[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 148 (2002), Part 4]
[Senate]
[Pages 4508-4509]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                         SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS

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 SENATE RESOLUTION 239--RECOGNIZING THE LACK OF HISTORICAL RECOGNITION 
 OF THE GALLANT EXPLOITS OF THE OFFICERS AND CREW OF THE S.S. ``HENRY 
 BACON'' A LIBERTY SHIP THAT WAS SUNK FEBRUARY 23, 1945, IN THE WANING 
                          DAYS OF WORLD WAR II

  Mr. ALLEN submitted the following resolution; which was referred to 
the Committee on Armed Services:

                              S. Res. 239

       Whereas during World War II the S.S. Henry Bacon was 
     assigned the task of conveying war materials and supplies to 
     the beleaguered Russian nation via the dangerous Murmansk 
     Run, and faithfully fulfilled its mission;
       Whereas in 1945 the S.S. Henry Bacon saved 19 refugees from 
     Nazi-controlled Norway and accepted these Norwegian refugees 
     from the British for passage to Murmansk;
       Whereas the S.S. Henry Bacon, with a full crew and refugees 
     aboard, set sail for Scotland amid the worst storms ever 
     registered in the Arctic Ocean and suffered damage from the 
     force of the storms and from internal mechanical problems;
       Whereas the S.S. Henry Bacon, while suffering from a loss 
     of steering capacity, lost its place in Convoy RA 64 and 
     became a stray, unable to communicate with the convoy and 
     required to maintain radio silence;
       Whereas the S.S. Henry Bacon was left to its own devices: 
     engine room workers used a sledgehammer and wedge to 
     physically turn the ship;
       Whereas the S.S. Henry Bacon, alone in that freezing sea, 
     came under attack by 23 Junker JU-88s of the German 
     Luftwaffe;
       Whereas armed with only several small guns, the United 
     States Navy Armed Guard and the ship's Merchant mariners 
     fought gallantly against the oncoming torpedo bombers;
       Whereas mortally wounded after 1 German pilot was 
     successful in delivering a payload to the ship, the S.S. 
     Henry Bacon fought back, shooting down 9 enemy planes;

[[Page 4509]]

       Whereas when the S.S. Henry Bacon began to sink, her 
     captain ensured that all 19 Norwegian refugees would receive 
     a place in a lifeboat;
       Whereas when the lifeboat supply was exhausted, crewmen 
     made rough rafts from the railroad ties that had been used to 
     secure locomotives delivered to Russia;
       Whereas the S.S. Henry Bacon went down with 28 casualties, 
     including Captain Alfred Carini, Chief Engineer Donald 
     Haviland, Bosun Holcomb Lammon Jr., and the commanding 
     officer of the United States Navy Armed Guard, Lt. John 
     Sippola, but in its sinking kept the German planes from 
     looking further and locating the main body of the convoy;
       Whereas the 19 Norwegian refugees were saved and ultimately 
     returned to Norway; and
       Whereas the actions of the officers and crew of the S.S. 
     Henry Bacon, in the finest tradition of the United States 
     Merchant Marines and the United States Navy, have been 
     recognized by the people of Norway and Russia but, until now, 
     have not been acknowledged by our grateful Nation: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) recognizes the valiant efforts of the crew of the S.S. 
     Henry Bacon; and
       (2) requests that the President issue a proclamation, 
     calling to memory the deeds, exploits, and sacrifices of the 
     officers and crew of the S.S. Henry Bacon.

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