[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 128 (Wednesday, July 30, 2008)]
[House]
[Pages H7601-H7604]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
HONORING THE SERVICE OF LANDING SHIP TANK VETERANS
Mr. ELLSWORTH. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree
to the resolution (H. Res. 1316) honoring the service of the Navy and
Coast Guard veterans who served on the Landing Ship Tank (LST)
amphibious landing craft during World War II, the Korean war, the
Vietnam War, Operation Desert Storm, and global operations through 2002
and recognizing the essential role played by LST amphibious craft
during these conflicts.
The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
The text of the resolution is as follows:
H. Res. 1316
Whereas the Landing Ship Tank (LST) was the military
designation for naval vessels created during World War II to
support amphibious operations by carrying significant
quantities of vehicles, cargo, and landing troops directly
onto an unimproved shore;
Whereas the British evacuation from Dunkirk in 1940
demonstrated to the British Admiralty that the Allied Forces
needed relatively large, ocean-going ships, capable of the
shore-to-shore delivery of tanks, other vehicles, and troops
for amphibious assault upon the continent of Europe;
Whereas at their first meeting at the Atlantic Conference
in August 1941, President Franklin D. Roosevelt and British
Prime Minister Winston Churchill agreed with the Admiralty
about the need for improved ships that could land on and
retract off a beach;
Whereas in 3 separate acts, dated February 6, 1942, May 26,
1943, and December 17, 1943, Congress provided the authority
for the construction of LSTs;
Whereas 1,051 LST amphibious craft were constructed during
World War II;
[[Page H7602]]
Whereas 70 percent of LSTs were built at inland shipyards
on the Illinois and Ohio Rivers, mainly by female
construction, welding, and assembly line workers;
Whereas the first LST, commissioned on October 27, 1942,
was a 328-foot ship with unique characteristics of bow doors
and a ramp to transport troops, a reduced forward draft of
fewer than 4 feet for successful beaching, 9 knot speed, a
flat bottom, and equipped with 20-millimeter and 40-
millimeter guns on the upper and main decks;
Whereas the LST saw action in every theater of World War
II, receiving the second most battle stars after Destroyers,
and mission flexibility was its hallmark;
Whereas the multiple missions performed by the LSTs
included not only the amphibious landings of troops,
vehicles, and other materiel, but also serving as motor
torpedo boat tenders, battle damage repair ships, aircraft
engine repair ships, mini-aircraft carriers, launch craft for
fixed wing reconnaissance aircraft, and medical care;
Whereas LSTs led the D-Day evacuation of 41,035 wounded men
back across the English Channel from the Normandy beaches;
Whereas World War II naval historian Samuel Eliot Morison
described the LST as the ``most useful all-around craft
invented by the Navy'';
Whereas during World War II, Navy and Coast Guard sailors
manned the LST from the ships' combat debut in the Solomon
Islands in June 1943 until the end of hostilities in August
1945;
Whereas LSTs were involved in the invasions of Sicily,
Italy, Normandy, and southern France;
Whereas LSTs served as an essential element in the island-
hopping campaigns in the Pacific Theater, including the
liberation of the Philippines and the capture of Iwo Jima and
Okinawa;
Whereas the brave sailors serving on the LSTs survived
typhoons and other harsh weather, attacks by kamikaze planes
and enemy submarines, ocean mines, and the dangers and stress
of combat;
Whereas the Navy's amphibious forces rolled out tons of
equipment and thousands of men onto the beaches at Normandy,
France, in June of 1944, leading the way for the massive
Allied invasion that wrested Europe from the power of the
Nazis;
Whereas the LSTs and the sailors who manned them continued
to provide amphibious landing and other services for 57 years
following World War II, serving in the Inchon Landing and
other operations during the Korean war, the Vietnam war, the
1974 refugee evacuations from Vietnam, Operation Sea Angel to
provide humanitarian assistance to Bangladesh, Operation
Desert Shield, Operation Desert Storm, and Operation Restore
Hope in Somalia;
Whereas several thousand surviving Navy and Coast Guard
World War II veterans are members of the United States LST
Association, headquartered in Oregon, Ohio;
Whereas members of the United States LST Association and
the USS LST Ship Memorial, Inc., successfully secured
legislation that allowed for the retransfer of the LST 325
from Greece and volunteered members to go to Greece in 2000
to restore and refurbish the LST 325;
Whereas World War II-era LST veterans sailed the LST 325
from Greece to the United States, arriving in Mobile,
Alabama, on January 10, 2001;
Whereas the LST 325 is 1 of only 2 World War II-era LSTs to
