[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 128 (Wednesday, July 30, 2008)]
[House]
[Pages H7600-H7601]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 RECOGNIZING THE SERVICE OF THE USS ``FARENHOLT'' IN THE SOUTH PACIFIC 
                          DURING WORLD WAR II

  Mr. ELLSWORTH. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree 
to the resolution (H. Res. 1248) recognizing the service of the USS 
Farenholt and her men who served our Nation with valor and bravery in 
the South Pacific during World War II, as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
  The text of the resolution is as follows:

                              H. Res. 1248

       Whereas the USS Farenholt (DD 491) was launched on November 
     19, 1941, by Bethlehem Steel Company in Staten Island, New 
     York, and commissioned on April 2, 1942, at the Brooklyn Navy 
     Yard;
       Whereas the Farenholt, a 1620-ton Benson-class destroyer, 
     sailed from San Diego on July 1, 1942, for the Pacific;
       Whereas the Farenholt, known as the ``Fightin' F'', 
     participated in the invasion of Guadalcanal on August 7, 
     1942, which marked the first American land offensive of the 
     war;
       Whereas the Farenholt, a flagship for Destroyer Squadron 
     12, served as an escort for the carrier, the USS Wasp, which 
     on September 15, 1942, was attacked by two enemy submarines;
       Whereas, as the Wasp sunk, the Farenholt rescued 143 
     survivors;
       Whereas the Farenholt, during the Battle of Cape Esperance 
     on the night of October 11, 1942, exhibited tactical might by 
     joining an American force that successfully intercepted and 
     defeated enemy destroyers and cruisers;
       Whereas, during the Battle of Cape Esperance, the Farenholt 
     helped to sink an enemy destroyer, despite having received 
     three hits and having her torpedo tube rendered inoperative, 
     which left three of the Farenholt's crew dead and 43 wounded;
       Whereas, during the Battle of Cape Esperance, the Farenholt 
     remained afloat despite the amount of water that flooded 
     aboard the ship due to the severe damage inflicted by the 
     three hits;
       Whereas the crew saved the Farenholt from sinking by 
     shifting oil, water, and topside weight to starboard, thus 
     bringing the holes created by direct shell hits out of the 
     water and saving the Farenholt so she could fight another 
     day;
       Whereas on the night of February 17, 1944, the Farenholt 
     steamed up the St. George Channel and bombarded Rabaul, 
     Solomon Islands, a stronghold of the enemy;
       Whereas Rabaul was heavily fortified and hosted 
     approximately 100,000 enemy troops;
       Whereas during the Rabaul raid, the Farenholt fired 214 
     salvos and inflicted heavy damage on shore installations at 
     Rabaul and sunk two merchant ships;
       Whereas General MacArthur said of the February Rabaul raid, 
     ``Heartiest congratulations to you and all concerned in 
     Rabaul air strikes. The relentlessness of the attacks and 
     their effectiveness have aroused admiration and enthusiasm 
     everywhere. The daring and successful destroyer raids were 
     also splendid in every way and were conceived and 
     accomplished in the best Farragut manner'';
       Whereas one week later, on February 25, 1944, the Farenholt 
     participated in a similar raid, this time at Kavieng which 
     drew heavy fire from the shore, and the Farenholt was damaged 
     on the starboard side and, once again, her men saved the 
     ship;
       Whereas the men of the Farenholt accounted for two Navy 
     Cross awards, two members of the crew were awarded the Silver 
     Star Medal, five members of the crew were awarded the Bronze 
     Star Medal, eight members of the crew received Letters of 
     Commendation, and approximately 46 Purple Hearts were awarded 
     for the members of the crew who were killed or wounded in 
     action;
       Whereas the men of the Farenholt and their loving spouses, 
     widows, and children celebrated their 16th reunion in Fort 
     Collins, Colorado, in 2007, and will celebrate their 17th 
     reunion in Santa Clara, California, on September 17, 2008 
     through September 21, 2008; and
       Whereas the men of the Farenholt represent the bravery and 
     selfless sacrifice of the greatest generation: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the United States House of Representatives--
       (1) recognizes and commends the courageous and honorable 
     men who served aboard the USS Farenholt in the South Pacific 
     during World War II for their selfless service to the United 
     States; and
       (2) recognizes the contributions of the USS Farenholt and 
     her crew in protecting America and its freedoms during World 
     War II.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Indiana (Mr. Ellsworth) and the gentlewoman from Virginia (Mrs. Drake) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Indiana.


                             General Leave

  Mr. ELLSWORTH. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all 
Members have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their 
remarks on the resolution under consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Indiana?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. ELLSWORTH. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  I rise today in support of House Resolution 1248, which honors the 
crew of the USS Farenholt for their brave service in the South Pacific 
during the Second World War. I would like to thank my colleague from 
Colorado, Congresswoman Marilyn Musgrave, who introduced this 
resolution with me.
  A 1,620-ton Benson-class destroyer, the USS Farenholt, affectionately 
known as ``the Fightin' F,'' was launched from Staten Island, New York, 
on November 19, 1941. The Farenholt sailed for the Pacific in July of 
1942, participating in the invasion of Guadalcanal as the flagship for 
Destroyer Squadron 12 and escort for the carrier USS Wasp. On September 
15, 1942, when the Wasp was surprised and sunk by two Japanese 
submarines, the Farenholt rescued 143 of the survivors.
  The Farenholt's greatest test came the following month in the Battle 
of Cape Esperance, when the ship helped

