[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 2]
[Senate]
[Pages 2285-2286]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                HONORING THE USS ``MOUNT HOOD'' (AE-11)

  Mr. NELSON of Florida. Mr. President, on August 21, 1944, laden with 
precious cargo for the Pacific theatre, the USS Mount Hood, the lead 
ship of her class for the U.S. Navy, departed Norfolk on her first 
mission. On board were 296 sailors and 22 officers.
  The USS Mount Hood reached Manus Island, a province of Papua, New 
Guinea, on September 22 and commenced with dispensing ammunition and 
explosives to ships preparing for the Philippine offensive. On the 
morning of November 10, 1944, a young Naval Reserve lieutenant and 17 
enlisted men climbed over the side of the USS Mount Hood and boarded 
boats to go ashore. After reaching the beach, they saw an enormous 
flash followed by two explosions, and the men were knocked to the 
ground. They scrambled back to the boats and headed to where the Mount 
Hood had been anchored, but found only debris where the ship had once 
been. The entire ship, and all aboard, were gone.
  Over 400,000 Americans lost their lives in World War II. In the 
deserts of North Africa, the jungles of the Pacific islands, on the 
beaches in Normandy, and everywhere in between, these brave men and 
women sacrificed their lives to preserve the freedom and individual 
liberties we all enjoy. We owe them all an immense debt of gratitude 
for the sacrifices they made to defend our Nation. They should never be 
forgotten.
  The only surviving officer of the USS Mount Hood, LT Lester Wallace, 
is now 95 years old and resides in Pensacola, FL. While we mourn those 
who gave their lives to the cause of freedom, we must also remember to 
celebrate the service and sacrifice of those who survived. I am 
extremely proud of the service Lieutenant Wallace rendered to our 
country as a Navy officer, and later as a civilian. On behalf of the 
people of Florida and our Nation, I thank Lieutenant Wallace--and all 
those who have served and continue to serve--for their sacrifice and 
service.

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