be preserved in the United States, and volunteers with the
USS LST Ship Memorial have converted the LST 325 into an
operational museum and memorial ship based in Evansville,
Indiana, to preserve the historic legacy of these ships and
honor the men who bravely served their country aboard LSTs;
Whereas the LST 325 has sailed over 9,000 miles and visited
13 cities since returning to the United States, and is
scheduled to sail up the Mississippi River in August 2008;
and
Whereas the Navy decommissioned the last LST, the USS
Frederick (LST 1184), at a ceremony at Naval Station Pearl
Harbor on October 5, 2002: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
(1) recognizes the essential role played by Landing Ship
Tanks (LSTs) during World War II, the Korean war, the Vietnam
war, Operation Desert Shield, Operation Desert Storm, and
many other military and humanitarian operations;
(2) honors the service of the Navy and Coast Guard sailors
who bravely served their country aboard the LSTs;
(3) acknowledges the debt modern amphibious operations owe
to the LST sailors and ships in pioneering the multiple
missions carried out by amphibious landing craft; and
(4) commends the many volunteers of the USS LST Ship
Memorial who have preserved the LST 325 as a living memorial
in honor and remembrance of the ships and veterans in their
service.
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 might
consume.
I rise in support of House Resolution 1316, which honors the service
of the Navy and Coast Guard veterans who served on the Landing Ship
Tank (LST) amphibious landing craft.
I want to thank the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. McGovern) for
bringing this important resolution before us. As an original cosponsor
of the measure, I'm eager for its swift passage.
At this time, I'd like to yield such time as he may consume to the
sponsor of House Resolution 1316, the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr.
McGovern).
Mr. McGOVERN. Madam Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman from
Indiana, who represents the home base of the USS LST Memorial Ship, the
LST-325, for yielding me the time.
Madam Speaker, I could not be more proud to see this resolution come
before the House today for consideration. The Navy and Coast Guard
sailors and seamen who served on these LSTs are true American heroes.
They fought for this country in some of the most decisive battles in
our history, from the 1940s to the early 1990s, and they deserve to be
recognized.
I am glad that the United States Congress will be going on record in
commending these veterans for their service, and it's especially nice
that this resolution comes up today before the LST veterans have their
national convention in Washington, D.C. at the end of August.
I want to express special appreciation to Armed Services Committee
Chairman Ike Skelton and to Ranking Member Duncan Hunter for moving
this bill forward in order to honor these veterans and their service.
Madam Speaker, this resolution would not have happened without a
number of veterans who have remained active in preserving the heritage
of the LSTs. Peter Leasca from Worcester, Massachusetts deserves a lot
of the credit. He has really educated me and a lot of my colleagues
about what these ships meant to the Navy, what they meant to the Allies
in World War II and what they meant and still mean to the people who
served on them.
I also want to express my gratitude to Mike and Linda Gunjak, at the
United States LST Association, and to Captain Bob Jornlin, at the USS
LST Memorial Ship, for all of their help, support and guidance on this
resolution.
A few years ago, in working with Congressman Ralph Hall, I was able
to get language in a defense authorization bill that allowed the
Government of Greece to transfer ownership of the USS LST-325 to the
USS LST Memorial Ship, Inc., the nonprofit organization set up by LST
veterans to bring the LST-325 home and to turn it into an operational
memorial and living museum.
LST veterans went to Greece; they refurbished by the sweat of their
own brow the LST-325, and sailed her home. Now it's here in the United
States so that all Americans can learn about the essential role the
LSTs played in our history and about the service and sacrifices made by
their crews.
World War II naval historian Samuel Eliot Morison described the LST
as the ``most useful all-around craft invented by the Navy,'' but a lot
of people don't fully appreciate just how important the LSTs were to
achieving victory in World War II, not only during the D-day invasion
but also throughout the Pacific theater, including the liberation of
the Philippines and the capture of Iwo Jima and Okinawa. They were
reliable and flexible just like their crews, and the image of men and
of equipment off-loading on the beaches of Normandy is burned into the
imagination of the American people and of all World War II-era
veterans.
