[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 148 (2002), Part 4]
[House]
[Page 4776]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                      DOOLITTLE'S RAIDERS REUNION

  (Mr. WILSON of South Carolina asked and was given permission to 
address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks and 
include extraneous material.)
  Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, this week marks the 60th 
anniversary of the famous Tokyo raid conducted by Doolittle's Raiders, 
highlighted by a reunion of this courageous contingent being held in 
Columbia, South Carolina. General Woody Randall and hundreds of 
dedicated volunteers have organized a week-long tribute to our Raider 
heroes.
  The Raiders were assembled in the aftermath of Pearl Harbor, and 
trained at Columbia Army Airfield by the visionary General Jimmy 
Doolittle for their courageous service, which was crucial to raise 
America's shocked wartime spirits. The raid had profound strategic 
consequences for America's ultimate victory.
  South Carolina is especially proud of native son First Lieutenant 
William G. Farrow of Darlington. Lieutenant Darrow was one of eight 
members of Doolittle's Raiders who were captured by the Japanese. He 
endured 6 months of brutal torture and deprivation before being 
executed at age 25. Lieutenant Farrow's ultimate sacrifice will never 
be forgotten, and his influence continues with his authorship as a 
student at the University of South Carolina of ``An American Creed for 
Victory.''
  As we honor Doolittle's Raiders for their courageous sacrifices for 
our Nation during World War II, it is my hope that Lieutenant Farrow's 
patriotic words will inspire all generations of Americans to serve 
their country with pride and honor.
  The document referred to is as follows:
       Farrow's Creed
       After Raider Lieutenant William Farrow's execution on 
     October 15, 1942, his mother found this list in a trunk 
     belonging to him. President Franklin D. Roosevelt touted the 
     list as an example to the Nation. It was printed in 
     newspapers and church bulletins coast to coast.


     My Future (later called ``An American's Creed for Victory'').

       First, what are my weaknesses?
       (1) Lack of thoroughness and application.
       (2) Lack of curiosity.
       (3) Softness in driving myself.
       (4) Lack of constant diligence.
       (5) Lack of seriousness of purpose--sober thought.
       (6) Scatter-brained dashing here and there and not getting 
     anything done--spur-of-the-moment stuff.
       (7) Letting situations confuse the truth in my mind.
       (8) Lack of self-confidence.
       (9) Letting people influence my decisions too much. I must 
     weigh my decisions--then act.
       (10) Too much frivolity--not enough serious thought.
       (11) Lack of clear-cut, decisive thinking.

       Second, what must I do to develop myself?
       (1) Stay in glowing health--take a good, fast one-hour 
     workout each day.
       (2) Search out current, past and future topics on aviation.
       (3) Work hard on each day's lessons--shoot for an ``A.''
       (4) Stay close to God--do His will and commandments. He is 
     my friend and protector. Believe in Him--trust in His ways--
     not in my own confused understanding of the universe.
       (5) Do not waste energy or time in fruitless pursuits--
     learn to act from honest fundamental motives--simplicity in 
     life leads to the fullest living. Order my life--in order, 
     there is achievement, in aimlessness, there is retrogression.
       (6) Fear nothing--be it insanity, sickness, failure--always 
     be upright--look the world in the eye.
       (7) Keep my mind always clean--allow no evil thoughts to 
     destroy me. My mind is my very own, to think and use just as 
     I do my arms. It was given to me by the Creator to use as I 
     see fit, but to think wrong is to do wrong!
       (8) Concentrate! Choose the task to be done, and do it to 
     the best of my ability.
       (9) Fear not for the future--build on each day as though 
     the future for me is a certainty. If I die tomorrow, that is 
     too bad, but I will have done today's work!
       (10) Never be discouraged over anything! Turn failure into 
     success.

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