[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 134 (Friday, October 11, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1850]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[[Page E1850]]
                     U.S.S. ``SAN DIEGO'' MEMORIAL

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. SUSAN DAVIS

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, October 10, 2002

  Mrs. DAVIS of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise to salute a great 
warship that was named for a great maritime city: my hometown of San 
Diego.
  The U.S.S. San Diego served our nation with honor and distinction 
during World War II. The San Diego was a light cruiser whose principal 
purpose was to provide antiaircraft protection to the fast carrier task 
groups that formed the backbone of the fleet during the war in the 
Pacific. Commissioned in January 1942, the San Diego joined the Pacific 
Fleet just prior to the Battle of Midway and saw her first action in 
the Guadalcanal campaign in the summer of 1942. The San Diego 
participated altogether in 42 months of nearly continuous operations, 
was involved in 34 engagements with enemy forces, earned 18 Battle 
Stars for her World War II campaigns, and was selected by Admiral 
Halsey to be the first major U.S. warship to enter Tokyo Bay upon the 
surrender of Japan.
  Though the San Diego has been decommissioned and scrapped for many 
years, she has not been forgotten. The U.S.S. San Diego Memorial 
Association is a nonprofit organization formed with the goal of 
erecting a permanent memorial in San Diego, its namesake city, to honor 
the valiant and remarkable services of the cruiser U.S.S. San Diego and 
the men who served aboard her during the tumultuous and historical 
years of 1941-1945. Association membership includes surviving Navy 
veterans who served on the San Diego during the war. The Port of San 
Diego has donated a prime waterfront site for the U.S.S. San Diego 
Memorial, and the Memorial Association is raising private funds to 
construct a beautiful monument.
  Mr. Speaker, I applaud the U.S.S. San Diego Memorial Association and 
the Port of San Diego for their tremendous efforts to pay tribute to 
this great ship and her crew. Once again, the people of San Diego are 
demonstrating their strong support for the United States Navy and its 
many contributions to our nation's defense.

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