[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 65 (Tuesday, May 11, 2004)]
[Senate]
[Page S5221]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             60TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE USS ``YF-415'' TRAGEDY

  Mr. KENNEDY. Mr. President, as the official dedication of the world 
War II Memorial approaches, I welcome this opportunity to honor the 
sacrifice of the courageous men who lost their lives close to home in a 
tragic accident in 1944, fourteen miles off the coast of Massachusetts 
during the war.
  Sixty years ago today, the 9-member crew of the Navy ship USS YF-415 
and 21 men from the Hingham Ammunition Depot were disposing of 
condemned ammunition and explosives off the coast. Tragically, while 
performing their mission, the ordnance on the ship caught fire, setting 
off the ammunition for nearly 40 minutes. The ship and 17 lives were 
lost.
  The vessel lay on the ocean floor until the summer of 2003, when 
amateur divers discovered its remnants. They informed the Navy of the 
location, but too many years has passed, and the Navy salvage team was 
unable to find any trace of the missing men.
  Now as the Nation prepares to honor all who served our country so 
bravely during World War II, it is fitting on this day to remember the 
men who lost their lives in that tragedy 60 years ago. I express my 
deepest condolences to the family members who have suffered so long 
because of that tragedy so close to home and to all of us in 
Massachusetts.
   I would like to add the names of these men to the Record so that all 
may recognize their sacrifice: William J. Bradley, Adell Braxton, 
Joseph F. Burke, Raymond N. Carr, Truman S. Chittick, George M. Cook, 
James Cox, Jr., Freddie Edwards, Jr., F. E. Federle, James S. Griffin, 
Charles R. Harris, Raymond L. Henry, Julian Jackson, Yee M. Jin, Mike 
Peschunka, Vernon Smith, and James B. Turner.

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