[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 3 (Tuesday, January 10, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E5]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  RECOGNIZING MR. IRA LEE SULLIVAN FOR DEDICATION AND SERVICE TO OUR 
                                COUNTRY

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. BENNIE G. THOMPSON

                             of mississippi

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, January 10, 2012

  Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a 
remarkable veteran, Mr. Ira Lee Sullivan. Mr. Sullivan was born on May 
22, 1918 in Webster County, Mississippi. His life was transcended on 
November 7, 2011. He was married to Jo Ella Campbell-Sullivan for 63 
years until she preceded him in death in 2009.
  Mr. Sullivan is a remarkable veteran for a number of reasons. His 
tour of duty was filled with heroic actions, life threatening calls to 
duty, and celebration. He volunteered for the U.S. Navy on July 6, 1938 
out of Grenada, Mississippi and spent most of his tour of duty in the 
Pacific. He was aboard the USS Enterprise on December 7, 1941 in 
Honolulu during the bombing of Pearl Harbor. He was a member of the USS 
Enterprise (CV-6) aircraft carrier which became one of the most 
decorated U.S. Naval vessels of World War II. Mr. Sullivan was aboard 
the destroyer USS Morrison that was sunk on May 4, 1945 during the 
Battle of Okinawa. While aboard, more than twenty-five Japanese 
Kamikaze planes air raided the vessel killing 152 of the 331 aboard. 
Mr. Sullivan's parents were notified by the Navy that he was aboard the 
vessel when it sank and was therefore missing in action and presumed 
dead. Yet despite all the odds, a few weeks later he returned home to 
the astonishment of his family. He was honorably discharged on November 
30, 1945, with numerous awards and citations that included the 
Presidential Unit Citation Award and the Purple Heart.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Mr. Ira 
Lee Sullivan, a decorated World War II veteran and an unforgotten hero 
for his dedication and service to this country and the pride of this 
family.

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