[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 82 (Wednesday, June 13, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1100]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            HONORING WORLD WAR II VETERAN ALFORD LEE GRAY---

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                           HON. SCOTT McINNIS

                              of colorado

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 13, 2001

  Mr. McINNIS. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this moment to honor 
World War II veteran Alford Lee Gray of Olathe, Colorado. Alford 
endured the terrors of the War, including the Battle of Leyte, in order 
to help ensure a victory on the side of justice. While mere words 
cannot express Alford's heroism, I am proud to have this opportunity to 
honor the valor he exhibited during the war.
  Even before World War II, Alford was well aware that sacrifice and 
persistence are sometimes needed for survival. A witness of the 
Depression, Alford also discovered the necessity of teamwork. He says, 
``You relied on your neighbor and he relied on you. Without knowing it, 
I think we took that feeling into the war with us,'' said Alford in a 
article from the Montrose Daily Press. Indeed, these lessons seem to 
have provided him with the means not only to survive, but also to help 
ensure an American victory. Alford demonstrated remarkable heroism when 
it was most needed of him.
  Before the Battle of Leyte, Japanese Vice Admiral Takeo Kurita 
expected to stamp out the American resistance, and he armed himself 
with weapons to complete that feat. Kurita's 18-inch guns, Japanese 
Zeros, and incendiary bombs destroyed several of American Admiral 
William F. Halsey's ships, including the U.S.S. Kitkun Bay, on which 
Alford resided. Then, according to Alford, ``A Kamikaze came out of 
nowhere and exploded on deck,'' resulting in such terrible damage that 
the men were given permission to abandon ship. Even in this precarious 
state, however, Alford and others followed the captain's commands to 
extinguish the fires and somehow got the ship back to Pearl Harbor. 
``After the Battle of Leyte, I counted 270 holes punched through the 
side of our ship. Some of the shells had gone completely through the 
Kitkun Bay. I don't know why we were still floating after that fight,'' 
said Alford.
  In spite of the severe damage to Halsey's ships, American forces 
destroyed ten Japanese cruisers, four carriers, three battleships, and 
nine destroyers. Thanks to the teamwork and courage of men like Alford, 
what the Japanese expected to be an easy victory turned into a cruel 
defeat. In fact, the Japanese would never recover from this crucial 
defeat.
  In recognition of his valor, Alford Gray has been honored with a Good 
Conduct Medal, an Asiatic Pacific Ribbon with five stars, a World War 
II Victory Medal, a Philippine Liberation Medal, and a Presidential 
Citation. Today, Mr. Speaker, I ask Congress to also recognize and 
honor Alford Lee Gray for his legendary bravery and sacrifice. He is a 
great American who plainly deserves the thanks and esteem of this body.

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