[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 70 (Friday, May 17, 2013)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E693]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        TRIBUTE TO HOWARD BROOKS

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. JON RUNYAN

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                          Friday, May 17, 2013

  Mr. RUNYAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to a true American 
hero, Mr. Howard Brooks. Mr. Brooks is a constituent of New Jersey's 
Third Congressional District, and I thank him for his courageous and 
dedicated service to our nation.
  Howard Brooks, born and raised in Eastern Tennessee, joined the Navy 
on September 3, 1939, the very same day Hitler invaded Poland. Mr. 
Brooks was serving as a 3rd class electrician's mate on the heavy 
cruiser USS Houston when it was sunk by a Japanese battle fleet in the 
Battle of Sunda Strait.
  After receiving orders to abandon ship, he spent three days in the 
water before his life raft washed ashore, where he and fellow survivors 
were captured by the Japanese. Mr. Brooks spent 3\1/2\years as a 
prisoner of war, and was among those forced to build the Burma Railway. 
Of the 1,068 crewmen, he was among just 291 sailors who survived the 
sinking of the USS Houston and the years of brutal captivity that 
followed.
  After the war ended and Mr. Brooks returned home, he graduated from 
the University of Rhode Island in 1952. He retired from his career as 
an electrical engineer in 1981. He has been married for over forty 
years, and has two sons. Just last year, on the 70th anniversary of the 
sinking of the USS Houston, Mr. Brooks attended a memorial service in 
Sam Houston Park, Houston, Texas.
  At 93 years old, Mr. Howard Brooks continues to serve our nation by 
sharing his life's story, and ensuring that this time in our country's 
history is never forgotten. His valiant and courageous service to our 
country deserves our nation's deepest gratitude.
  It is my honor to represent Mr. Howard Brooks in the House of 
Representatives. It is an even greater honor to have this opportunity 
to publicly thank him for his dedicated and courageous service to our 
nation.

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