[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 50 (Friday, April 6, 2001)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3700-S3701]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    TRIBUTE TO MR. ARNOLD SPIELBERG

  Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, today I share with you and my 
colleagues an extraordinary story about an extraordinary American 
patriot. The gentleman's name is Arnold Spielberg. Yes, he is the 
father; but his own fame was earned, long before his son's, as a combat 
airman of the ``Greatest Generation.''
  Like many of us during World War II, Mr. Spielberg heard the call of 
our great Nation and enlisted in the U.S. Army Signal Corps, just after 
Pearl Harbor, in January 1942. After several weeks of training at Fort 
Thomas and in Louisville, KY, he was transferred to the 422nd Signal 
Company at the New Orleans Army Air Corps Base near Lake Pontchartrain. 
Private Spielberg then spent the next 3 months doing close order drill 
and teaching Morse code to unwilling recruits. He recalled that in an 
effort to get the attention of these unwilling recruits, he would send 
them ``colorful'' jokes and stories to keep their attention. It worked.
  In May 1942, he boarded a troop ship in Charleston, SC and 2 months 
later, disembarked in Karachi, India. Once in India, he was stationed 
at the Leslie Wilson Muslim Hostel working at the Karachi 
Classification Depot. His job was to essentially open up shipments of 
war materiel, aircraft parts mostly, check them against the technical 
manuals to figure out which aircraft they went to and label them. While 
this was important work, Mr. Spielberg wanted to be closer to the 
action and asked his Commanding Officer for a transfer to the 490th 
Bombardment Squadron, Medium. He got it and was on his way.
  Corporal Spielberg tackled his new assignment with enthusiasm and 
vigor. He set up the communications system that serviced the control 
tower for planes practicing strafing and bombing missions on an island 
in the Indian Ocean. He also started to train as a radio gunner and 
learned all about the B-25's, the famous Mitchell bomber, communication 
equipment, inside and out.
  Because of his hard work and diligence, Corporal Spielberg quickly 
earned the rank of Master Sergeant and the reputation as an expert 
signalman. He designed a high gain, bi-directional rhombic antenna, 
using giant bamboo poles for support. Their signal was as clear as 
``Ma' Bell.'' He also tackled the somewhat menacing problem of electric 
power. The base power was supplied by a large British diesel generator 
that produced 250 volts at 50 cycles. The radio equipment ran on 115 
volts at 60 cycles. In order to use the British generator, the voltage 
output needed to be reduced. Master Sergeant Spielberg requisitioned a 
step down transformer however, he knew that would take six months or so 
to secure. In the meantime, by the use of a little ``horse trading,'' 
he enlisted the help of some squadron mates to refurbish the unit's old 
generator which was then turned in as a spare and a new generator was 
issued.

  The world over, U.S. soldiers, sailors and airmen used their common 
sense ``to make do'' when faced with challenging situations of all 
kinds. We didn't always do it ``by the book,'' but we succeeded.
  Master Sergeant Spielberg also redesigned some electrical circuitry 
because of a critical safety flaw that he discovered at great risk to 
himself. While performing maintenance on the squadron's large 
transmitter one morning, Master Sergeant Spielberg turned off the main 
power source so as to change the bands. Noting the red power light 
``out,'' he reached in to pull out the transmitter-turning coil. As he 
grabbed it, 2600-volts DC current went through his hand and sent him 
flying in the air. When he returned from seeing the medics, he 
inspected the transmitter and noticed the relay that controlled the 
power to the main transformer was ``hot wired'' to the power side so 
that the unit continually received power and could not be shut off. He 
immediately rewired the unit and drafted a correction notice to be 
distributed to the entire transmitter-user community.
  Master Sergeant Spielberg also had the opportunity to fly combat 
missions. As the Japanese began their invasion of India with a focus on 
Imphal, his squadron was pressed to fly more missions. They supplied 
the British and Indian troops with food and ammo, and carried out the 
wounded. The aircrew soon became exhausted and ``over-flown'' so the 
Communications Officer looked to the ground crew. When asked if he 
would volunteer to fly, Master Sergeant Spielberg said, ``Yeah, I'll go 
first!''--and he did. He flew missions as the radio gunner, at night, 
into

[[Page S3701]]

Imphal, to resupply the troops and bring out the wounded.
  Because of his extraordinary initiatives and many other forward-
thinking actions, Master Sergeant Spielberg was awarded the Bronze Star 
medal with a citation that read:

       Pursuant to the authority contained in Army Regulations 
     600-45, War Department, Washington, DC, 22 September 1943, 
     the Bronze Star Medal is hereby awarded to Master Sergeant 
     Arnold M. Spielberg, 15088831:
       For meritorious service from 24 July 1942 to 16 October 
     1944 as communications technician. M/Sgt Spielberg originated 
     numerous modifications and suggestions concerning radio 
     equipment and procedures which were later put in use 
     throughout the Army Air Forces. His untiring efforts and 
     initiative have rendered substantial aid to the operations of 
     his squadron.

  By command of Major General Davidson, Headquarters, Tenth Air Force, 
U.S. Army.
  Upon the termination of hostilities in World War II, in the year 
1945, all services made an effort to allow those who experienced the 
battlefields beyond our shores to return, as soon as possible, to their 
families and homes.
  Often the records of their valorous service and the decorations they 
received had to follow. Given there were over 16 million who proudly 
wore the uniform of a service, this was a remarkable feat that was 
accomplished by a war-weary, but joyous nation.
  Now, some 56 years later, I was honored to join the present Chief of 
Staff of the U.S. Air Force, General Michael Ryan, in reviewing the 
records and expediting the conveyance of the Bronze Star Medal to 
Master Sergeant Spielberg.

                          ____________________