[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 10] [House] [Page 14817] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov][[Page 14817]] EXONERATION OF CAPTAIN CHARLES B. McVAY III The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the gentlewoman from Indiana (Ms. Carson) is recognized for 5 minutes. Ms. CARSON of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to call to the attention of the House of Representatives a decision by the Department of the Navy that exonerates the late Charles Butler McVay III, captain of the heavy cruiser, the USS Indianapolis who was court-martialed and convicted 56 years ago after his ship sank in the closing days of World War II. The survivors of that tragedy, Mr. Speaker, have relentlessly sought to have Captain McVay vindicated; and those who remain are relieved by the Navy's long-delayed yet justifiable decision. On May 14, 1999, I ushered an 11-year-old student from Florida to drop H.J. Res. 48 into the system for consideration by the House. Hunter Scott went to a movie in Pensacola, Florida, and saw Jaws, in which there was a brief soliloquy about the sinking of the USS Indianapolis. Hunter's interest in the ship's disaster was the beginning of a school history project, trips to Washington, D.C., media attention, and an upcoming movie. Language to exonerate Captain McVay was inserted in the Defense Authorization Act of 2001. The legislation expresses the sense of Congress that Captain McVay should be exonerated because some facts important to the case were never considered by the 1945 court-martial board. Classified data were not even made available to the board. Survivors of the greatest sea disaster in our Navy's history at that time sought to have their captain's name cleared for periods that spanned several years, oftentimes efforts that drew controversy. The magnitude of the crusade was elevated by this young man's trip to the movies, his campaign to derive justice for the captain and the crew. Indeed, one person can make a difference. Captain McVay's record has been modified to reflect his exoneration, a profound tribute to the crew, myself and young Hunter Scott especially. Of the 317 survivors of the USS Indianapolis disaster, only 120 remain alive today. One of our strongest supporters has been Michael Monroney. Mike, the son of the late Senator A.S. Mike Monroney of Oklahoma and the retired vice president of TWR, Inc., is no stranger to Indiana. Mike served as administrative assistant to former Congressman John Brademas of Indiana in his first term. Mike has an original poem, Mr. Speaker, which tells the story of the sinking of the USS Indianapolis, the fight for the survival of his crew, and the steadfast loyalty to their Captain. I submit herewith for the Record his poem: A Tribute to the Men of the USS Indianapolis (By Michael Monroney) A still across the peaceful night As the great ship split the sea No omen nor warning Of the disaster yet to be The ship soon steered a straightened course When the midnight bells did sound Still no omen nor warning Of the blast to drive her down But then it struck in black of night The death that came their way With no omen nor warning With no time for them to pray The ripping crash of metal torn The sound of dreadful screams Though no omen nor a warning It was, for some, the end of dreams The torpedo hits had doomed their ship She slipped into the deep Too many of her youthful crew Rode down to eternal sleep Spread far across the heaving waves In shock and left alone The men of the Indianapolis Had lost their mighty home The dawn was slow in coming But, when the sun rose in the sky You could hear the sounds of moaning From those who were yet to die The tropic sea was cold at night A merciless sun by day Oh, yes, Lord be my shepherd For the time had come to pray They fought the thirst and hunger And the monster from below They shared their fears together And watched their comrades go As dead men slipped beneath the waves Those left were heard to say Oh, Lord, Please be my shepherd Time had surely come to pray The days went by, their ranks grew thin And hopes began to fade Would salvation ever reach them As apparitions on them played Ashore their ship was never missed Their fate was in God's hands But upon the empty ocean Rose visions of fair lands They had no food nor water And more their rank grew thin Until an angel flew above A man named Wilbur Gwinn An oil-slicked sea and blackened forms Is what the pilot saw What ship has sunk? He asked himself As he looked down in awe He dipped his wings, their spirits soared Help must be on the way And all their prayers seemed answered On that sunny August day Soon a second angel came in sight His name was Adrian Marks He set the plane down on the sea To save them from the sharks Their prayers were finally answered Those living had been saved Oh, yes, the Lord's their shepherd For their ordeal have been waived But no so for their captain His anguish lay ahead They blamed him for this tragic loss Unjust charges to him read His youthful crew was mystified What could he have done wrong? A man of such great honor And they stood behind him strong The trial took place, the statement heard But facts were not exposed The jury's verdict had been made Yet truth was ne'er disclosed The captain's name was ruined And, though many questioned why, So great the weight upon him By his own hand did he die Yet he's never been forgotten By his crew he's still revered And they'll remain united Until his name's cleared They seek the wrongful verdict Struck from their captain's name And all left from that fateful night Stay angered by his shame Their numbers dwindle through the years Yet their fervor is still high For their captain they'll seek justice Until the last of them shall die As legend grows around these men Their story transcends time Such loyalty to their captain Should also live in rhyme ____________________