[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 57 (Monday, April 26, 1999)]
[House]
[Page H2302]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 THE MISSOURI TIGER ARMY & NAVY ANCHOR MEMORIAL--A TRIBUTE TO THE 55TH 
    ANNIVERSARY OF WORLD WAR II EXERCISE TIGER OPERATION MAKING THE 
                          ``TIGER'' A REALITY

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Hulshof) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. HULSHOF. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the 55th 
anniversary of what may be the least known, yet most gallant naval 
effort ever waged, the operation known as Exercise Tiger.
  Fifty-five years ago, 749 American soldiers and sailors lost their 
lives in the English Channel when they were attacked by German torpedo 
boats. Embarked aboard landing ship tanks or LSTs for a secret 
rehearsal of the Normandy landing, and without accompanying escorts, 
these brave men came under attack from nine German Navy E-boats 
patrolling the English Channel.
  With uncommon courage and valor, the soldiers and crew engaged in 
Exercise Tiger defended their ships in the greatest naval engagement 
ever conducted by LST's. However, in the battle that raged, three LSTs 
were torpedoed. Two of them, the U.S.S. LST-507, and the LST-531 sunk 
to the bottom of the English Channel, while a third LST, the U.S.S. 
LST-289, was able to reach port.
  Their sacrifice played a key role in ensuring the success of the 
subsequent Normandy invasion, which ultimately freed Europe.
  Today, I am here to honor and remember the veterans, living and dead, 
of Exercise Tiger, and to celebrate the placement of an anchor from an 
LST in Mexico, Missouri. This memorial will serve as a permanent 
reminder to all who see it of the high price of freedom that those 
involved in Exercise Tiger paid.
  Mr. Speaker, I also want to recognize Walt Domanski, the National 
Director of the Tiger Foundation, and others who helped make this 
memorial a reality. On June 12, 1997, Mr. Domanski made a request to 
U.S. Navy Captain Gary Chiavarotti, Director of the U.S. Navy's 
Inactive Fleet, for the Navy to donate two 5,000 pound stern anchors 
from the Suffolk County Class tank landing ships, which operated under 
the code name Exercise Tiger, to serve as twin State and national 
memorials to commemorate the Battle of Exercise Tiger in New Jersey and 
Missouri. On July 13th, 1997, the request was approved.
  In December of 1997, the anchor traveled a 1,500 mile journey from 
Norfolk, Virginia, to Columbia, Missouri, and was given to area 
``Tiger'' veterans as a Christmas present. This action mainly resulted 
from the efforts of U.S. Navy Petty Officer Rocky Roberts, who served 
on the tank landing ship LaMoure County 1194, and by Uponeor ETI of 
Columbia, who donated their transportation resources. The LaMourne ship 
was safely transported to Columbia for the 1995 Exercise Tiger 
ceremony. This was the first time the U.S. Navy had ever donated an 
active ship to honor such an event. Now, its anchor will stand as The 
Missouri Exercise Tiger Army & Navy Anchor Memorial.
  Mr. Speaker, it should be noted that under the direction of 
Commissioner Dick Weber and the efforts of Mexico, Missouri, 
businessman Paul Koelling, both Audrain County and the Mexico community 
was assembled together to help donate the necessary work and funding 
for the Exercise Tiger Anchor Memorial project. At this time, I would 
also like to mention the efforts of the Mexico Veterans of Foreign Wars 
Post, the American Legion (who donated over $2,000 for this event), and 
the Exercise Tiger Association members. All have contributed to make 
this memorial a lasting tribute to those that served in the operation 
of Exercise Tiger.
  It is my honor to acknowledge the indispensable role that members of 
Exercise Tiger played in making the D-day invasion a success. I am 
proud to call attention to the efforts of the U.S. Navy and the Mexico 
Veterans Post who served as the ``anchor'' of this commemorative 
effort--helping to make this dream a reality.

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