[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 156 (Saturday, November 8, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2247-E2248]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    HONORING THE BRAVERY AND SERVICE OF THE U.S. NAVY ASIATIC FLEET

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. SHERROD BROWN

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, November 7, 1997

  Mr. BROWN of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, as we approach Veterans Day, I am 
proud to introduce legislation honoring the bravery and dedication of 
the sailors and marines who served with the U.S. Navy Asiatic Fleet.
  Formed in 1910, the Asiatic Fleet patrolled the waters of the Far 
East for 32 years, defending the interests of the United States and 
ensuring the safety of our citizens abroad during various regional 
conflicts and natural disasters.
  Following the attack on Pearl Harbor in December 1941, the personnel 
of the Asiatic Fleet courageously opposed Japan's continued aggression 
in the South Pacific. Outnumbered and outgunned by a modern Japanese 
armada, the aging ships and submarines of the fleet fought valiantly, 
relying on wits, courage, and sheer determination.
  Despite incredible valor and the help of our Australian, British, and 
Dutch allies, the sailors and marines of the Asiatic Fleet ultimately 
succumbed to the Japanese on March 1, 1942, when the flagship U.S.S. 
Houston was sunk near Indonesia. The total losses suffered by the fleet 
were staggering: 22 ships sunk, 1,826 men killed or missing in action, 
and 518 men captured, many of whom did not survive their internment.
  Yet, the spirit displayed by those who served with the Asiatic Fleet 
was equally stunning. Charged with a near-impossible task from the very 
start, the Fleet ``fought like hell,'' as one survivor recently put it. 
That these particular veterans have received little commendation is 
especially disappointing, for their cunning and fortitude in the face 
of such overwhelming odds is one of the finer moments in defense of 
democracy. We can begin to rectify

[[Page E2248]]

history's oversight with this resolution, and I encourage all my 
colleagues to support its passage.

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