[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 99 (Tuesday, July 17, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1343-E1344]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             RENAMING OF USNS GUNNERY SGT. FRED W. STOCKHAM

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. ANDER CRENSHAW

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, July 17, 2001

  Mr. CRENSHAW. Mr. Speaker, recently my family had the honor of 
participating in the renaming ceremony for the USNS Gunnery Sergeant 
Fred W. Stockham at Blount Island Command in Jacksonville, Florida. The 
event was held to rename the Maritime Prepositioning Force (Enhanced) 
ship Stockham after Medal of Honor recipient and World War I hero, 
Fred. W. Stockham.
  The USNS Stockham will be part of the Maritime Prepositioning Force 
of ships operated by the United States Military Sealift Command. These 
ships carry additional airfield matting, fleet hospital equipment, 
construction battalion equipment and other supplies needed to 
supplement the requirements of a forward-deployed military force.
  The ships that make up the Maritime Prepositioning Force of the 
Military Sealift Command play a vital role in our nation's national 
defense. Our military relies on its capability to be a sustainable 
force and project its power throughout the world. Maritime 
Prepositioning Force ships perform this mission by offering our 
military the equipment needed to be a fast deploying, mobile and 
sustainable force.
  The July 6th renaming event for the newest of our Maritime 
Prepositioning Force ships offered my family the chance to incorporate 
the personal background of the ship's new namesake with that of our own 
life experiences. My wife, Mrs. Kitty Crenshaw, was given the honor of 
being the Stockham's official sponsor. She performed the ceremonial 
breaking of the champagne bottle over the ship's railing and was given 
the opportunity to offer her personal thoughts of motherly pride for 
the men and women that would man the Stockham.
  Mr. Speaker, I submit the speech given by Mrs. Kitty Crenshaw at the 
renaming ceremony for the USNS Fred W. Stockham into today's Record. 
This speech is an example of the pride our nation holds for our 
military personnel and the pride a mother feels not only for her own 
children, but also those in her heart.
  Thank you Mr. Speaker for the time today to discuss the USNS Fred W. 
Stockham renaming event and the vital role the men and women of the 
Military Sealift Command play in the capabilities of our military 
force.
  I was thrilled when I was asked to be the sponsor of this ship. It 
seemed like an exciting and wonderful thing to experience. As I read 
about Sgt. Stockham and the traditions of this time-honored ceremony, I 
became increasingly humbled and grateful for this rarest of honors. As 
a mother, I felt especially honored and even singled out for this 
particular ship named

[[Page E1344]]

for this particular soldier. Sgt. Stockham was an orphan. He had no 
family and he never married. A friend was notified of this death. His 
body was placed in an unmarked grave that was lost for 60 years. Only 
the men of his company knew of his heroism until 21 years later because 
his Medal of Honor citation was lost in the chaos following the war. 
Having known the indescribable joy and privilege of being an adoptive 
mother, I immediately adopted this great soldier of the Great War into 
my heart and memory forever.
  On June 13, 1918, the Germans savagely bombarded Belleau Wood with 
deadly mustard gas and high explosives for six long hours. Sgt. 
Stockham courageously led the evacuation of wounded and gassed marines. 
When he saw a young 17-year-old private cut down by shrapnel and his 
gas mask torn away, Sgt. Stockham without hesitation pulled off his own 
mask and put it on the young private and carried him to safety. He 
returned again and again to carry the wounded out. He finally collapsed 
from the effects of the deadly gas. He suffered an agonizing death a 
week later. He was 37.
  Sgt. Stockham's heroism seems to me to be of a higher order. When he 
took off his mask, he was not just putting himself in harm's way or 
even risking death, he was knowingly condemning himself to a horrible 
death to save the life of his friend. 2000 years ago Jesus of Nazareth 
said that the greatest thing in the world is love and that there is no 
greater love than that a man would lay down his life for another. I am 
profoundly honored and it is with mother-like pride that I offer the 
gift of the memory of this great man to you and the mariners of the 
USNS Gunnery Sergeant Fred W. Stockham.

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