After World War II, the LSTs were put to great use in the Korean War,
in the Vietnam War and in other military conflicts, but they were also
used to deliver humanitarian assistance, which helped to literally save
the lives of thousands of people and win a lot of hearts and minds
around the world for the United States. Beginning in World
[[Page H7603]]
War II, when the LSTs evacuated over 41,000 wounded men back across the
English Channel from Normandy, to Operation Sea Angel in Bangladesh,
the LSTs have also been a symbol of hope to those in grave need or
peril.
On Easter Sunday morning in 1945, Peter Leasca was aboard LST-824,
carrying men and armored vehicles onto the heavily defended beaches of
Okinawa, just 340 miles from the Japanese mainland. He was a 20-year-
old naval medical corpsman. He witnessed the fierce fighting from the
Japanese holding the island. He saw a kamikaze pilot slam his plane
into the battleship USS New Mexico, killing 30 sailors and setting the
ship ablaze.
Now at the age of 83, this very special World War II veteran and his
fellow LST veterans across the country are being recognized by a
grateful Congress for their service and for the essential role the LSTs
played so long ago.
I thank them for their service. I thank them for their sacrifice. I
thank them for keeping this history alive. May God bless them all.
I would again like to thank my colleague from Indiana (Mr. Ellsworth)
for his generosity in yielding me this time, for his leadership in this
Congress and for his friendship.
[From the MetroWest Daily News, July 28, 2008]
Navy Veterans Tribute Bill Lands in Congress
(By Chris Bergeron)
On Easter Sunday morning, 1945, Peter Leasca rode aboard a
Landing Ship, Tank or LST carrying men and armored vehicles
onto the heavily defended beaches of Okinawa just 340 miles
from the Japanese mainland.
Throughout that day, the then-20-year-old naval medical
corpsman witnessed ``fierce fighting'' from Japanese
defenders and a Kamikaze slamming into the battleship USS New
Mexico, killing 30 sailors and setting it ablaze.
Four-and-a-half months later, Japan surrendered and a year
after that Leasca returned home, attended college, married
and raised four children while working as a stockbroker.
If all goes as planned, the 83-year-old veteran from
Worcester and his shrinking ``Band of Brothers'' who served
on amphibious vessels will be thanked by the U.S. government
for their service during World War II.
Recognition has been a long time coming.
Local World War II veterans, like Howard Rouse and Rosario
George Puliafico, who served aboard LSTs or similar craft,
are grateful for the belated recognition but hope the honors
extend to those in all branches who lost their lives
defending their country.
``LSTs and ships like them were the keys to victory. But a
lot of guys lost their lives,'' said Rouse, a Framingham
resident who retired after 40 years in broadcasting. ``I
think what they did shortened the war. I think they should be
recognized.''
With an estimated 1,025 World War II veterans dying every
day, according to the Department of Veterans Affairs, Leasca
is getting closer to winning his last battle to earn
recognition for the men who served aboard amphibious landing
craft.
``Guys like us are a vanishing group,'' said Leasca.
``We're in our twilight years.''
On the floor of the U.S. Congress, Rep. James McGovern will
call for a vote Wednesday, July 30 on a resolution he
authored with input from naval veterans to honor all who
served aboard amphibious landing craft in World War II,
Korea, Vietnam and Operation Desert Storm through 2002.
McGovern predicts the bill, House Resolution 1316, will
pass and be sent to the Senate and the President for
confirmation.
McGovern said veterans, like Leasca, Rouse and Puliafico,
``who served on these LSTs are true American heroes.''
``They fought for this country in some of the most decisive
battles in our history. And they deserve to be recognized,''
he said.
McGovern added the vote was scheduled for this month so it
would precede the LST veterans' annual convention in
Washington, D.C., in August.
He credited Leasca for ``really educating me'' and
congressional colleagues about the contributions and
sacrifices made by those who served aboard amphibious
vehicles. U.S. Rep. William Delahunt is also one of the
resolution's sponsors.
Decades after the war's end, Leasca fought a successful
rearguard action to honor his martial colleagues and return
to the U.S. the 64-year-old LST-325 from Greece, where it
served the Greek navy for 20 years.
For years he's been one of the most active members and
former president of the Amphibious Veterans of Massachusetts.
