[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 41 (Thursday, March 7, 2019)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E269]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             IN MEMORY OF SEAMAN FIRST CLASS EARL PAUL BAUM

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. AL LAWSON, JR.

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 7, 2019

  Mr. LAWSON of Florida. Madam Speaker, it is with great personal 
sadness that I rise today to honor the life and legacy of Seaman First 
Class Earl Paul Baum, who was killed in action on December 7, 1941, 
when his battleship, the USS Oklahoma, was attacked in Pearl Harbor, 
Oahu, Hawaii. He was 19 years old. Seaman First Class Baum served his 
country admirably with courage and dedication. It was a tragedy that he 
was taken from us so young. Many brave and dedicated individuals who 
serve our country every day are faced with life threatening challenges, 
and when we lose one of them, their loss is felt throughout our nation.
   Seaman First Class Baum joined in the U.S. Navy when he was 18 years 
old, leaving behind his parents, a brother and three sisters in Chicago 
for a naval base 4,000 miles away. He served on the USS Oklahoma as a 
printer when the ship was struck by seven torpedoes, capsized and sank 
within ten minutes. Four hundred and twenty-nine sailors and marines 
perished, from a total crew of 1353.
   Madam Speaker, his legacy provides an extraordinary example for 
other young men and women who aspire to serve.
   I hope it is a comfort to his sisters Emily Golz and May Gresh, his 
twelve nieces and nephews, and numerous great and great, great nieces 
and nephews, to know that so many in our community and around our 
nation respected and admired Seaman First Class Baum and thank him for 
his ultimate sacrifice.

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