[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 119 (Thursday, July 10, 2025)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E660]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            CELEBRATING THE LIFE OF ROBERT L. ``BOB'' HANLEY

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. PETE STAUBER

                              of minnesota

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 10, 2025

  Mr. STAUBER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the extraordinary 
life of Seaman Second Class Robert L. ``Bob'' Hanley, the last living 
survivor of the USS Houston, a member of the U.S. Asiatic Fleet sunk by 
the Imperial Japanese Navy in March 1942. Seaman Hanley showcased 
American grit, tenacity, and commitment in the fight against tyranny.
  As one of only 368 crewmen out of 1,060 to survive the sinking of the 
USS Houston, Bob Hanley faced unimaginable hardships as a prisoner of 
war four years. He endured the brutal Bataan Death March, where 64 men 
from Company D of the 194th Tank Regiment came from my district. Only 
34 survived. He was transported on ``hell ships'' to Singapore and 
Burma, and he labored on the infamous Thai-Burma Death Railway under 
conditions of starvation, torture, and beatings, without access to 
medicines or supplies. Battling dysentery, malaria, and pellagra, Bob's 
resilience never wavered. At liberation in August 1945, he was among 
just 291 remaining survivors from the USS Houston.
  Bob's service did not end with his Navy enlistment, which ended in 
1947 after six years. He continued serving his country by enlisting in 
the U.S. Army for 15 years. After his military career, he worked in 
security at 3M for another 15 years, retiring in 1978 due to medical 
reasons.
  Throughout his life, Bob's deep faith as a devout member of the 
Catholic Church of Saint Peter in Forest Lake, Minnesota, guided him 
through the darkest times and brightest moments, serving as a 
cornerstone of his strength. On September 12, 2024, Seaman Second Class 
Robert L. Hanley passed away at 102 years old. May he rest in peace.

                          ____________________