[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 161 (Monday, November 2, 2009)]
[House]
[Pages H12148-H12149]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                     UNITED STATES SUBMARINE FORCE

  Mr. WALZ. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the 
resolution (H. Res. 773) expressing the sense of the House of 
Representatives with respect to the United States Submarine Force.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
  The text of the resolution is as follows:

                              H. Res. 773

       Whereas 100 years ago, American naval officials who 
     witnessed a submarine, the ``Holland VI'', submerge and 
     surface in the Potomac River knew this was the first 
     successful United States submarine that would inspire the 
     powerful undersea fighting force that would contribute so 
     much to the United States victory in World War II;
       Whereas during World War II, the United States Submarine 
     Force served with honor and valor to protect and preserve the 
     freedoms of the United States, as well as those of the allies 
     of the United States;
       Whereas the War in the Pacific could not have been won 
     without the efforts of the United States Submarine Force;
       Whereas during World War II, the United States Submarine 
     Force comprised less than two percent of the Navy's fleet;
       Whereas during World War II, United States submariners were 
     to suffocate Japan's military industry, cut its oil supply, 
     starve it, and prevent mass troop movements by sea, all by 
     sinking the Japanese merchant fleet on which it was so 
     dependent as a nation of islands;
       Whereas during World War II, United States submariners sank 
     over 30 percent of the Japanese Navy including eight aircraft 
     carriers, one battleship and 11 cruisers, and more 
     importantly, the Submarine Force sank 1,300 Japanese merchant 
     ships totaling approximately 5,000,000 tons, which was almost 
     60 percent of the Empire's total merchant ship losses;
       Whereas losses inflicted by the United States Submarine 
     Force contributed to the devastation of the Japanese 
     industrial power that effectively eliminated the ability of 
     the enemy to sustain combat forces and replace losses of 
     ships and aircraft;
       Whereas World War II diesel-electric submarines had limited 
     underwater speed, range, and endurance and usually sailed on 
     the surface, where they were vulnerable to enemy attack;
       Whereas 52 American submarines were lost during World War 
     II, 49 in the Pacific;
       Whereas the United States Submarine Force suffered the 
     highest percentage of losses of any branch of the Armed 
     Services;
       Whereas during World War II, approximately 3,500 
     submariners made the ultimate sacrifice;
       Whereas United States submariners were going to war, 
     trusting their lives to a weapon, the torpedo, that, 
     particularly in 1942 through 1943, was unreliable, and could 
     even turn against them by running erratically in a circular 
     path;
       Whereas submarines played both humane and special 
     operations roles in their campaign against Japan, and in many 
     of the hardest fought battles of the war, submarine crews 
     rescued unlucky carrier pilots who ended up in the sea, like 
     future United States President George H. W. Bush; and
       Whereas members of the Submarine Forces, known as the 
     ``silent service'', assumed the difficult task of pioneering 
     a new way of fighting so as to protect the liberties and 
     freedoms of the United States: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
       (1) is committed to promoting and sustaining the spirit of 
     unity shared by members of the United States Submarine Force;
       (2) is committed to paying tribute once again to the seven 
     submariners who were awarded the Medal of Honor, including 
     two who were awarded the medal posthumously;
       (3) wishes to help keep alive the memory of the Submarine 
     Force veterans and honor their service just as their fellow 
     shipmates do at their gatherings by performing the ceremony 
     known as the ``Tolling of the Boats''; and
       (4) is committed to keeping alive their memory so that the 
     American people never forget their courage and sacrifice.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Minnesota (Mr. Walz) and the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Stearns) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Minnesota.
  Mr. WALZ. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may consume.
  Just to the gentleman from Florida, your earlier inquiry, I apologize 
for not talking to you. The staff built in redundancies. Flying out of 
Minneapolis has been somewhat of a challenge recently, assuming they 
get to the airport in the original path, so the staff arranged to have 
another Member here.
  Mr. STEARNS. Will the gentleman yield?
  Mr. WALZ. Yes.
  Mr. STEARNS. Let me just say how delighted I am to have the gentleman 
on the floor. Mr. Walz is the highest NCO that has ever served in 
Congress. He was a command sergeant major, I think an E-9, so it is 
with a great deal of respect, for anybody who has served in the 
military like I have in the United States Air Force, that we look to 
gentlemen like Mr. Walz.
  We appreciate his participation on the Veterans' Affairs Committee. I 
am delighted he is here and is taking over this jurisdiction, which is 
important on these 13 bills.
  Mr. WALZ. Well, I thank the gentleman for his kind words and, again, 
appreciate the tireless work he does for the veterans. It's a great 
testament, and the folks in Florida are lucky to have you there.
  The United States Submarine Force was a vital component to winning 
the war in the Pacific during World War II. The war simply could not 
have been won without this powerful undersea fighting force.
  Although the Submarine Force comprised a little less than 2 percent 
of the Navy's fleet during World War II, they played a crucial role in 
effectively eliminating up to 30 percent of the Imperial Japanese Navy, 
reducing Japan's ability to sustain their combat forces.
  Day after day, the submariners entrusted their lives on unreliable 
torpedos to protect them as they fought to protect the liberties and 
freedom of the United States. For their courage and valor that runs 
deep, the United States Submarine Force should be commended by the 
House of Representatives.
  House Resolution 773 resolves that the House of Representatives is 
committed to keeping alive their memory so that the American people 
never forget their courage and sacrifice. We will give honor to the 52 
American submarines that were lost during World War II and the 3,500 
submariners who have made the ultimate sacrifice to protect the 
freedoms of this great Nation.
  The seven brave submariners who were awarded the Medal of Honor are: 
John Cromwell, Samuel Dealey, Eugene Fluckey, Howard Gilmore, Richard 
O'Kane, Lawson Ramage and George Street. Their courageous fighting 
spirit going above and beyond the call of duty is recognized and highly 
respected. Servicemembers like them have set the example that our Armed 
Forces follow.
  The contributions of the United States Submarine Force were momentous 
and critical to winning World War II. They exemplify the legacy of 
commitment to guard our freedom.
  I support House Resolution 773 that expresses the sense of the House 
of Representatives with respect to the United States Submarine Force. 
We should be committed to sustain our submariners force of spirit, 
unity, courage, and sacrifice they have given for this great Nation.
  I also want to thank the gentleman from Arkansas for introducing this 
important piece of remembrance and commemoration.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. STEARNS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may 
consume.
  I also rise in strong support of H. Res. 773, a resolution expressing 
the sense of the House of Representatives with respect to the United 
States Submarine Force. This resolution honors these servicemembers who 
served their country during World War II in the most unique of 
circumstances.
  Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my colleague Mr. Boozman of 
Arkansas, as mentioned earlier, for introducing this legislation, and I 
will shortly yield to him for further remarks on this resolution.
  I want to thank the chairman, Mr. Filner, and also Ranking Member 
Buyer for moving the bill so promptly to the floor for consideration.
  I urge my colleagues to support H. Res. 773.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. WALZ. I continue to reserve my time, Mr. Speaker.
  Mr. STEARNS. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the author of the bill, Mr. 
Boozman of Arkansas, for such time as he may consume.
  Mr. BOOZMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H. Res. 773, a 
resolution expressing the sense of the House of Representatives with 
respect to the valiant service of the United States Submarine Force 
during World War II.

