
Navy Asiatic Fleet Memorial Day.'' I call upon my colleagues to join me 
today in this effort to give these forgotten heroes Congress' support 
for long awaited recognition.
  The battles fought by the U.S.S. Houston in her service to the 
Asiatic Fleet are best told in the Dictionary of American Naval 
Fighting Ships. I would ask that the history of the U.S.S. Houston be 
printed following my remarks.

              Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships


 VOLUME III--NAVY DEPARTMENT, OFFICE OF THE CHIEF OF NAVAL OPERATIONS, 
                   NAVAL HISTORY DIVISION, WASHINGTON

       With the outbreak of war between China and Japan in 1932, 
     Houston got underway 31 January for Shanghai to protect 
     American lives and property. She landed Marine and Navy gun 
     platoons to help stabilize the situation and remained in the 
     area, with the exception of a good will cruise to the 
     Philippines in March and one to Japan in May 1933, until 
     being relieved by Augusta 17 November 1933. The cruiser 
     sailed to San Francisco to join the Scouting Force, and for 
     the years preceding World War II participated in Fleet 
     Problems and maneuvers in the Pacific. During this period 
     Houston made several special cruises. President Roosevelt 
     came on board 1 July 1934 at Annapolis, Md., for a cruise of 
     almost 12,000 miles through the Caribbean and to Portland, 
     Oreg., by way of Hawaii. Houston also carried Assistant 
     Secretary of the Navy Henry L. Roosevelt on a tour of the 
     Hawaiian Islands, returning to San Diego 15 May 1935. After a 
     short cruise in Alaskan waters, the cruiser returned to 
     Seattle and embarked the President again 3 October 1935 for a 
     vacation cruise to the Cerros Islands, Magdalena Bay, Cocos 
     Islands, and Charleston, S.C. Houston also celebrated the 
     opening of the Golden Gate bridge at San Francisco 28 May 
     1937, and carried President Roosevelt for a Fleet Review at 
     the same city 14 July 1938.
       Houston became flagship of the U.S. Fleet 19 September 
     1938, when Rear Admiral Bloch broke his flag on board her, 
     and maintained that status until 28 December; when she 
     returned to the Scouting Force. Continuing the now-familiar 
     routine of training exercises, she got underway for Fleet 
     Problem 20, 4 January 1939 from San Francisco, sailed to 
     Norfolk and Key West, and there embarked the President and 
     the Chief of Naval Operations, Admiral Leahy, for the 
     duration of the problem. She arrived Houston, Tex., 7 April 
     for a brief visit before returning to Seattle, where she 
     arrived 30 May.
       Assigned as flagship Hawaiian Detachment, the cruiser 
     arrived Pearl Harbor after her post-overhaul shakedown 7 
     December 1939, and continued in that capacity until returning 
     to Mare Island 17 February 1940. Sailing to Hawaii, she 
     departed 3 November for the Philippine Islands as the world 
     situation grew darker. Arriving Manila, 19 November 1940, she 
     became flagship of Admiral Hart, Commander Asiatic Fleet.
       As the war crisis deepened, Admiral Hart deposed his fleet 
     in readiness. On the night of the Pearl Harbor attack, 
     Houston got underway from Penay Island with fleet units bound 
     for Darwin, Australia, where she arrived 28 December 1941 by 
     way of Balikpapan and Surabaya. After patrol duty she joined 
     the ABDA (American-British-Dutch-Australian) naval force at 
     Surabaya. Air raids were frequent in the area, and Houston's 
     gunners splashed four planes 4 February as Admiral Doorman, 
     RNN, took his force to engage Japanese reported to be at 
     Balikpapan, Houston took one hit, disabling her No. 3 turret, 
     and cruiser Marblehead was so damaged

