[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 184 (Wednesday, October 20, 2021)]
[House]
[Pages H5686-H5687]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            HONORING THOMAS STRAYER NELSON'S 100TH BIRTHDAY

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from 
New York (Ms. Tenney) for 5 minutes.
  Ms. TENNEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Thomas

[[Page H5687]]

Strayer Nelson of Ilion, New York, who turns 100 years old today.
  Mr. Nelson is one of the last living survivors of the attack on Pearl 
Harbor. He joined the Navy right out of high school and was assigned to 
the USS Wasmuth, a Clemson-class destroyer that was docked in Pearl 
Harbor on December 7, 1941. He left the Navy as a first class 
electrician's mate.
  On that fateful day 80 years ago, 19-year-old Thomas Strayer Nelson 
was lying in his bunk aboard the ship docked in Pearl Harbor when the 
alarms sounded. Sensing trouble, Tom made it topside where he saw 
several Japanese planes bombing American ships. He quickly assessed 
that this was not a drill.
  Tom quickly jumped on his .50 caliber machine gun and successfully 
helped defend the Wasmuth and its crew on that fateful day.
  The wreckage was devastating. Nearly 20 U.S. ships were damaged or 
sank at sea, and more than 2,400 Americans, including civilians, were 
killed.
  Tom remembers crying that day during the aftermath, but Tom's heroism 
did not stop there. Nearly 1 year later, in December 1942, the Wasmuth 
was escorting a convoy when it was knocked off its tracks and two mines 
exploded below the ship. The Wasmuth sank, but 134 crew, including Tom, 
were rescued due in large part to Tom's efforts.
  Tom came back home and was an electrical inspector for over 27 years 
in his hometown of Ilion, New York, where he has resided for nearly his 
entire life. I had the great honor of meeting Tom this past weekend. At 
the age of 99, now 100 today, he was full of life and very engaging, 
and he also had a wonderful sense of humor. I also had the pleasure of 
meeting his daughter, Janice, with whom he has been living the past 2 
years and who provides great care for him, and his son, John, who is 
also providing loving care to Tom. John is a former State trooper who 
has now taken on the mantle of also being an electrician in his 
father's legacy.

                              {time}  1115

  I just want to say also about the wonderful family from this small 
community, Tom's late wife, Gladys Cooley, passed away in 2015. He also 
had a daughter who passed away and a son, Tom, who died very young from 
rheumatoid arthritis.
  I just wanted to take this special time to recognize and thank 
someone who is part of our Greatest Generation from my community, one 
of the last survivors of Pearl Harbor who actually was there when this 
occurred. I want to thank his family and everyone for hosting me, 
greeting me, and giving me the real unique opportunity to meet with 
this great hero of our country.
  I want to say thank you again to Tom for his heroism, his service, 
and his bravery. I wish him another 100 years of good health and good 
cheer. I look forward to seeing him again when I return to my hometown.
  Here's to many years ahead.

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