[[Page H12149]]

As we approach Veterans Day, it is fitting that the House honor 
Americans who serve their country under the most unique of 
circumstances.
  Earlier this year, we honored those servicemembers who participated 
in the D-day operations. Yet there is another group who faced 
incredible challenges and danger to ensure that victory would be 
possible for the United States and our allies during World War II, the 
United States Submarine Force.
  Mr. Speaker, it is a special individual who will climb into a tightly 
confined space and willingly go deep underwater to serve the Nation. 
Today's nuclear submarines are a high-tech marvel, able to submerge for 
months at a time, cruise beneath the polarized caps, and carry 
strategic and tactical weapons of unbelievable power. But that was not 
always the case.
  The first submarine used for military purposes was built in 1776 by 
David Bushnell. His Turtle was a one-man wooden submarine powered by 
hand-turned propellers and was used during the American Revolution 
against British warships.
  During the Civil War, the use of submarines came into play again when 
the Union fielded the French-designed Alligator, which was the first 
U.S. Navy submarine to feature compressed air for air supply. The 
Confederacy also fielded several human-powered submarines, including 
the Hunley in Charleston Harbor.
  Submarines saw much greater use during World War I, but it wasn't 
until World War II that the technological development of submarines 
enabled them to become a capable and feared weapons system.
  During the Second World War, 314 submarines served in the United 
States Navy, including many built at the end of World War I. This force 
comprised less than 2 percent of the U.S. Navy ships, but they sank 
over 30 percent of Japan's navy, including eight aircraft carriers. 
More important, American submarines virtually strangled the Japanese 
economy by sinking almost 5 billion tons of shipping, over 60 percent 
of the Japanese merchant marine. Serving in many of the hardest fought 
battles of the war as part of the ``silent service,'' the submarine 
crews rescued unlucky carrier pilots who ended up in the sea, like the 
future President of the United States, George H.W. Bush.
  But victory at sea did not come cheaply. The Submarine Force lost 52 
boats and 3,506 men during World War II. Just a few weeks ago, I had 
the good fortune of meeting a number of our World War II veterans from 
northwest Arkansas as they left the airport to visit Washington, DC, as 
part of the Honor Flight program. These brave men, many of whom were 
just boys at the time, answered the call of duty and changed the course 
of history through their selfless action and love for their country.
  It was also a great honor to be able to attend the decommissioning 
ceremony for World War II Submarine Veterans, Diamond Chapter, hosted 
by the USS Snook Base of the United States Submarine Veterans in 
Rogers, Arkansas, last month. There, I had the privilege to recognize 
many of Arkansas' surviving submarine veterans and thank them for their 
efforts firsthand.

                              {time}  1430

  A special thanks goes to former submariner Pete Rathmell for making 
the event happen.
  Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank Chairman Filner and Ranking Member 
Buyer for the opportunity to honor the ``silent service'' of World War 
II. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Mr. Sestak for 
his leadership in working with me on this legislation, and express my 
appreciation for the support of all the other cosponsors of the 
resolution.
  I urge all of my colleagues to support H. Res. 773.
  Mr. STEARNS. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers, so I yield back 
the balance of my time.


                             General Leave

  Mr. WALZ. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may 
have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and 
include extraneous material on House Resolution 773.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Minnesota?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. WALZ. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Mr. Boozman and Mr. Sestak 
again, continuously on the forefront of making sure the respect shown 
to our veterans and the benefits that they have earned are there, and I 
urge my colleagues to unanimously support H. Res. 773.
  I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of 
my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Walz) that the House suspend the rules 
and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 773.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the resolution was agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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