[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 165 (Thursday, November 5, 2015)]
[Senate]
[Page S7812]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   RECOGNIZING THE USS ``PITTSBURGH''

  Mr. TOOMEY. Mr. President, I wish to honor the skilled, brave, and 
determined sailors who served aboard the USS Pittsburgh.
  The third of four naval vessels named after the Steel City, the USS 
Pittsburgh was a Baltimore-class heavy cruiser that served 6 months in 
the Pacific theatre during World War II. In that short time, the 
cruiser earned two battle stars. However, her greatest accomplishment 
was assisting in the rescue of the crew of a disabled ship in enemy 
waters.
  In March 1945, Japanese bombers began an air raid on a task force 
assigned to the U.S. 5th Fleet. This attack severely damaged the 
aircraft carrier USS Franklin and set it ablaze. The USS Franklin lost 
725 crew members, with another 264 injured in the bombing, and it was 
left stranded in the water just 50 miles from the Japanese coast. The 
USS Pittsburgh quickly came to the rescue, saving 34 men from the 
water. Along with another ship, a light cruiser, the USS Santa Fe, the 
USS Pittsburgh was able to tow the carrier to safety while fighting off 
enemy attacks.
  The crew of the USS Franklin was highly decorated for their bravery 
during the fight, but the crew of the USS Pittsburgh has never received 
any honors for their bravery. Today I rise to recognize and honor the 
crew of the USS Pittsburgh for their heroism and bravery displayed 
rendering aid and assistance to the USS Franklin on March 19, 1945.
  Along with this heroic action, the USS Pittsburgh faced another big 
fight against a different kind of enemy: Mother Nature. On June 5, 
1945, the ship encountered a typhoon and suffered extensive damage, 
including loss of its bow, but was kept afloat because of her skilled 
crewmembers' damage control efforts. The USS Pittsburgh's captain 
maneuvered the boat entirely by cleverly manipulating the ship's 
engines until the storm subsided, returning to Guam a few days later.
  I would especially like to recognize three veterans of the USS 
Pittsburgh who are still living in southwestern Pennsylvania. Their 
names are: Robert McKnight, seaman 1st class, of Connellsville, Fayette 
County; George Jock, seamen 1st class, of Somerset, Somerset County; 
and Paul Gaudi, seaman 1st class, of Jeanette, Westmoreland County.
  I thank them and their fellow USS Pittsburgh crew members for their 
valiant heroism and service to our country. I ask unanimous consent 
that the additional information that was obtained with the help of the 
Congressional Research Service and National Archives be printed in the 
Record.
  Lastly, I appreciate having the opportunity to provide my remarks 
about the USS Pittsburgh and its crew's unique and extraordinary 
contributions to our Nation's history in World War II. It is an honor 
to serve in the U.S. Senate on behalf of the great city for which this 
cruiser was named and represent those veterans who served aboard her.
  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

       On the morning of 19 March, 1945, while a part of Fast 
     Carrier Task Group 58.2, the U.S.S. PITTSBURGH was ordered by 
     Commander Cruiser Division TEN to ``Proceed to FRANKLIN and 
     render all possible assistance''.
       The PITTSBURGH cleared the formation and proceeded at 30 
     knots to the vicinity of the burning carrier FRANKLIN, which 
     had been severely damaged, both by a Japanese bomb and by the 
     following internal explosions and fires which were still 
     raging.
       After picking up 34 of her men from the water during the 
     approach, the carrier was taken in tow at 1402, 19 March, in 
     position Latitude 30 deg.-10' N., Longitude 133 deg.-50, E., 
     57 miles southeast of the southern tip of Shikoku, Japan; and 
     towed for 22\1/2\ hours away from the coast of Japan in 
     southwest, southeasterly and south directions, a distance of 
     approximately 120 miles, until the FRANKLIN could proceed 
     under her own power.
       At the commencement of the towing operation the FRANKLIN 
     had a list to starboard of about 15 deg.; had no power, or 
     steering control, and her rudder was jammed right 3 deg.. The 
     list of the carrier away from the wind, which was blowing 
     from an easterly direction, caused her to sail up into the 
     wind, making towing on southerly courses most difficult and 
     prohibiting steering a given course away from Japan for any 
     continuous length of time.
       At 1550 our speed by pitometer log was 6\1/4\ knots, 
     however speed varied from 1\1/2\ knots to 8 knots.
       At about 2300 the FRANKLIN's starboard list was corrected 
     and became about 5 deg. to port. With the change in list to 
     port, the sail area of the carrier was reduced and it was 
     possible to keep a steady course of 155 deg. (T) and maintain 
     a fairly constant speed between 6 and 7 knots.
       At 0245, 20 March, the FRANKLIN began to turn over her 
     engines, and by 0400 she was making turns for 4.5 knots, and 
     we were making 7.5 knots through the water.
       At 0930, tha FRANKLIN gained steering control, and towing 
     speed was gradually increased to 13.7 knots with the FRANKLIN 
     engines assisting.
       At 1233, in position 160 miles from Shikoku (Latitude 
     30 deg.-14'.5 N., Longitude 134 deg.-23'.2 E.) the tow was 
     cast off and the FRANKLIN proceeded under her own power.
       The PITTSBURGH assisted in repelling two air attacks during 
     the towing operation. The first attack occurred while in 
     process of passing the tow wire, and the second attack after 
     the carrier had been taken in tow. Neither attack was 
     successful, and two Japanese planes were shot down by Combat 
     Air Patrol.
       The FRANKLIN is of about 27,000 tons displacement, and so 
     far as I know this is the first large carrier to be towed any 
     from the scene of action to safety.
       No damage was suffered by this vessel during the towing 
     operation.
       Sufficient praise cannot be given the commanding officer of 
     the FRANKLIN and his heroic rescue crew, who, in spite of all 
     odds, fought fires, repaired machinery and righted the heavy 
     initial list. The cooperation of the FRANKLIN was complete, 
     and made bringing her to safety possible.
       The SANTA FE went alongside the FRANKLIN, transferred 
     personnel, and assisted in line handling while ammunition was 
     exploding and fires were raging. The destroyer MILLER 
     (DE535), likewise, repeatedly and with great courage went 
     alongside the FRANKLIN and under her stern to put down fires 
     and cool her bulkhead with water.

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