[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 56 (Friday, April 15, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E733]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




WILMINGTON, NORTH CAROLINA BEING RECOGNIZED AS ``AMERICA'S WORLD WAR II 
                                 CITY''

                                  _____
                                 

                           HON. MIKE McINTYRE

                           of north carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, April 15, 2011

  Mr. McINTYRE. Mr. Speaker, it is my great pleasure to rise today to 
pay tribute to the City of Wilmington, North Carolina, for its 
remarkable contributions to the U.S. war efforts during World War II. 
Its rich World War II legacy reminds us not only of its unique and 
pivotal role in the war, but also of the honorable dedication of all 
North Carolinians during our nation's time of need. As a reflection of 
its unique and pivotal role, and its deep and unmatched sacrifice, I 
stand to proclaim that Wilmington, North Carolina, should be recognized 
as ``America's World War II City.'' In fact, both the New Hanover 
County Commissioners and City Council have proclaimed it so!
  During World War II, Wilmington was the country's unique wartime 
boomtown, aptly and officially named ``The Defense Capital of the 
State.'' The once-quiet seaside city, geographically isolated for 
decades, suddenly found itself an exploding center for military life 
and defense production.
  Wilmington's wartime efforts were extensive and honorable. Wilmington 
based and trained all five military services--the Air Force at the 
Wilmington Airport, the Army at Camp Davis and Fort Fisher, the Navy at 
Fort Caswell, the Coast Guard at Wrightsville Beach, and the Marine 
Corps at Camp Lejeune. The North Carolina Shipbuilding Company of 
Wilmington, the state's largest employer at that time, constructed 243 
cargo vessels with which to provide goods and equipment to our 
soldiers. Additionally, Wilmington provided the Atlantic Coast Line 
Railroad headquarters, three housing camps for German prisoners of war, 
a major training base for P-47 fighters, defense industries producing 
goods and equipment, a British patrol base, and a shipping point for 
Lend Lease supplies to the Allies.
  Wilmington's most important contribution by far, though, was its 
dispatch of thousands of its sons and daughters to fight the enemy. 
These New Hanover County men and women served in uniform, fighting on 
land, sea, and air as Navy frogmen, P-51 fighter aces, Tuskegee airmen, 
submarine skippers, bomber pilots, Marine riflemen, Army artillerymen, 
physicians and nurses, and volunteers of all sorts. Tragically, 248 
Wilmington men bravely lost their lives as a result of their courageous 
efforts to defend America. Two New Hanover High School graduates 
received the Congressional Medal of Honor and numerous others received 
high decorations for valor, including Navy Crosses, Distinguished 
Service Crosses, and Distinguished Flying Crosses.
  Furthermore, Wilmington's strategic position made it vulnerable to 
enemy attack by German U-boats, which marauded shipping off our 
beaches. In July 1943 a U-boat fired at the Ethel-Dow chemical plant in 
Wilmington, perhaps the only German attack on America. Wilmington 
endured this attack, as well as constant civilian defense restrictions 
and air raid drills, including black-outs and dim-outs. The city's 
population more than doubled with the influx of military personnel, 
forcing locals to cope with strain on housing and schools, 
transportation, medical and social services, law enforcement, and food 
supply.
  Mr. Speaker, Wilmingtonians sacrificed in every imaginable way when 
our nation needed them during World War II. I ask my colleagues to join 
me in recognition and appreciation of Wilmington's contributions to the 
U.S. war effort during World War II. Now, in the spirit of that 
appreciation, let it be known that Wilmington, North Carolina, should 
be recognized as ``America's World War II City.''

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