[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 5]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 6396-6397]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                  HONORING 108 YEARS OF SILENT SERVICE

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. JOE COURTNEY

                             of connecticut

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 17, 2008

  Mr. COURTNEY. Madam Speaker, last week, I had the honor of 
participating in a wreath laying ceremony at the United States Navy 
Memorial to mark the 108th anniversary of the submarine force. The 
ceremony, held in front of the memorial's ``Lone Soldier,'' was a 
moving tribute to the proud heritage of our submarine force and the 
dedicated submariners who have silently protected our Nation for more 
than 100 years. And, over the last weekend, I was proud to attend Naval 
Submarine Base New London's annual submarine birthday ball.
  For over a century, sailors have embarked on dangerous service in a 
place where human life was never meant to exist in order to silently 
protect our Nation. There is an irony to the fact that while our Nation 
owes much of its security over the past century to the submarine force, 
most Americans will never truly know all that the ``silent service'' 
has done to protect us.
  2008 is an especially important year in the history of the submarine 
force, as it marks the 50th anniversary of the USS Nautilus' (SSN-571) 
journey across the North Pole in 1958, an unprecedented achievement by 
our sailors at a critical time for our Nation. The men aboard her on 
her historic journey set the pace for all those who followed in their 
footsteps.
  Much has changed about our submarine force and the role of our 
submariners since the USS Holland (SS-1) first set sail in 1900. In 
World War I and World War II, our submarines were not much more than 
surface ships that could submerge for a short period before surfacing. 
Yet, in very dangerous conditions and with high casualty rates, 
submariners sank an estimated 6 million tons of enemy merchant ships 
and sank nearly one-third of the Japanese Navy's warships. The cost of 
their efforts were high: 52 submarines and over 3,600 men, at a rate of 
nearly one in four, were lost in the war. But their sacrifice helped 
bring us to victory and proved the submarine's role in the defense of 
our Nation.
  In the Cold War, submariners played a key role as a critical 
strategic deterrent in our protracted struggle with the Soviet Union. 
Silently patrolling in waters across the world, our attack and 
ballistic missile submarine crews helped to secure an uneasy peace by 
ensuring that we were ready to respond at any moment. There were no 
victory medals when it was over, no parades for the countless young men 
who served on these critical yet silent front lines, but there is no 
doubt our Nation is forever indebted to them and the era they helped us 
overcome.
  And, as the Cold War ended and new challenges emerged, the modern 
attack submarine fleet, consisting of the Los Angeles- and Virginia-
class, emerged as our Nation's front line defense Today, our 
submariners are no less critical than the eras preceding us. We use 
submarines extensively around the globe, using their stealth to 
covertly gather intelligence briefed at the highest levels of our 
government. They are adapting and growing to meeting the security 
challenges of the 21st century, and every day they remind us that 
submarines are, and will remain, at the core of our Nation's defense.
  From the Holland, to the Nautilus, and to the newest boats in the 
fleet, the USS North Carolina (SSN-777) and USS New Hampshire (SSN-
778), the capabilities and technologies on board may have changed 
dramatically, but one thing has always stayed the same: The strength of 
any submarine has always come down to those who command and serve 
aboard her.
  In my travels over the past year, I have met countless commanding 
officers and sailors--many of them young men doing some of the most 
important work on behalf of our security--who selflessly dedicate their 
lives in dangerous service.
  Our sailors serve in the harshest of conditions around the globe, on 
long tours away from their families literally stacked on top of their 
crewmates, often cut off from the rest of the world. They make up the 
smallest portion of our Navy and their achievements are most often 
secret. But, there is no doubt that each and every one of them loves 
what they do on behalf of the security of our Nation.
  Every submariner today serves upon the foundation built by those that 
came before them. At the core of their service over the past century 
has been a legacy is one of devotion,

[[Page 6397]]

bravery and innovation. Without a doubt, today's submarine force is 
living up to that legacy and building one of their own for those who 
come after them to follow.
  This is an exciting time for the submarine force. It is a time of 
great possibility and of new challenges. But, after spending time with 
sailors in the mess hall of a submarine submerged below the ice to 
building relationships with officers at the top of the chain of 
command, I am confident that our submariners will continue the proud 
legacy built by those who came before them.
  I ask all my colleagues to join with me in extending our deep 
appreciation to those who have, and continue to, silently serve our 
Nation, their families, and to all our Armed Forces serving today 
around the globe.

                          ____________________