Leasca said the 328-foot-long LSTs lacked modern amenities
but inspired loyalty from the crews of about 120 men who
served aboard them.
Waxing nostalgically, he recalled living on his LST as it
wove the arduous voyage through the Panama Canal, into
submarine-infested waters and on to Hawaii.
``We went up and down, rocked left and right. Sometimes it
got pretty rough,'' Leasca remembered. ``It was a long voyage
like an ocean cruiser. I saw porpoises and sights I'd never
seen before.''
He pointed out the World War II naval historian Samuel
Eliot Morrison described LSTs as ``the most useful all-around
craft invented by the Navy.''
As time passes and veterans of amphibious craft fade away,
Leasca ``wants to do everything I can for the ungainly ships
and the men who sailed them into combat.
``I want to do something for all the vets of America,'' he
said. ``And I want to give recognition to a glamorous ship.
Too often, historians don't mention the LSTs. So we've got to
toot our own horn to get recognition.''
For more information about the Amphibious Veterans of
Massachusetts, visit www.amphibvetsofma.org.
To read the text of House Resolution 1316 and to check on
its status, go to the Library Congress Web site, http://
thomas.loc.gov, and type in H. Res. 1316 in the search
engine.
____
USS Henry County (LST-824)
The USS Henry County (LST-824) was an LST-542-class tank
landing ship built for the United States Navy during World
War II. Named for counties in Alabama, Georgia, Illinois,
Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Ohio, Tennessee, and Virginia, she
was the only U.S. Naval vessel to bear the name.
Originally laid down as LST-824 by the Missouri Valley
Bridge & Iron Company of Evansville, Indiana on 28 September
1944; launched 8 November; sponsored by Mrs. Harry W. Groot;
and commissioned 30 November with Lieutenant Jesse D. Jones
in command. After shakedown off Florida, LST-824 departed New
Orleans 4 January 1945 for San Diego, arriving there on the
24th. She embarked 107 ``bluejackets,'' then sailed for Pearl
Harbor 26 January. During February she performed training
exercises out of Hawaii, then loaded troops and equipment to
depart Pearl Harbor 12 March. For the next month she steamed
through the Pacific, stopping at Eniwetok, Guam, and Saipan
before proceeding to Okinawa. American forces were already
engaged in the fierce struggle to wrestle Okinawa from enemy
control when LST-824 departed Saipan 12 April. Five days
later she arrived off China Wan and commenced discharging
troops and equipment on the embattled island. The landing
ship returned to Saipan 27 April for reinforcement troops and
cargo, and again steamed for Okinawa. For the remainder of
World War II, she shuttled supplies between Okinawa and the
Philippines in preparation for a possible invasion of Japan.
After the Japanese surrender, LST-824 operated with
occupation forces in the Far East until sailing for the
United States in November. Arriving Portland, Oregon on 5
December, she decommissioned there 15 May 1946 and joined the
Pacific Reserve Fleet. While berthed with the Columbia River
Group, LST-824 was named USS Henry County (LST-824) on 1 July
1955.
Henry County recommissioned 5 September 1959 with
Lieutenant R. L. Dodd in command. After refresher training,
L8T-824 departed the West Coast 19 March 1960 for the Far
East, arriving Yokosuka 2 weeks later. During the next 4
months she transported supplies, performed training exercises
with U.S. Marines, and engaged in joint operations with
Korean forces before returning to Long Beach 19 August.
Following 20 months of operations along the West Coast, Henry
County sailed for the mid-Pacific in April, 1962 then
performed transport and amphibious duties out of Hawaii. In
September she was assigned to Task Force 8 for the nuclear
tests in ``Operation Dominic.'' Since the tests were
considered vital to the nation's security, the Navy
demonstrated her ability once again to keep pace with the
advances of technology developed to maintain peace through
strength. From December, 1962 through December, 1964 Henry
County performed amphibious training operations off the
California coast. Decommissioned (date unknown), the ship was
struck from the Naval Vessel Register 11 April 1975.
Subsequently transferred to Malaysia and renamed Sri Banggi
(A 1501), her final fate is unknown.
LST-824 received one battle star for World War II service
and four battle stars for Vietnam service.
