[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 46 (Tuesday, March 17, 2009)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3160-S3161]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             TRIBUTE TO COLONEL ALVA BRYAN ``RED'' LASSWELL

 Mrs. LINCOLN. Mr. President, today I wish to honor a man from 
Arkansas

[[Page S3161]]

who had a strong sense of duty toward his country from a very young 
age. COL Alva Bryan Lasswell, known as ``Red'' to friends, was a World 
War II war hero whose service has gone unrecognized for most of his 
life. I believe it is finally time to honor Colonel Lasswell for the 
brave servicemember that he was.
  When he was only 13 years old, Colonel Lasswell tried to join the 
Marine Corps. Due to age requirements, the future hero would have to 
wait until his 21st birthday to enlist. Throughout his distinguished 
military career, Colonel Lasswell was awarded the rank of 2nd 
lieutenant and served in Navy intelligence.
  During World War II, he was stationed at Pearl Harbor and was 
selected as one of 10 officers to take part in the elite intelligence 
gathering unit. In May 1942, Colonel Lasswell intercepted an unusual 
message that he reported to Navy headquarters. The message was a 
Japanese Operational Order authorizing the Battle of Midway. As a 
result of Lasswell's heroic service, the Navy was able to prepare for 
the attack, and the Battle of Midway would go on to become the first 
major victory for the Navy in World War II.
  This was not the end of his service however. Colonel Lasswell later 
translated a message which led to the shooting down of a plane carrying 
Japanese Adminral Isoroku Yamamoto in 1943, and in 1944 he recovered 
intelligence which involved a plot to assassinate GEN Douglas 
MacArthur. In addition, Lasswell's intelligence helped the U.S. Navy 
Antisubmarine Group sink at least five submarines in 1944. Lasswell 
completed his military career in 1956, serving as Chief of Staff for 
the Marine Recruit Depot.
  Despite his tremendous service to his country, Colonel Lasswell never 
received distinction or recognition for his intelligence recovery 
efforts during World War II. At this time, I would like to pay him the 
tribute he has deserved for so long.

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