IV

106TH CONGRESS

2D SESSION H. CON. RES. 421

Expressing the sense of the Congress with respect to the accomplishments

of the U.S.S. TENNESSEE (BB–43) during World War II.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

OCTOBER 10, 2000

Mr. BRYANT submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was referred

to the Committee on Armed Services

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

Expressing the sense of the Congress with respect to the

accomplishments of the U.S.S. TENNESSEE (BB–43)

during World War II.

Whereas the U.S.S. TENNESSEE (BB–43) suffered significant damage during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, after which the ship was repaired and her crew retrained for battle in the Pacific

during World War II;

Whereas during the four years following the attack on Pearl

Harbor, the U.S.S. TENNESSEE fired 9,347 shells

from her 14-inch guns, 46,341 shells from her 5-inch

guns, and more than 100,000 rounds from her antiaircraft batteries;

Whereas the U.S.S. TENNESSEE’s four-year tour through

the Pacific marks the largest number of shells fired by
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a ship in combat in the entire history of the United

States Navy;

Whereas the U.S.S. TENNESSEE and her crew participated

in 13 major operations during World War II, logging 339

days in combat;

Whereas the U.S.S. TENNESSEE suffered damage at

Saipan, Iwo Jima, and Okinawa, but remained in battle,

with her crew making emergency repairs;

Whereas during the Battle for Leyte Gulf in the Philippines

on October 23–26, 1944, the U.S.S. TENNESSEE assisted in defeating the last major Japanese naval counteroffensive of the war;

Whereas during the Battle of Surigao Strait on October 24–

25, 1944, the U.S.S. TENNESSEE’s accuracy of fire

helped defeat the invading Japanese naval fleet and save

the Leyte landing beachhead;

Whereas the performance of the U.S.S. TENNESSEE during World War II excelled due to her length of service,

degree of enemy reaction encountered, amount of main

and secondary battery ammunition expended, and effectiveness of gunfire delivered;

Whereas the crew of the U.S.S. TENNESSEE was awarded

the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with 10 battle stars

and the World War II Victory Medal for their World War

II service;

Whereas the crew of the U.S.S. TENNESSEE was awarded

10 battle stars, for actions during—

(1) the Pearl Harbor attack on December 7, 1941,

and the Aleutians Campaign, from June to August 1943;

(2) the Gilbert Islands Operation, from November

18 to December 8, 1943;
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(3) the Marshall Islands Operation, from January to

March 1944;

(4) the Marianas Operation, from June to August

1944;

(5) the Tinian Capture and Occupation, from July

24 to August 1, 1944;

(6) the Western Caroline Islands Operation, from

September 6 to October 14, 1944;

(7) the Leyte Operation, from August to November

1944;

(8) the Iwo Jima Operation, from February 15 to

March 16, 1945;

(9) the Okinawa Gunto operation, from March 24 to

June 30, 1945; and

(10) the Third Fleet Operations against Japan, from

July 10 to August 15, 1945;

Whereas after World War II, the Secretary of the Navy convened a special board to review recommendations for

awards of decorations and medals that had been denied

during World War II, which reviewed the case of the

U.S.S. TENNESSEE and did not recommend to the

President the award of the Presidential Unit Citation for

the crew of the ship; and

Whereas the U.S.S. TENNESSEE was in action during

World War II from December 7, 1941, to August 15,

1945, but in considering whether to recommend the

award of the Presidential Unit Citation, the Secretary of

the Navy took into consideration only the period from

January 31, 1944, to June 21, 1945, which excludes the

time during which four battle stars were awarded: Now,

therefore, be it

1 Resolved, That the Congress—
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1 (1) commends those who served on the U.S.S.

2 TENNESSEE (BB–43) for their service to the Na3 tion and their role in the ship’s 13 major operations

4 during World War II, including the Battle of Leyte

5 Gulf, during which the U.S.S. TENNESSEE played

6 a role in the last naval action fought by a battle line;

7 and

8 (2) urges the Secretary of the Navy to recon9 sider the decision whether to recommend to the

10 President the award of the Presidential Unit Cita11 tion to the World War II crew of the U.S.S. TEN12 NESSEE.

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