____
USS LST-325
Crete to USA (2000-2001)--Original Sailing Crew
James Bartlett, Marble Falls, TX; John Calvin, Dunnellon,
FL; Jackson R. Carter, Palos Verdes, CA; Donald Chapman, E.
Moline, IL; James Edwards, Canton, TX; Corbin Fowkes, New
Bethlehem, PA; William ``Rocky'' Hill, Surprise, AZ; Norval
Jones, Auburn Hill, MI; Capt. Robert Jornlin, Earlville, IL;
Donald K. Lockas, Marseilles, IL; Gary Lyon, Roseville, MN;
Joseph Milakovich, Wauwatosa, WI; Ronald. Maranto, Metairie,
LA; and James F. McCandrew, Sebastian, FL.
Richard Meyer, Lincoln, NE; Don Molzahn, Sr., La Crosse,
WI; Hichael Nedeff, Huber Heights, OH; Bill Nickerson,
Margate, FL; Dominick Perruso, Easton, PA; Joe Sadler,
Ketchikan, AK; Harold Slemmons, Lone Oak, TX; Paul L.
Stimpson, Lock Haven, PA; Edward Strobel, Decatur, IL; Dewey
L. Taylor, W. Palm Beach, FL; Bruce Voges, Oakwood, IL;
Albert J. White, Roswell, NM; Lauren Whiting, Barker, NY; and
Bailey M. Wrinkle, McKenzie, TN.
[[Page H7604]]
Overseas Support Crew
The following crewmembers went overseas at their own
expense to participate in preparing LST 325 for its voyage
home. They actively participated in Crete and/or in
Gibraltar; some sailed on the ship from Crete to Gibraltar.
Ernest Andrus, Art Cook, Glenn Gregg, Lee R. Hunter,
Raymond Mai, William Reinard, Edward J. Whitman, Thomas
Cadigan, Edward Dyar, Les K. Harrison, Lee James, Jack W.
Melcher, Gerald Robertson, David Williams, John Chooljian,
William Gollan, William Hart, Richard James, John H. Michaud,
L. Scheiderman, Richard Young, Frank Conway, Richard Gouker,
Fred Holp, Jim Liverca, Ernest Pliscott, George H. White, and
Roald Zvonik.
USS LST 325 Original World War II Crew
The following are surviving crewmembers from USS LST 325's
original World War II crew who have been located:
Harold Allgaier, Casper, WY; Clester Brown, Norfolk, VA;
Ted Duning, Lewisburg, TN; Frances Fischer, Delpos, OH; Bill
Hanley, Lavallette, NJ; Howard Kramer, Jackson, MI; Richard
Martin, York, PA; Ed Nekiunas, South Windsor, CT; Don Roy,
Chanhassen, MN; Harold Westerfield, Sun City, AZ; Stan
Barish, Pittsburgh, PA; Lander Bumgarner, Maiden, NC;
Ellsworth Easterly, Litchfield, IL; Ralph Gard, Munster, IN;
Leo Horton, Seneca, SC; Bob Lemieux, Leominster, MA; C.J.
Mitchell,Centralia, IL; Walt Niewinski, Lake Grove, NY; and
Howard Russell, Baltimore, MD.
Gerard Belanger, Nashua, NH; Larry Cauthen, Rome, GA; Ira
Ehrensall, Boca Raton, FL; Paul Genander, Beachwood, NJ;
Lloyd Jacobs, Brock, MA; Dale MacKay, Center Barnstead, NH;
Gerry Murphy, Clay, NY; Ernie Ninness, Holmes Beach, FL; Dick
Scacchetti, Sarasota, FL; Al Binkowski, Plainville, CT;
Chester Conway, Hammond, IN; Norm Ferguson, Norfolk, VA; Jack
Green, Avalon, CA; Emil Kolar, Springfield, IL; Don Martin,
Fargo, ND; Steve Nedoroscki, Milbury, MA; John Roberts,
Faribault, MN; and Al Smith, Burleigh, NJ.
Mrs. DRAKE. Madam Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I might
consume.
I rise today in support of House Resolution 1316, which not only
honors the service of the Navy and Coast Guard veterans who for 60
years served on the LST amphibious landing craft from World War II
onward, but it also recognizes the key role played by LST amphibious
craft.
