[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 13 (Monday, January 25, 1999)]
[Senate]
[Page S988]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                            U.S.S. ``PHAON''

 Mrs. BOXER. Mr. President, today I ask the Senate to join me 
in commending those brave Americans who served aboard the U.S.S. Phaon.
  During World War II, the Phaon  compiled an outstanding record as a 
battle damage repair ship. She was part of three major battles and 
helped the U.S. fleet to remain in action throughout the Central 
Pacific campaign.
  The Phaon was an important part of mobile Service Squadron Ten, whose 
battle role was to remain within the battle area and conduct repairs--
keeping fighting vessels in action, preventing the loss of damaged 
vessels by making them seaworthy, and returning repaired vessels to 
action as soon as possible. To accomplish this, the Navy converted tank 
transports into battle damage repair ships.
  The Phaon  was one of the original mobile service squadron vessels 
that arrived in the Central Pacific in late 1943 to test new concepts 
in naval logistics and mobile repair. Their work began under fire at 
Majuro with restoration of all types of craft from the invasion of 
Tarawa and repairs to the battleships Washington and Indiana.
  By early 1944, the Phaon's crew was skilled, experienced, and ready 
to participate in the campaigns to advance across the Pacific. In 
March, she was with the fleet at Kwajalein and Eniwetok. In June, she 
joined the invasion of Saipan. In July, she was at Tinian. She was 
subject to more than sixty air raids while working.
  Time and again, the Phaon heroically entered the fray to repair a 
damaged ship. At Saipan, the destroyer Phelps was hit while engaged in 
ground support shore bombardment. She called the Phaon, and the two 
ships tied bow to stern. While the Phelps continued to bomb the shore, 
the Phaon repaired her damage and replenished her ammunition. At the 
same time, the Phaon dispatched several off-ship repair crews to other 
vessels and had alongside for repairs a tank landing craft, a 
minesweeper, and the destroyer U.S.S. Shaw. One month later, at Tinian, 
the Phaon performed similar feats to repair the destroyer Norman Scott 
and the battleship Colorado.
  By the war's end, the Phaon had repaired at least 96 ships and more 
than 2,000 vessels and crafts of all types. She played a major role in 
the success of Service Squadron Ten, of which Rear Admiral W.R. Carter 
said:

       Had it failed, the war would have lasted much longer at 
     much greater cost in blood and dollars.  . . . It was a 
     never-ending job, and the men and officers . . . were as much 
     a part of the fleet which defeated Japan as were . . . any 
     battleship, carrier, cruiser, or destroyer.

  Admiral Raymond A. Spruance, Commander of the Central Pacific Force, 
called the record of the Phaon  and Service Squadron Ten achievements 
of which all Americans can be justly proud, but about which most of 
them have little or no knowledge.
  Mr. President, I hope that these remarks increase our knowledge and 
respect for the critical role that damage repair ships played in the 
Pacific campaigns. I know you will join me and every American in 
saluting the brave crew of the U.S.S. Phaon.

                          ____________________