[[Page H7601]]

intercept a Japanese force of cruisers and destroyers attempting to 
bombard Henderson Field on Guadalcanal. The Farenholt performed 
admirably, sinking an enemy destroyer despite taking heavy casualties 
from three direct hits from enemy fire. The brave crew managed to keep 
their ship afloat by shifting topside weight to the starboard, thereby 
lifting the shell holes out of the water. Thanks to the dedication and 
ingenuity of her crew, the Farenholt lived to fight another day.
  In fact, she spent the next 2 years crisscrossing the South Pacific, 
providing cover for landings, escorting convoys, and rescuing downed 
pilots.
  Her crew once again proved their courage on the night of February 17, 
1944, when they launched a daring dash through the St. George Canal in 
the Solomon Islands to attack the Japanese stronghold at Rabaul. They 
managed to sink two enemy merchant ships in the process, and General 
Douglas MacArthur wrote that the raids on Rabaul were ``splendid in 
every way and were conceived and accomplished in the best Farragut 
manner.''
  The sailors of the USS Farenholt were awarded two Navy Crosses, two 
Silver Stars, five Bronze Stars, eight Letters of Commendation, and 46 
Purple Hearts for their service and sacrifice to our country.
  Madam Speaker, I would like to acknowledge a constituent of mine, 
Gene Fithian of Newburgh, Indiana. Last year, I met with Gene in my 
office in Evansville, and he shared stories about the Farenholt and his 
shipmates. Gene put my staff in touch with other men who served aboard 
the Farenholt, and this resolution would not have been possible without 
their valuable input. Thank you, Mr. Fithian.
  It is with a deep sense of gratitude and appreciation that we honor 
the men of the Farenholt and their loving spouses, widows, and 
children. They are part of our ``Greatest Generation,'' and I encourage 
all my colleagues to join me in honoring their sacrifices.
  Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

                              {time}  2015

  Mrs. DRAKE. Madam Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I might 
consume.
  I rise today in support of House Resolution 1248, which recognizes 
the service of the destroyer USS Farenholt and her men who served our 
great Nation with bravery in the South Pacific during World War II.
  The USS Farenholt was commissioned on April 2, 1942 at the Brooklyn 
Navy Yard. The destroyer sailed from San Diego, California on July 1, 
1942 for the Pacific.
  Also known as the Fightin' F, she participated in the United States' 
first land offensive of World War II, the August 1942 invasion of 
Guadalcanal. The next month, Farenholt also served as an escort for the 
aircraft carrier USS Wasp, which was attacked by two enemy submarines. 
When the Wasp sank, the Farenholt rescued 143 of her survivors.
  The Fightin' F fought in the battle of Cape Esperance in October 
1942, and joined the American force that intercepted and defeated 
Japanese destroyers and cruisers. During the fight, the Farenholt 
suffered 46 casualties and severe damage from three direct hits. 
Despite this, her crew kept her from sinking, and she joined in the 
February 1944 destroyer raid on the Japanese stronghold at New Guinea 
where she sank two merchant ships. That raid earned very high praises 
from General Douglas MacArthur.
  I want to thank my colleague, Mr. Ellsworth of Indiana, for 
introducing this legislation.
  I urge my colleagues to recognize these brave and dedicated men of 
the USS Farenholt by supporting House Resolution 1248.
  Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. ELLSWORTH. Madam Speaker, I also reserve the balance of my time.
  Mrs. DRAKE. Madam Speaker, I yield as much time as she may consume to 
the gentlewoman from Colorado (Mrs. Musgrave).
  Mrs. MUSGRAVE. Madam Speaker, I thank my colleagues. It's truly an 
honor to stand here tonight and pay gratitude to our World War II 
veterans. I was very proud to cosponsor this resolution honoring the 
USS Farenholt and her crew.
  Radarman 1st Class Kenneth S. Buffington served on the Farenholt from 
1942 to 1945. Kenneth was born and raised in Nebraska, and he lived on 
his family's farm until he joined the United States Navy. After the 
war, he became a plumber, and he has called Fort Collins, Colorado his 
home for the last 55 years. He will celebrate his 89th birthday in 
September.
  Kenneth fought 11 battles aboard the Farenholt. The destroyer endured 
12 credited engagements from Guadalcanal to Okinawa. When at battle 
stations, Kenneth helped man the guns to help defend his ship and crew 
mates and to ensure that the Fightin' F could engage the enemy on 
another day.
  The Farenholt's accomplishments are many, as my colleagues have 
mentioned, including the repelling of Japanese air attacks, the 
bombardment of enemy positions, the supporting of carrier raids, and 
the performing of rescue operations as well as that of escort and 
patrol duty. In battle, the crewmen were often stretched to their 
limits, remaining at battle stations around the clock, sleeping little 
but doing their duty. The crew of the Farenholt suffered casualties, 
but they always fought courageously and greatly contributed to the 
success of the operations in which they took part.
  Twice, the Farenholt was badly damaged by gunfire and by shell fire, 
but she survived to celebrate V-J Day, and was decommissioned in April 
of 1946.
  It is my great privilege to represent Kenneth Buffington and his 
family, and I am proud to honor the USS Farenholt, her crew and all of 
our World War II veterans and their families.
  Mr. ELLSWORTH. Madam Speaker, I would also like to thank the 
gentlelady from Virginia.
  At this time, I have no further requests for time, and I'm prepared 
to close after my colleague has yielded back.
  I continue to reserve the balance of my time.
  Mrs. DRAKE. Madam Speaker, I have no additional speakers.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. ELLSWORTH. Madam Speaker, I also yield back the balance of my 
time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Ellsworth) that the House suspend the rules 
and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 1248, as amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the resolution, as amended, was agreed to.
  The title was amended so as to read: ``Resolution recognizing the 
service of the USS Farenholt and her crew who served the United States 
with valor and bravery in the South Pacific during World War II.''.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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