[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 21]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 31269]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



INTRODUCTION OF A RESOLUTION HONORING THE UNITED STATES SUBMARINE FORCE 
                        ON ITS 100TH ANNIVERSARY

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. SAM GEJDENSON

                             of connecticut

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, November 18, 1999

  Mr. GEJDENSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise to salute the United States 
Submarine Force for a century of service to America. Today, I have 
introduced a resolution stressing the importance of the Submarine Force 
to this nation and commending it on behalf of the House of 
Representatives. A similar resolution has also been introduced in the 
Senate.
  Earlier this year, I introduced a resolution urging the Postal 
Service to issue a commemorative stamp to honor the service of 
submariners past and present. More than 180 other Members of the House 
of Representatives have co-sponsored that resolution. I am pleased to 
report that the Postal Service announced last month that it will issue 
a series of five submarine stamps honoring ``A Century of Service to 
America.'' These stamps portray the incredible progress we have made 
from the Navy's first submarine--the USS Holland--to the Ohio and Los 
Angeles Class submarines of the late Twentieth century. However, these 
stamps honor much more than technological prowess. They evoke the 
selfless service of tens of thousands of veterans who patrolled the 
depths of the world's oceans guaranteeing victory over tyranny and 
security for all Americans.
  The Submarine Force deserves recognition by this body. During World 
War II, the U.S. Submarine Force destroyed 55% of all Japanese shipping 
although it accounted for only 2% of Naval forces. Our nuclear missile 
submarines, endlessly patrolling beneath the oceans out of sight of the 
enemy, dramatically reduced the threat of nuclear war. And we can never 
forget the 3,800 submariners who made the supreme sacrifice for their 
nation. These are true heroes we honor with this resolution, Mr. 
Speaker. In the words of Admiral Chester A. Nimitz, a submariner 
himself before he led the U.S. Navy in the Pacific during the Second 
World War: ``It is to the everlasting honor and glory of our submarine 
personnel that they never failed us in our days of great peril.''
  I urge all Members of Congress to support this resolution and show 
their support for these brave sailors.

                          ____________________