[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 15 (Tuesday, January 31, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E92-E93]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




CONGRESS SALUTES AMERICAN HERO AND PURPLE HEART RECIPIENT CHARLES HENRY 
                             KLINGELHOEFER

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. BILL POSEY

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, January 31, 2012

  Mr. POSEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to bring to my colleagues' 
attention to the Posthumous Purple Heart Ceremony of WW I Veteran Mr. 
Charles Henry Klingelhoefer born April 16, 1876 in Baltimore, Maryland, 
taking place in Brevard County, Florida, He is survived by his niece 
Ms. Diane Roberts Vess of Melbourne. More specifically, on February 6, 
2012, the United States Coast Guard will honor the memory of the brave 
men who served on the United States Coast Guard Cutter Tampa. Mr. 
Klingelhoefer, one of five brothers, was assigned to the United States 
Coast Guard Cutter Tampa, and served as a Warrant Carpenter.
  The Purple Heart was presented in honor of those who received fatal 
wounds in the sinking of the United States Coast Guard Cutter Tampa at 
8:45 p.m. on September 26, 1918--the largest known loss of life by any 
U.S. naval combat unit during World War I. Under the command of Captain 
Charles Satterlee, the Tampa served as a convoy escort protecting ships 
carrying critical Allied war material in European waters. The officers 
and crew earned the praise of the commander of the United States Naval 
Forces based at Gibraltar for the ship's wartime operational 
effectiveness.
  On that fateful evening, having just completed another successful 
escort mission from Gibraltar to the United Kingdom, the Tampa departed 
the convoy and proceeded toward the port of Milford Haven, Wales. A 
short time later, the shock of an explosion was felt by several of 
those remaining in the convoy. U.S. destroyers and British patrol craft 
conducted a three day search of the Tampa's last known position, but 
found only two unidentified bodies and a small amount of wreckage 
identified as belonging to the Tampa. German records suggest that the 
Tampa was sunk by U-Boat 91 because it had reported sinking an American 
warship fitting the Tampa's description at that time and date.
  One hundred-fifteen people, including 111 Coast Guardsmen and four 
Navy men, perished that evening. The distinguished record of the 
officers and crew of the Tampa is most heartily commended and is in 
keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Coast Guard.
  Mr. Charles Henry Klingelhoefer and the crew of the Tampa laid their 
lives on the altar of freedom for the benefit our nation and our way of 
life. On behalf of the United States Congress I would like to express 
my sincere appreciation for the sacrifices endured by Mr. Charles Henry 
Klingelhoefer and the crew of the United States Coast Guard Cutter 
Tampa.

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