During World War II, the LST met the urgent requirement of the Allied
Forces for a new vessel, a vessel that was capable of the shore-to-
shore delivery of vehicles and troops while conducting an amphibious
assault upon the enemy. Between 1942 and 1943, three separate acts of
Congress authorized the construction of these LSTs, and over 1,000 LSTs
were built during World War II.
These landing craft saw action in every theater of World War II. LSTs
played an essential role during the D-day campaign of June 1944. Not
only were they the first line of troop transports onto the beaches, but
they completed an evacuation of 41,035 wounded men back across the
English Channel. LSTs landed on the beaches of places like Sicily, the
Philippines, Iwo Jima, Okinawa, and countless others. They survived
kamikaze attacks, ocean mines and enemy submarine attacks. These
remarkable vessels and their sailors earned the second most battle
stars after destroyers.
During the Korean war, LSTs landed at Inchon. In the Vietnam war,
they participated in the 1974 refugee evacuations. Also, LSTs provided
humanitarian assistance during Operation Desert Shield, Operation
Desert Storm and Operation Restore Hope in Somalia.
{time} 2030
To honor such valued service, LST veterans, members of the LST
Association, gained approval, through legislation, to sail the
refurbished LST 325 back from Greece to the United States to transform
the ship into a museum. They completed their sail on January 10, 2001,
in Mobile, Alabama. Now the ship is based in Evansville, Indiana, as
the USS LST Ship Memorial. The Navy decommissioned the last active LST,
the USS Frederick, at Naval Station Pearl Harbor on October 5, 2002.
Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this most worthy
resolution. It is impossible to express how essential these LSTs were
during World War II and continuing until the early 21st century. These
remarkable sailors of these ships should be recognized for their
dedication, bravery, and loyalty to their Navy and their Nation. We
should applaud them today, and every day.
I want to thank my colleague from Massachusetts (Mr. McGovern) for
introducing this legislation.
Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. ELLSWORTH. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
First I'd like to thank the gentlelady from Virginia for her
leadership on this special legislation. I would also like to thank the
gentleman from Massachusetts for introducing this House Resolution
honoring the Landing Ship Tank, LST, not only for this resolution and
his dedication to our veterans, but also for his dedicated service in
bringing LST 325 back to the United States from Greece, which ended up
landing in my hometown.
The LST, Madam Speaker, has a rich and shared history with my
hometown of Evansville, Indiana. During World War II, a 45-acre
shipyard along the Evansville riverfront produced LSTs. The peak years
of production saw a workforce of over 19,000 workers, and they
completed two LSTs per week. The Evansville Shipyard was the largest
inland producer of the LST in the United States. And when all was said
and done, 167 LSTs and 35 other vessels were built and then sent down
the Ohio River and then out to sea.
Madam Speaker, I would like to briefly recount the heroic and
inspiring story of the LST 325. The utility and reliability of LSTs and
the strong bond developed by their crews has fostered a vibrant and
active veterans' association. These brave men, proud of the service and
the craft they served on, secured legislation for the refurbishment of
LST 325 and for the ship's retransfer to the United States from Greece,
where it had been since the early 1960s.
Having set sail from Greece on November 14, 2000, the LST 325 arrived
in Mobile, Alabama, on January 10, 2001--to a great American fanfare I
might add. In 2003, during a 10-day stop in Evansville, 35,000 people
toured the LST 325. It was with great civic pride that Evansville
became the official home port of the LST 325 on October 3, 2005. The
LST 325 is now an operational museum and a memorial ship on the
beautiful Evansville riverfront.
This effort would not have been possible if not for the efforts of
Evansville's Mayor, Jonathan Weinzapfel, and city officials who worked
closely with Captain Bob Jornlin and Mike Whicker with the USS LST 325
Memorial. The city and the LST 325 Memorial have formed a great
partnership, and I'm proud of their efforts. Evansville will proudly
host the LST Week 2008 on September 24 through September 27 of this
year, 2008.
Madam Speaker, the Navy decommissioned the last LST, the USS
Frederick (LST 1184) in October of 2002, but the heroic service of the
LST crews and the brilliant record of their craft will not soon be
forgotten.
I urge my colleagues to support House Resolution 1316.
Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mrs. DRAKE. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. ELLSWORTH. Madam Speaker, I 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. 1316.
The question was taken.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
Mr. ELLSWORTH. Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
The yeas and nays were ordered.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be
postponed.
____________________