[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 141 (Friday, September 1, 2023)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E807]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          RECOGNIZING THE LIFE AND SERVICE OF BERT HUNTER LANE

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. C. SCOTT FRANKLIN

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, September 1, 2023

  Mr. C. SCOTT FRANKLIN of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize 
the life and service of World War I veteran and hero, Boy First Class, 
Bert Hunter Lane.
  Bert Hunter Lane was born July 29, 1895, in Madison, Suwannee County, 
Florida, before relocating with his family to Lakeland, Florida in 
1909. Lane attended Lakeland High School, where he made honor roll and 
played in the band.
  As a young adult, Lane was a driver for the Standard Oil Company and 
Gulf Refining Company and attended First Baptist Church of Lakeland. 
After World War I broke out in 1914, Lane moved to Tampa, FL to join 
the U.S. Coast Guard on April 8, 1917 at 21 years old. He was given the 
rank Boy First Class and placed under the command of Captain Charles 
Satterlee on the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Tampa, one of six assigned to 
convoy duty in Europe.
  The Tampa, armed with three-inch guns, had successfully escorted 
eighteen convoys and earned a special commendation for exemplary 
service. On September 26, 1918, soon after her 19th convoy, Tampa was 
torpedoed by the German submarine UB-91. In just three minutes, Tampa 
sunk, claiming the lives of 130 in the single largest loss of life for 
the Coast Guard during World War I.
  In 1928, the United States Coast Guard Memorial was dedicated at 
Arlington National Cemetery, memorializing the 111 coast guardsmen lost 
that day. The Purple Heart was not yet authorized, but in 1999 
Commandant Admiral James Loy awarded the Coast Guardsmen posthumously 
for their brave actions.
  One hundred five years after Tampa was lost, and 24 years after the 
first Purple Heart was awarded to one of her crew, no relatives have 
been located to receive the honor on Lane's behalf. Today, I ask my 
colleagues to join me in honoring Bert--his heroism, his service and 
most importantly his sacrifice.

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