[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 131 (Wednesday, August 2, 2017)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4775-S4776]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
SENATE RESOLUTION 243--EXPRESSING THE SENSE OF THE SENATE THAT JOSEPH
LEON GEORGE SHOULD BE HONORED FOR HEROISM AT PEARL HARBOR, HAWAII, ON
DECEMBER 7, 1941
Mr. FLAKE (for himself, Mr. Gardner, Mr. Lee, Mr. Cotton, Mrs.
McCaskill, and Mr. Bennet) submitted the following resolution; which
was referred to the Committee on Armed Services:
S. Res. 243
Whereas, on December 7, 1941, Boatswain's Mate Second Class
Joseph Leon George was 26 years old;
Whereas Boatswain's Mate Second Class George was a
crewmember aboard the U.S.S. Vestal (AR-4), a repair ship, on
that day;
Whereas the U.S.S. Vestal was moored next to the U.S.S.
Arizona (BB-39);
Whereas the Japanese began the attack on Pearl Harbor,
Hawaii, at 7:48 a.m.;
Whereas 6 sailors on the U.S.S. Arizona, Seaman First Class
Harold Kuhn, Seaman First Class Russell Lott, Gunner's Mate
Third Class Earl Riner, Boatswain's Mate Second Class Alvin
Dvork, Seaman First Class Donald Stratton, and Fire
Controlman Third Class Lauren Bruner, were trapped in the
control tower main mast after a massive explosion on the
ship;
Whereas those 6 sailors suffered severe burns;
Whereas those wounded sailors searched for a way to escape
the ship;
Whereas Boatswain's Mate Second Class George saw the 6
wounded sailors on the U.S.S. Arizona from the U.S.S. Vestal
and threw a heaving line and a heavy line;
Whereas all 6 sailors climbed, nearly 40 feet in the air,
hand over hand across the heavy line 70 feet to safety
onboard the U.S.S. Vestal;
Whereas 2 sailors died shortly after from their injuries,
but the remaining 4 survived;
Whereas Boatswain's Mate Second Class George was commended
for his actions, but he was never given a medal for his role
in the rescue of the 6 sailors;
Whereas the 2 surviving sailors rescued from the U.S.S.
Arizona, Donald Stratton and Lauren Bruner, seek to honor
Boatswain's Mate Second Class George;
Whereas U.S.S. Arizona survivor Donald Stratton stated,
``Joe George was never awarded anything for his bravery. He
is no longer with us, but I believe in his memory, should be
awarded the Navy Cross.''; and
Whereas U.S.S. Arizona survivor Lauren Bruner stated, ``The
six of us would not have survived except for his courage, in
spite of being at high risk himself. He fully deserves high
commendations for his actions. I feel he should be recognized
for this courage and presented the Navy Cross.'': Now,
therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Senate--
(1) honors the heroism of Boatswain's Mate Second Class
Joseph Leon George in saving the lives of 6 sailors on
December 7, 1941; and
(2) believes the United States Navy, in light of new
information, should consider revisiting decorating and
honoring the heroism of Boatswain's Mate Second Class Joseph
Leon George in saving the lives of 6 sailors on December 7,
1941.
Mr. FLAKE. Mr. President, recently, I was fortunate enough to have
the opportunity to host several veterans who survived the sinking of
the USS Arizona in the attack on Pearl Harbor.
I would like to briefly share an incredible story they told me about
a true American hero named Joe George.
On December 7, 1941, Joe was a 26-year-old Boatswain's Mate Second
Class aboard the repair ship USS Vestal in Pearl Harbor, HI, moored
alongside the USS Arizona.
At 7:48 a.m., many sailors, including Joe, had finished their
breakfast when the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service attacked Pearl
Harbor. As we know, the Arizona suffered a direct hit by a Japanese
bomb that detonated in the ship's powder magazine. The resulting
explosion sank the ship and claimed the lives of 1,177 servicemembers.
During the unimaginable chaos and carnage, Joe George displayed
stunning composure and courage. Joe spotted six sailors trapped in the
control tower of the sinking Arizona. These men were severely burned,
and they were searching for a way to safety. The six wounded sailors
were Seaman First Class Harold Kuhn, Seaman First Class Russell Lott,
Gunner's Mate Third Class Earl Riner, Boatswain's Mate Second
[[Page S4776]]
Class Alvin Dvorak, Seaman First Class Donald Stratton, and Fire
Controlman Third Class Lauren Bruner.
Upon seeing the men, Joe threw a heaving line between the Vestal and
the Arizona to rescue the wounded sailors from the sinking ship.
Suspended 40 feet in the air, the six sailors climbed 70 feet hand over
hand across the rope to safety onboard the Vestal. These sailors did
all this while enduring injuries so severe that two would succumb to
their wounds in the weeks following the attack.
As they struggled across the heavy line, Joe George remained close
by, all the while encouraging the men to push on.
The four sailors who survived their injuries each returned to serve
with honor during World War II and then went on to live long lives.
I spoke with two of them, and hearing about the injuries they had and
that they still were able to return to service in the Second World War
was amazing.
Joe George's legacy of heroism will remain alive forever in the
children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren of the four sailors
who survived the infamous day, thanks to Joe George.
Joe George was never awarded a medal for his role in the rescue of
the six sailors, although his commanding officer commended his
courageous actions. When I met with one of the Arizona survivors who
was rescued by Joe, he told me, ``Joe George was never awarded anything
for his bravery. He is no longer with us, but I believe in his memory
he should be awarded the Navy Cross.''
Lauren Bruner was another survivor whom Joe saved. He said to me:
The six of us would not have survived except for his
courage, in spite of being at high risk himself. He fully
deserves high commendations for his actions. I feel he should
be recognized for this courage and presented the Navy Cross.
In his own words, during an interview in 1978, Joe said: ``I'll tell
you, the only thing I could tell you about that day . . . my conscience
was my guide.''
Well, his conscience was that of a hero. We need more people like Joe
George in this world. That is why I am committed to honoring Joe and
why I rise today with the honor and privilege to submit a resolution
honoring Joseph Leon George.
Joe passed away in 1996, and it is long overdue that the Senate, the
U.S. Navy, and a grateful nation honor the heroism of Boatswain's Mate
Second Class Joseph Leon George.
God bless Joe George, whose immense and astounding composure serves
as an example of the men and women in uniform who follow in his wake.
Let us never forget his heroism and sacrifice.
I would like to also thank my colleagues Senators Gardner, Lee,
Cotton, McCaskill, and Bennet for joining me on this resolution. I look
forward to working with them on its swift adoption.
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