[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 179 (Friday, November 8, 2019)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1412-E1413]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  HONORING THE USS ``INDIANAPOLIS,'' THE UNITED STATES NAVY'S NEWEST 
                          LITTORAL COMBAT SHIP

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. PETER J. VISCLOSKY

                               of indiana

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, November 8, 2019

  Mr. VISCLOSKY. Madam Speaker, I rise to honor the U.S. Navy's newest 
addition to its fleet, the Freedom-class Littoral Combat Ship, USS 
Indianapolis.
  On October 26, before a crowd of thousands, the USS Indianapolis 
(LCS-17) was commissioned in Burns Harbor, Indiana, on the shore of 
Lake Michigan. I thank the Navy, particularly former Secretary Ray 
Mabus, for having the foresight to name a ship being constructed on the 
Great Lakes after Indiana's capital city and the decision by the 
current Secretary of the Navy, Richard Spencer, to host the 
commissioning ceremony in Burns Harbor.
  LCS-17 was constructed in Marinette, Wisconsin, utilizing steel 
produced by hard-working steelworkers in Northwest Indiana. She will 
soon transit to her new homeport, Naval Station Mayport in 
Jacksonville, Florida, where she will begin her service to our country. 
As the fourth USS Indianapolis in U.S. naval history, this ship will 
carry on the proud legacy of representing Indiana's capital city around 
the globe.
  Today, it is also fitting to honor the prior ships that bore the name 
USS Indianapolis. The first (ID 3865) was a cargo ship that served at 
the end of World War I. The second (CA 35) was the heavy cruiser that 
was lost while completing a mission that would directly contribute to 
the end of World War II. Of the 1,195 crewmen aboard, only 316 
survived. It was an honor to have four of those survivors--Fire 
Controlman Third Class Robert Witzig, Aviation Machinist Mate Third 
Class James Jarvis, Seaman Richard Thelen, and Sergeant Edgar Harrell--
present at the commissioning ceremony. The third (SSN 697) was a Los 
Angeles-class fast attack submarine that was a valuable Cold War asset 
from 1980 through 1998.
  I am grateful for the Commanding Officer, CDR Colin Kane, as well as 
the entire crew of the USS Indianapolis. I am also thankful for the 
unsung heroes--the families and loved ones--whose sacrifices and 
support ashore allow the crew to stand the watch that the U.S. Navy has 
stood for 244 years.
  Additionally, I'd like to recognize the efforts of so many in 
Northwest Indiana who have been supportive of the work of the USS 
Indianapolis Commissioning Committee. Thanks in part to these efforts, 
I know the USS Indianapolis will serve our community and country with 
pride. The crew will have many days of deployment ahead of them. I know 
that they have the unwavering support of the nearly 6.7 million 
residents of Indiana,
  Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in wishing the 
following women and men of the USS Indianapolis fair winds and 
following seas:
  Blue Crew: CDR Colin Kane, CDR Joseph Mitzen, CMDCS Iris Velez, LCDR 
Erik Gardner, LCDR Kyle Gleghorn, LT Julian Turner, LT Andrew MeLean, 
LT Christopher Huizinga, LTJG Eric Wilkerson, LTJG Monique Jefferson, 
LTJG Kevin Holdren, FCCS Marlon Glass, MNCS Ryan Cook, QMC David 
Dantone, LSC Karim Bullock, ENC Mark Nicholas, OSC David Simmons, ITC 
Kamesha McCarthy, DCC Matthew Moreno, BMC Melvin Austin, MNC Stephen 
Bates, EM1 Antawan Daniel, GSM1 Brandon Portell, CS1 Cesar Torres, EN1 
Christian Alston, FC1 Christian Argonza, ET1 Dale Robinson, GM1 Daniel 
Thomas, MN1 Ebony Channey, GM1 Eric Stabenow, CS1 George White, EN1 
Jerome Jacob, ET1 John Lake, ET1 Joshua Drum, AG1 Joshua Gaskill, EN1 
Justin Cheman, MN1 Justin Crabtree, MN1 Katherine Floding, IT1 Kiaya 
Tootle, OS1 Marcos Lucero, EM1 Michael Jeffus, EN1 Michael Roka, GSE1 
Victor Doroy, MN2 Adrian Villanueva, MN2 Alejandro Garciaquiles, ET2 
Ashley Newman, IT2 Bea Vang, BM2 Carlos Medina, FC2 Christopher Wong, 
IT2 Nathan Rodriguez, HT2 Erman Jefferson, EN2 Gregory Jones, GM2 
Jordan Simmons, MN2 Joshua Pryor, OS2 Justin Vasquez, FC2 Stephen 
Truszcienski, MN2 Zakkary Fulton, MN3 Brandy Thorpe, MN3 Dominique 
Fraser-Jones, MN3 Jeremy Woods, SN Jacquard McDuffey, MNSN John Cortes, 
SN Michael Antolak, LSSN Rebecca Elie, MNSN Ryan Marcotte, CSSN Tyrann 
Bowlin, DCFR Bianca Silva.
  Gold Crew: CDR Jamie Diaz, CMDCS James Halleran, MNCS Daniel Gwilt, 
MNC Raymond Barrett, BMC Michael Duran, ITC Delila Edwards, FCC Dennis 
Fairbanks, MNC Daniel O'Connell, QMC Eric Williams, IT1 Tyler Averett, 
EN1 Gregory Besiryan, GM1

[[Page E1413]]

Terrell Bridges, EN1 Anier Carrillo, EN1 Joseph Chase, HM1 John 
Crockett, OS1 Zachary Coffman, HT1 Gary Greenwood, MN1 Daniel Gregware, 
FC1 Haneef Manboard, EM1 Paul McBean, OS1 Devin Morris, OSE1 Scott 
Phillips, CS1 Gregory Simmons, GSM1 Marc Solomon, CS1 Eugene Ward, ET1 
Johnathan Sanders, IT1 Allison Shorter, MN2 Kyle Marting, EM2 Erikka 
Dallmeyer, MN2 Andrew Harse, GM2 Chester Gray, FC2 Caylin Lang, MN2 
John McCoy, ET2 Jonathan McDaniel, BM2 Terrance Owens, FC2 Jonathan 
Vallett, MN3 Hunter Childers, MN3 Michael Clark, MN3 Mathew Evans, LS3 
Colby Foster, MN3 David Gordon, MN3 Scott Scherer, MNSN Natalie 
Bermudez, CSSN Cynthia Salas, BMSA Lane Francis, CSSA Chaiazyjhaneia 
Stone-Jackson.

                          ____________________