[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 82 (Monday, June 22, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1192]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          HONORING MEMBERS OF THE LION 4 UNIT OF WORLD WAR II

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. HOWARD COBLE

                           of north carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, June 22, 1998

  Mr. COBLE. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to 
recognize a little-known, but immensely significant, group that 
valiantly served our country in World War II. This heroic group of 
individuals, members of the ``Lion 4'' unit, served to supply and 
repair the many needs of the huge Navy presence in the Pacific theater. 
This unit, along with the other brave soldiers who fought the war in 
the Pacific, helped us defeat the Japanese and end the war months 
earlier than expected. We shall never forget the accomplishments of 
these men, some of America's true heroes.
  The Lion 4 unit landed on the Admirality Islands north of New Guinea, 
with the daunting task of having to build a base equal to Pearl Harbor 
in size and function, with room to anchor over 400 ships. They landed 
on February 29, 1944, and by March 10, a severely damaged airfield was 
operational, providing pivotal air support during the war. Amazingly, 
at least 36 major units were operational by July, merely five months 
after the Lion 4 had first landed! These men had almost single-handedly 
created the largest and most important naval and air base in the 
Pacific Theatre. This in spite of knee-deep mud, torrential rainfall, 
120 degree temperatures, malaria, and the constant risk of death from 
the ongoing war around them. They built this base so that the fighting 
troops could get supplies and repairs, and the time saved, in addition 
to the Lion 4's service, served to cut short the war and break the back 
of the Japanese forces.
  On behalf of the men and women of the Sixth District of North 
Carolina, we proudly honor these men for their service to our country. 
The following men, members of Lion Four/Navy 3205 Association, are 
among the servicemen who helped keep our country free and proud:
  Marlon Adrian, Albert Aguero, Edwin Anguiski, Robert Archer, Ford 
Basel, Leonard Bearce, Ralph Benavidez, S.Q. Berry, Donald Berry, Henry 
J. Bozenski, Donald Bratt, Robert Bridges, Robert Bridges, George 
Briggs, Ernest Brown, Harold Brown, Williams Burg, Lenard Callaway, 
Loran Cambell, Pat Cannavino, Harold Cazaubon, Morris J. Coe, Marion 
Cook, George Crosley, Jesse Daniels, Carrol Day, Fred Defield, Martin 
Delozier, John Dick, Augustine DiSano, Malone Downes, Irvine Downs, 
Earl Dressen, Robert Dunn, Frank Durbin, James Eby, Carl Eitel, Max 
Ellis, Howard Espenson, Joseph Frendling, D.P. Garner, Shelton 
Gautreaux, William Gaydos, George Gerberding, John Geschrey, John 
Glaser, Charles Granger, Chester Grobschmidt, Sam Guerrero, Frank 
Halder, E. Lee Hall, Garry Hanson, Robert Hartigan, Robert Harwood, 
Thomas Hatcher, Ralph Hayes, George Haymes, James Heand, Robert Hecke, 
Charles Heiss, Forrest Herron, Jr., John Herzog, Preston Hoalst, Frank 
Hogan, Charles Hoggett, Douglas Hood, Kenneth Hoyt, William Hutchison, 
Joe Jacob, Clifford James, James Jensen, Farris Jobe, Hal Johnson, 
Sylvester Kapoclus, James Kauffman, Eugene Kennedy, Chester Kershner, 
Andrew Kube, Herman Kuhns, Robert Laflame, Marshall Leach, Bernard 
Lease, Marvin Leasure, Larry Leonard, Arthur Ludwig, Daniel Lukach, 
Paul Mahan, Charles Majewski, Perry Martin, Ken Mathews, William 
Maxwell, Charles McCabe, Eugene McCardell, Joseph Melillo, Jake Miller, 
Thomas Miller, Frank Moesher, Lawrence Moon, Dale Mulholand, Miles 
Mutchler, Evan Nardone, Glen Nelson, Donald Nephew, John Newkirk, 
William O'Dea, Howard Olson, Richard Ostrem, James Owens, Ingert 
Pederson, James Pennebaker, Walter Pensak, Robert Phipps, William 
Piper, Donald Pittelko, I.C. Plaza, Marvin Plunkett, Floyd Prater, 
Melvin Rabbitt, Douglas Ragsdale, Al Raiola, George Roe, Robert 
Rosenburg, Irven Rustad, John Ruth, Paul Sanders, John Sarbach, Alvin 
Saxton, Roland Schomer, Oron Schuch, Carl Schultz, Robert Schultz, 
Harold Schwocho, Eldon Shomo, Paul Siler, Roy Smith, Ruben Stahl, C. 
Stewart, Wm. Stiffler, Phillip Storm, Robert Stower, John Streicher, 
Buford Swartwood, Robert Tafel, Louis Tangney, Ernest Taube, Lowell Ter 
Borch, John Thomas, Ronald Trabucco, Walker Treadway, Joshua Treat III, 
Robert Trevorah, Frank Van Poppelen, John Van Soest, Charles Vicory, 
John Ward, Chuck Washner, Harry Waugh, William Webb, Harry Weiss, Hal 
Wenick, B.F. Williams, Sherwood Williams, Loren Yates, and Frank 
Zehner.
  Family members will be representing the following deceased members of 
Lion 4 at the next gathering in Williamsburg, Virginia: Herbert 
Banning, Edward Boyle, Mr. Daningger, Brayn Driggers, Thomas Hutchison, 
Bert Lancaster, Robert Riehm, Eugene Rushing, Arthur Schussler, Arnold 
Vann, Donald Williams, Edward Winikaitis, and Glen Zunke.
  As we sit here today, a half century after World War II, the need 
remains to honor those brave men and women who secured our freedom. On 
behalf of the citizens of the Sixth District of North Carolina, we 
express our deepest gratitude to the members of Lion Four and all the 
units that helped keep America free; we shall never forget their 
sacrifices.

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