[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 52 (Monday, March 26, 2018)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E372]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      HONORING REAR ADMIRAL LAWRENCE CLEVELAND ``LARRY'' CHAMBERS

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. ELEANOR HOLMES NORTON

                      of the district of columbia

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, March 26, 2018

  Ms. NORTON.  Mr. Speaker, I rise today to ask the House of 
Representatives to join me in recognizing Rear Admiral Lawrence 
Cleveland ``Larry'' Chambers, USNA '52, USN (Ret.), who the U.S. Naval 
Academy Alumni Association and Foundation honored at an event for its 
2018 Distinguished Graduate Award recipients.
  RADM Chambers and I share a common alma mater, Dunbar High School, 
where he graduated as valedictorian of the Class of 1948 and as 
commander of the JROTC corps of cadets. In 1952, RADM Chambers became 
the second African American to graduate from the U.S. Naval Academy.
  In 1954, RADM Chambers became a Naval Aviator and in 1959, Stanford 
University awarded him a Bachelor's degree in Aero Engineering. During 
his time in the U.S. Navy, RADM Chambers became the first African 
American to achieve:
  Officer in Charge of a Fighter Detachment--VA-22 Det R, the 
``Fighting Redcocks,'' USS Princeton (CVS-37);
  Commanding Officer of an Attack Squadron, VA-15, the ``Valions,'' USS 
Roosevelt CV-42;
  Air Officer, ``Air Boss,'' USS Oriskany (CV-34);
  Commanding Officer of a Combat Stores Ship, USS White Plains (AFS-4), 
``The Orient Express;''
  Commanding Officer of an Aircraft Carrier, USS Midway (CV-41), 
``Midway Magic;''
  Commander of a Carrier Battle Group (CarGru3);
  Commander of a second Carrier Battle Group (Interim Commander 
CarGru4);
  Vice Commander Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR); and
  Flag rank as a U.S. Naval Academy graduate.
  In 1975, a month into his command of the USS Midway and during 
``Operation Frequent Wind,'' the final helicopter evacuation of Saigon, 
then-Captain Chambers performed a notable act of valor. During the 
mission's 18 hours of ``controlled chaos,'' the USS Midway received 
3,073 of the nearly 7,000 evacuees while helicopters covered her flight 
deck. Major Buang-Ly of the South Vietnamese Air Force crammed his wife 
and five children into the two-person cabin of a Cessna O-1 ``Bird 
Dog.'' Maj. Buang-Ly took off and followed the helicopters out to sea. 
He found the USS Midway, and after three attempts, dropped this note on 
the deck, ``Can you move the helicopters to the other side? I can land 
on your runway. I can fly one hour more. Please rescue me.--Maj. Buang-
Ly, wife, and children.''
  The admiral commanding the Midway's Carrier Battle Group ordered CAPT 
Chambers to tell the pilot to ditch the airplane. However, CAPT 
Chambers saw through his binoculars that a woman and children were on 
the aircraft. As a naval aviator, he knew when the Cessna's fixed 
landing gear hit the sea, the light land plane would flip and sink with 
its passengers on board.
  CAPT Chambers called all personnel not on watch to report to the 
flight deck. More than 3,000 of the 4,300 compliments came topside to 
carry out CAPT Chambers' order, ``clear the deck!'' The sailors heaved 
the helicopters blocking the USS Midway's landing area overboard into 
the South China Sea. He then ordered 25 knots and pointed the USS 
Midway into wind. Maj. Buang-Ly managed to strike a perfect deck 
landing in the over-loaded Cessna with no arresting hook. CAPT Chambers 
quickly met Maj. Buang-Ly and resumed landing more inbound choppers.
  In 1984, after 32 years of service, RADM Chambers retired from the 
Navy with more than 5,000 flight hours and 1,000 carrier landings. He 
then went on to work in private industry. In his civilian retirement, 
he continues to embody the U.S. Naval Academy's mission and values.
  Therefore, I ask the House of Representatives to join me in 
recognizing and honoring RADM Chambers for his service to our country 
and in commending him on being selected as a 2018 Distinguished 
Graduate Award recipient.

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