[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 16 (Thursday, February 26, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Page S1129]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             COMMEMORATING THE HEROIC ACTIONS OF DESRON 61

 Mr. JOHNSON. Mr. President, I rise today to commemorate the 
heroic actions of DesRon 61. DesRon 61 consisted of 9 U.S. destroyers 
which participated in the only surface action in Tokyo Bay during World 
War II. As part of Admiral William ``Bull'' Halsey's Task Group 38.1, 
DesRon 61 entered Tokyo Bay on July 22, 1945 and proceeded to engage a 
Japanese convoy which was attempting to leave the bay undetected. Under 
the command of Captain T.H. Hederman, DesRon 61 opened fire on the 
convoy sinking several Japanese ships and forcing the convoy to retreat 
back into Tokyo Bay.
  All of us, as Americans, owe a great debt of gratitude to those who 
served our nation with such dedication and patriotism. Our losses in 
World War II, especially in the Pacific Theater, were considerable, and 
we always should remember the brave men and women who fought to defend 
the freedom and liberty that is so precious to all of us. Mr. 
President, I would like to commend and thank the crew members of DesRon 
61 for their valiant service. Their action that July night, as well as 
the heroic deeds of all our armed forces in the Pacific, helped defeat 
the Japanese empire and restore freedom in that theater of the 
world.

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