[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 207 (Wednesday, December 1, 2021)]
[House]
[Pages H6719-H6720]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




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

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Texas (Mr. Babin) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. BABIN. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the life of Navy Seaman 
Second Class Charles Louis ``Sonny Boy'' Saunders of Winnie, Texas, in 
my district.
  Seaman Saunders was serving aboard the USS Oklahoma on the morning of 
December 7, 1941. Tragically, the Oklahoma sustained 429 casualties 
during the attack on Pearl Harbor, claiming Mr. Saunders' life that 
morning. After eight decades, 80 years, the Defense POW/MIA Accounting 
Agency, or 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 old. 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 their father worked in 
construction and labored in the rice fields to provide for his family 
while his mother cared for the home and raised their children. Mr. 
Saunders' youngest sister, Anna Belle, always spoke of her brother's 
compassion and how he sacrificed so that she could have shoes for her 
daily walk to school.
  His kind, caring, and playful nature fueled his ambition to serve our 
Nation. On November 23, 1940, 1 month after his 17th birthday, he 
joined the United States Navy. Not only did he possess a deep desire to 
serve our country, but he also had a great determination to make a 
better life for his parents and his siblings.
  On December 7, 1941, Japanese aircraft launched a surprise attack on 
the American fleet of battleships that were moored at Pearl Harbor, 
thrusting the United States into the Second World War.
  After Seaman Saunders' warship capsized because of the damage from 
the multiple Japanese torpedoes, his whereabouts were unknown. 
According to a casualty roster of the Oklahoma compiled 2 weeks after 
the attack, Seaman Saunders' status was labeled as ``missing'' but then 
later was amended to be ``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

[[Page H6720]]

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.
  As the last living sibling, Anna Belle was committed to bringing her 
brother home and laying him to rest at the gravesite that their parents 
prepared for him those years and years ago at Fairview Cemetery in 
Winnie, Texas.

                              {time}  1045

  In 2015, the DPAA was given authority to exhume the unknown remains 
of these servicemen associated with the USS Oklahoma and to reexamine 
them. It was at this point that the military contacted Anna Belle, his 
younger sister. She worked tirelessly to gather and provide DNA of 
family members to help identify her brother's remains.
  Unfortunately, Anna Belle passed away on July 19, 2019, but she 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.
  Mr. Speaker, Seaman Second Class Charles ``Sonny Boy'' Saunders' 
arrival in Winnie, Texas, will be welcomed by many relatives, friends, 
and fellow patriots; finally coming home. 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.

                          ____________________