[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 102 (Wednesday, July 17, 2013)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5756-S5757]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS

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 SENATE RESOLUTION 197--RECOMMENDING THE POSTHUMOUS AWARD OF THE NAVY 
     CROSS TO LIEUTENANT THOMAS M. CONWAY OF WATERBURY, CONNECTICUT

  Mr. MURPHY submitted the following resolution; which was referred to 
the Committee on Armed Services:

                              S. Res. 197

       Whereas, on July 16, 1945, the USS Indianapolis departed 
     San Francisco carrying the trigger and radioactive core for 
     the atomic bomb Little Boy, destined to be dropped on 
     Hiroshima;
       Whereas upon completing its delivery mission to Tinian 
     Island on July 26, the USS Indianapolis proceeded to Okinawa 
     in order to join a larger naval fleet in preparation for an 
     invasion of the Japanese mainland;
       Whereas in the early hours of July 30, the USS Indianapolis 
     was critically damaged by 2 torpedoes from a Japanese 
     submarine;
       Whereas the USS Indianapolis sunk as a result of the 
     damage, killing some 300 of the 1,196 sailors aboard;
       Whereas most of the estimated 900 survivors relied only on 
     their kapok life jackets and belts and some did not even have 
     that equipment;
       Whereas Lieutenant (Chaplain) Thomas M. Conway and the rest 
     of the remaining crew were set adrift in the shark-infested 
     waters

[[Page S5757]]

     with no way of further notifying Navy command;
       Whereas with complete disregard for his own safety, 
     Lieutenant Conway swam back and forth among terrified crew 
     members, administered aid to them, dragged loners back to the 
     growing mass of survivors, organized prayer groups, and urged 
     the increasingly dehydrated and delirious men not to give up 
     hope of rescue;
       Whereas Lieutenant Conway expired on the third day, shortly 
     before the remaining 321 sailors were rescued after being 
     spotted by Navy pilots;
       Whereas the sinking of the USS Indianapolis was the single 
     greatest loss of life at sea in the history of the Navy;
       Whereas the successful completion of the mission of the USS 
     Indianapolis was critical to ending World War II; and
       Whereas Lieutenant Conway risked his own life in order to 
     retrieve fellow sailors and went from lifeboat to lifeboat in 
     shark-infested waters to tend to the dying and dispirited, 
     acting in a manner far above the call of duty: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) honors Lieutenant Conway for his heroics, which were 
     above reproach, reflect great credit upon himself, and upheld 
     the highest traditions of the U.S. Navy;
       (2) recognizes that the courageous and selfless actions of 
     Lieutenant Conway saved the lives of many of his fellow 
     sailors;
       (3) concurs that the actions of Lieutenant Conway are in 
     the spirit and tradition of the Navy Cross; and
       (4) recommends that Lieutenant Conway posthumously be 
     awarded the Navy Cross.

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