[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 83 (Wednesday, May 17, 2023)]
[House]
[Page H2388]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1215
      HONORING FIRE CONTROL SEAMAN SECOND CLASS ROBERT L. LUTTRELL

  (Mr. BURCHETT asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. BURCHETT. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Fire Control Seaman Second 
Class Robert L. Luttrell, an American hero who served during World War 
II to fight the evil empire of Japan.
  Luttrell graduated from Central High School in Knoxville and enlisted 
in the Navy in 1943. He was assigned to patrol gunboat PGM-18.
  In March 1945, the PGM-18 was sent to Okinawa to protect minesweepers 
and destroy mines as they floated to the surface. Oddly enough, Okinawa 
is one of the islands my father served on.
  On April 8, 1945, his ship struck a mine, and the blast lifted the 
280-ton ship out of the water and ripped a giant hole in the starboard 
hull.
  Seaman Luttrell was able to launch a life raft and help nine other 
sailors into the raft, including his commanding officer, but the raft 
was still tied to the ship and couldn't be untied.
  Fortunately, Luttrell was able to cut the raft loose with a knife he 
had made from a hunk of metal he found in Hawaii.
  He saved the lives of fellow servicemembers and showed true courage 
and quick thinking in the face of danger.
  Too many times, Mr. Speaker, we call people heroes, and maybe they 
dribble a basketball, throw a football, or catch a baseball, but our 
true heroes are the men and women who wore our country's uniform and 
continue to do so like yourself, Mr. Speaker.
  It is my honor to recognize Fire Control Seaman Second Class Robert 
Luttrell as Tennessee's Second District May 2023 Veteran of the Month.

                          ____________________