III 

115TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. RES. 243 

Expressing the sense of the Senate that Joseph Leon George should be 

honored for heroism at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on December 7, 1941. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

AUGUST 2, 2017 

Mr. FLAKE (for himself, Mr. GARDNER, Mr. LEE, Mr. COTTON, Mrs. MCCASKILL, and Mr. BENNET) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Armed Services 

SEPTEMBER 7, 2017 

Committee discharged; considered and agreed to 

RESOLUTION 

Expressing the sense of the Senate that Joseph Leon George 

should be honored for heroism at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, 

on December 7, 1941. 

Whereas, on December 7, 1941, Boatswain’s Mate Second 

Class Joseph Leon George was 26 years old; 

Whereas Boatswain’s Mate Second Class George was a crewmember aboard the USS Vestal (AR–4), a repair ship, on 

that day; 

Whereas the USS Vestal was moored next to the USS Arizona (BB–39); 

Whereas the Japanese began the attack on Pearl Harbor, 

Hawaii, at 7:48 a.m.; 


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SRES 243 ATS 

Whereas 6 sailors on the USS Arizona, Seaman First Class 

Harold Kuhn, Seaman First Class Russell Lott, Gunner’s 

Mate Third Class Earl Riner, Boatswain’s Mate Second 

Class Alvin Dvork, Seaman First Class Donald Stratton, 

and Fire Controlman Third Class Lauren Bruner, were 

trapped in the control tower main mast after a massive 

explosion on the ship; 

Whereas those 6 sailors suffered severe burns; 

Whereas those wounded sailors searched for a way to escape 

the ship; 

Whereas Boatswain’s Mate Second Class George saw the 6 

wounded sailors on the USS Arizona from the USS Vestal and threw a heaving line and a heavy line; 

Whereas all 6 sailors climbed, nearly 40 feet in the air, hand 

over hand across the heavy line 70 feet to safety onboard 

the USS Vestal; 

Whereas 2 sailors died shortly after from their injuries, but 

the remaining 4 survived; 

Whereas Boatswain’s Mate Second Class George was commended for his actions, but he was never given a medal 

for his role in the rescue of the 6 sailors; 

Whereas the 2 surviving sailors rescued from the USS Arizona, Donald Stratton and Lauren Bruner, seek to honor 

Boatswain’s Mate Second Class George; 

Whereas USS Arizona survivor Donald Stratton stated, ‘‘Joe 

George was never awarded anything for his bravery. He 

is no longer with us, but I believe in his memory, should 

be awarded the Navy Cross.’’; and 

Whereas USS Arizona survivor Lauren Bruner stated, ‘‘The 

six of us would not have survived except for his courage, 


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SRES 243 ATS 

in spite of being at high risk himself. He fully deserves 

high commendations for his actions. I feel he should be 

recognized for this courage and presented the Navy 

Cross.’’: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) honors the heroism of Boatswain’s Mate 

3 Second Class Joseph Leon George in saving the lives 

4 of 6 sailors on December 7, 1941; and 

5 (2) believes the United States Navy, in light of 

6 new information, should consider revisiting deco7 rating and honoring the heroism of Boatswain’s 

8 Mate Second Class Joseph Leon George in saving 

9 the lives of 6 sailors on December 7, 1941. 

Æ 


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