[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 54 (Monday, April 16, 2012)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2318-S2319]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              TRIBUTE TO FIRST CLASS SEAMAN JAMES FRANCIS

  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, today I wish to pay tribute to an 
exceptional veteran of the United States Navy who wore the uniform 
during World War II, First Class Seaman James Francis of Laurel County, 
KY.
  James was born in Monroe County, KY, in 1924. His family lived on a 
farm where they raised just about everything they ate. The family moved 
to Indiana in 1937 when James' father got a job working for the 
railroad. James was drafted into the Navy in 1941, on his 19th 
birthday.
  Although James never entered combat, he was an intricate part of the 
war effort in the South Pacific. He was stationed on a Merchant Marine 
ship that delivered ammunition to the soldiers who were on the front 
lines. After his time aboard ship, James spent 18 months in Hong Kong 
cutting hair at a G.I. barber shop. He was discharged in May 1946.
  Mr. James Francis is most assuredly deserving of commemoration for 
the sacrifices he made for each one of us and for our great Nation, as 
well as his years of service to the betterment of his community and to 
the Commonwealth of Kentucky.
  There was recently a feature article published in the Sentinel Echo: 
Silver Edition magazine in November 2011, highlighting the upstanding 
legacy of Mr. James Francis and his commendable dedication to our 
Nation's Armed Forces.
  Mr. President, it is my wish that my colleagues in the United States 
Senate join me in honoring the loyalty and bravery shown by Kentucky's 
own James Francis. And I ask unanimous consent that said article be 
printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the article was ordered to appear in the 
Record as follows:

                  [From the Sentinel Echo, Nov. 2011]

                             Navy Supplier

                            (By Carol Mills)

       First Class Seaman James Francis was a Merchant Marine 
     during World War II.
       In time of war, the Merchant Marine is an auxiliary to the 
     Navy and delivers troops and supplies for the military.
       Francis went to Great Lakes Boot Camp in Illinois, near 
     North Chicago, and gunnery school in Gulf Port, Miss., and 
     then went to California and caught a ship.
       ``We were shipped out,'' Francis said. ``I went to the 
     Philippines the first trip, came back to the States, and then 
     went to Australia and the South Pacific for six months

[[Page S2319]]

     and then came back again. I served on a Merchant Marine ship. 
     We didn't do any fighting. We took a load of ammunition to 
     the Philippines, 150 tons, unloaded it, and the Japanese blew 
     it up that night. We took supplies to other countries, but I 
     can't remember. It's been 65 years since I got out. I stayed 
     in Hong Kong, China, cutting hair for 18 months in a G.I. 
     barber shop before I came home. I didn't have enough points 
     to get out (Navy).'' Navy training counts for retirement 
     points, so Francis decided to learn how to cut hair.
       Besides ammunition, Francis also delivered airplane fuel to 
     the Philippines.
       Francis was discharged in May 1946. His experience in the 
     Navy was all good.
       ``There was no bad. I won't take nothing for what I seen 
     went on, but I wouldn't go do it again.''
       Francis, 86, was born in Monroe County in 1924 to Herman 
     and Maye Francis. His father had a farm between Tomkinsville 
     and Mud Lick.
       ``We raised about everything we ate,'' Francis said.
       The family moved to Indiana in 1937, where his father got a 
     job working for the L&N Railroad.
       When Francis was 19, he was drafted into the U.S. Navy on 
     Dec. 2, 1941, on his birthday. Two or three years after he 
     was discharged, he married Irene Barton when he was 27 or 28.
       ``She was a Kentucky woman. I met her in Indiana,'' Francis 
     said. ``We moved back down here in 1966. She was born and 
     raised in Corbin. When she died, I married Lola Boggs. I've 
     been a widower for about two years now. When she (Lola) died, 
     I moved to Carnaby Square Apartments. I'm too old to get 
     married again.''

                          ____________________