[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 207 (Wednesday, December 1, 2021)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1293-E1294]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  HONORING THE LIFE AND SERVICE OF SEAMAN SECOND CLASS CHARLES LOUIS 
                         ``SONNY BOY'' SAUNDERS

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. BRIAN BABIN

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, December 1, 2021

  Mr. BABIN. Madam Speaker, I rise to honor the life of Navy Seaman 
Second Class Charles Louis ``Sonny Boy'' Saunders of Winnie, Texas. 
Seaman Saunders was serving aboard the USS Oklahoma (BB-37) on the 
morning of December 7, 1941. Tragically, the Oklahoma sustained 429 
casualties during the attack on Pearl Harbor, claiming Mr. Saunders' 
life. After eight decades, the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) 
has identified Seaman Saunders' remains. This year, he will be 
reinterred in his hometown on the 80th anniversary of Pearl Harbor.
  Mr. Saunders was born to Mortimer Alvin and Melina Falke Saunders on 
October 16, 1923; He was the sixth child and one of four boys. His 
oldest brother, Adam, passed away at just 13 months. He grew up with 
his sisters Lillie Mae, Mary Alice, Sadie Lee, and Anna Belle along 
with brothers Sidney ``Buddy'' Edward and Mortimer Virgil.
  The Great Depression led to difficult times as his father worked in 
construction and labored in rice fields to provide for his family, 
while his mother cared for the home and raised their children. Mr. 
Saunders' younger sister, Anna Belle, always spoke of her brother's 
compassion, and how he sacrificed so she could have shoes for her daily 
walk to school. He could not bear to see his little sister struggle in 
any manner.
  His kind, caring, and playful nature fueled his ambition to serve our 
nation. On November 23, 1940, one month after his 17th birthday, he 
joined the U.S. Navy. Not only did he possess a deep desire to defend 
our country, but he also had great determination to make a better life 
for his parents and siblings.
  On December 7, 1941, Japanese aircraft launched an attack on the 
American fleet of battleships moored at Pearl Harbor, thrusting the 
United States into the Second World War. After Seaman Saunders' warship 
capsized because of damage from multiple Japanese torpedoes, his 
whereabouts were unknown. According to a casualty roster of the 
Oklahoma compiled two weeks after the attack, Seaman Saunders' status 
was labeled as ``missing'' but later amended to ``killed in action.''
  Those who perished aboard the USS Oklahoma were buried at two 
different cemeteries: the Halawa and Nu'uanu Naval Cemeteries in 
Hawaii. Most of the remains were recovered during salvage operations 
but were unable to be identified before their interment, and therefore, 
they were buried as ``unknowns.''
  In recognition of his service, Seaman Saunders was awarded a Purple 
Heart for military merit and three ribbons for American Defense, 
American Campaign, and the Asiatic Pacific Campaign. However, these 
awards seemed to be a lost memory uncovered after family members found 
his commendations carefully tucked away in a box left inside his 
mother's old sewing machine.
  As the last living sibling, Anna Belle was committed to bringing her 
brother home and laying him to rest at the gravesite their parents 
prepared for him years ago at Fairview Cemetery in Winnie, Texas. In 
2015, the DPAA was given authority to exhume the unknown remains of the 
servicemen associated with the USS Oklahoma and to reexamine them using 
advanced forensic technology. It was at this point that the military 
contacted Anna Belle. She worked tirelessly to gather and provide DNA 
of family members to help identify her brother's remains.
  Unfortunately, she passed away on July 19, 2019, but never lost hope 
that her brother would one day return home. She prayed her unwavering 
mission would be continued by those who survived her, and it was. On 
February 11, 2021, the Saunders family received word that their long-
lost relative had finally been found and identified.
  Madam Speaker, Seaman Second Class Charles ``Sonny Boy'' Saunders' 
arrival in Winnie, Texas, will be welcomed by many relatives, friends, 
and fellow patriots. On the 80th anniversary of his passing, Mr. 
Saunders will be buried alongside his parents with full military 
honors. May God continue to bless this family for their long record of 
service and sacrifice to our great nation.

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