[[Page E2215]]

     that she had to be sent out of the battle area. Doorman was 
     forced to abandon his advance.
       Returning to Australia, Houston departed 15 February with a 
     small convoy to reinforce the garrison on Timor. Before the 
     day was out, the group was forced to beat off numerous air 
     attacks, and next morning the Japanese attacked in full 
     force. During this defensive action, Houston distinguished 
     herself by driving off nearly the entire raid without damage 
     to her transports.
       Receiving word that the major Japanese invasion force was 
     approaching Java protected by a formidable surface unit, 
     Admiral Doorman resolutely determined to meet and seek to 
     destroy the main convoy. Sailing 26 February with Houston, 
     HMAs Perth, HNMS De Ruyter, HMS Exeter, JNMS Java and 10 
     destroyers, be met the Japanese support force under Admiral 
     Takagi consisting of 4 cruisers and 13 destroyers. In the 
     Battle of the Java Sea which followed, Doorman's forces 
     fought valiantly, but were doomed by lack of air cover and 
     communication difficulties. The ships met for the first 
     time in the late afternoon, and as Japanese destroyers 
     laid smoke the cruisers of both fleets opened fire. After 
     one ineffective torpedo attack the Japanese light cruisers 
     and destroyers launched a second at 1700, this attack 
     sinking Kortenaer, Exeter and destroyer Electra were hit 
     by gunfire, Electra fatally, and at 1730 Admiral Doorman 
     turned south toward the Java coast, not wishing to be 
     diverted from his main purpose, the destruction of the 
     convoy itself. With dogged fighting spirit he dodged 
     another torpedo attack and followed the coastline, during 
     which time Jupiter was sunk, either by mine or internal 
     explosion. Then Encounter was detached to pick up 
     survivors from Kortenaer, and the American destroyers, 
     their torpedoes expended, were ordered back to Surubaya. 
     Now with no destroyer protection, Doorman's four remaining 
     ships turned north again in a last gallant attempt to stop 
     the invasion of Java.
       At 2300 the same night, the cruisers again encountered the 
     Japanese surface group. On parallel courses the opposing 
     units opened fire, and the Japanese launched a devastating 
     torpedo attack 30 minutes later. De Ruuter and Java caught in 
     a spread of 12 torpedoes, exploded and sank, carrying their 
     captains and Admiral Doorman down with them.
       Before losing contact with Perth and Houston, Doorman had 
     ordered them to retire. This was accomplished, but the next 
     day the two ships steamed boldly into Banten Bay, hoping to 
     damage the Japanese invasion forces there. The cruisers were 
     almost torpedoed as they approached the bay, but evaded the 
     nine torpedoes launched by destroyer Fubuki. The cruisers 
     than sank one transport and forced three others to beach. A 
     destroyer squadron blocked Sunda Strait, their means of 
     retreat, and on the other hand large cruisers Mogami and 
     Mikuma stood dangerously near. The result was foreordained, 
     but Houston and Perth fought valiantly. Perth came under fire 
     at 2336 and in an hour had been sunk from gunfire and torpedo 
     hits. Houston then fought alone, her guns blazing at the 
     enemy all around her, a champion at bay. Soon after midnight 
     she took a torpedo and began to lose headway. During this 
     time Houston's gunners scored hits on three different 
     destroyers and sank a minesweeper, but suffered three more 
     torpedo explosions in quick succession. Captain Rooks was 
     killed by a bursting shell at 0030 and as the ship came to a 
     stop Japanese destroyers swarmed over her machine gunning the 
     decks. A few minutes later the gallant Houston, her name 
     written imperishably in the records of heroism, rolled over 
     and sank, her ensign still flying.
       Houston's fate was not known by the world for almost 9 
     months, and the full story of her courageous fight was not 
     fully told until after the war was over and her survivors 
     were liberated from prison camps. Captain Rooks received 
     posthumously the Medal of Honor for this extraordinary 
     heroism.
       In addition to two battle stars, Houston was awarded the 
     Presidential Unit Citation.

     

                          ____________________