[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 2]
[Senate]
[Pages 2211-2212]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




             TRIBUTE TO CAPTAIN FRANK A. MANSON, 1920-2005

  Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I rise today to commemorate the life of 
CAPT Frank Albert Manson, an outstanding Virginian who served his 
country with valor during World War II and the Korean war. While 
Captain Manson passed from this earth on January 20, he has left an 
exceptional legacy through his humanitarian vision, his insightful 
observation of naval conflict, and especially in the hearts of his 
loving wife, three children, and ten grandchildren. His daughter 
Jennifer Joy Wilson was a longtime member of my staff and remains a 
valued advisor.
  Born in Oklahoma in 1920, Frank Manson earned a bachelor of science 
in education from Northeastern Oklahoma State University in 1941. 
Following 2 years of teaching at the high-school level, he attended 
officer candidate school at Cornell University and gained his 
commission for the United States Navy.
  Like many other brave young men who answered the call of duty in 
World War II, then-Lieutenant Manson was sent to combat in the Pacific 
Theater. Appointed as the communications officer on the USS Laffey, 
DD724, he was responsible for providing the media with the detailed 
accounts that followed the Laffey's triumphant efforts of April 16, 
1945. On that fateful day, the ship and its resilient crew outlasted an 
attack of at least 22 Japanese aircraft, the worst offensive endured by 
any United States ship that remained afloat. While bombs strafed its 
deck and as many as eight planes crashed into the ship, the Laffey 
responded with courage befitting an American vessel. Eight planes were 
shot down, and another six were harmed despite the extensive damage 
inflicted by the enemy forces upon ``the ship that would not die.'' 
During his briefing with reporters covering the war, the young officer 
recounted the infamous words of the Laffey's commanding officer, LCDR 
Julius T. Becton, who had stated so admirably, ``I'll never abandon 
ship as long as a gun will fire.''
  Captain Manson distinguished himself as an excellent writer during 
and after his military career. Following his noble service in World War 
II, Captain Manson was reassigned to the Pentagon. He coauthored three 
volumes of the Navy's Battle Report Series, the branch's official 
history of action in the war. Again, during the Korean war, he was 
called upon for his skills as a historian. Captain Manson traveled on a 
number of ships and spoke with many of his fellow seamen before co-
authoring the exceptional work, ``The Sea

[[Page 2212]]

War in Korea.'' A thoroughly researched and well written official 
history of the Navy's role in battle, his book was republished in seven 
languages and was selected for permanent inclusion in the White House 
Library. Before retiring from the Navy in 1968, Captain Manson served 
as Chief Public Affairs NATO Allied Command Europe and Chief of Public 
Information for the Supreme Allied Commander Atlantic, ADM Thomas 
Moorer. He was valued as a speechwriter for many naval leaders of the 
1950s and 60s, including Admirals Robert Carney, Arleigh Burke, and 
John S. McCain, Jr. Over the course of his naval career, he assisted in 
high command policy formulation, strategy, and tactics through his 
service on the personal staff of 14 four-star admirals and four chiefs 
of naval operations.
  While he was a courageous sailor and a noteworthy historian, perhaps 
the best known of Captain Manson's efforts was his idea for the ``Great 
White Fleet.'' Working from the Pentagon after the Korean war, he 
reflected upon the poverty and disease that he had encountered as a 
soldier on the battlefields of World War II. Understanding that the 
Navy maintained a surplus of vessels, Captain Manson began to 
investigate previous naval capacities for hospital and auxiliary ships. 
From his research he developed a concept to create, in his own words, 
``an entire fleet of mercy ships--grain ships, hospital ships, 
education ships, power ships--a fleet designed to make the benefits of 
the free enterprise system available to the entire human race.'' 
Recognizing his fellow citizens' desire for peace and the willingness 
of Americans to contribute to ``sensible'' foreign aid, Captain Manson 
gained resounding support for the fleet in the United States and 
abroad. Championed by Senators George Aiken and Hubert Humphrey, 
legislation for the humanitarian ships passed in this chamber, and his 
vision was realized with the inaugural voyage of Project Hope, a 
seafaring benefactor of medical care.
  Even during his years of retirement, Captain Manson provided his 
expertise to the American Legion, the Reserve Officers Association, and 
the Veterans of Foreign Wars. A dedicated family man throughout his 
life, Captain Manson wrote a children's book to fulfill his grandson's 
intent curiosity about dinosaurs, and he was the primary caregiver for 
his wife, Lee, after she was disabled severely following a stroke.
  Captain Frank Albert Manson is to be commended for his love of family 
and his service to our country. I appreciate this opportunity to 
express my deepest sympathy on the occasion of his passing, and I join 
with his friends and loved ones in celebrating the remarkable life of 
this outstanding American.

                          ____________________