III

106TH CONGRESS

2D SESSION S. RES. 318

Honoring the 129 sailors and civilians lost aboard the U.S.S. Thresher (SSN

593) on April 10, 1963; extending the gratitude of the Nation for

their last, full measure of devotion; and acknowledging the contributions

of the Naval Submarine Service and the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard

to the defense of this Nation.

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

JUNE 7 (legislative day, JUNE 6), 2000

Ms. SNOWE (for herself, Mr. SMITH of New Hampshire, Mr. GREGG, Ms. COLLINS, Mr. WARNER, Mr. ROBB, Mr. SESSIONS, Mr. LEVIN, and Mr. KENNEDY) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and

agreed to

RESOLUTION

Honoring the 129 sailors and civilians lost aboard the U.S.S.

Thresher (SSN 593) on April 10, 1963; extending the

gratitude of the Nation for their last, full measure of

devotion; and acknowledging the contributions of the

Naval Submarine Service and the Portsmouth Naval

Shipyard to the defense of this Nation.

Whereas this is the 100th year of service to the people of the

United States by the United States Navy submarine

force, the ‘‘Silent Service’’;

Whereas this is the 200th year of service to the Nation of

the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard;
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•SRES 318 ATS

Whereas Portsmouth Naval Shipyard launched the first Navy

built submarine, the L–8, on April 23, 1917;

Whereas 52 years and 133 submarines later, on November

11, 1969, Portsmouth Naval Shipyard launched the last

submarine built by the Navy, the U.S.S. Sand Lance;

Whereas the U.S.S. Thresher was launched at Portsmouth

Naval Shipyard on July 9, 1960;

Whereas the U.S.S. Thresher departed Portsmouth Naval

Shipyard on April 9, 1963, with a crew of 129 composed

of 16 officers, 96 sailors, and 17 civilians;

Whereas the mix of that crew reflects the unity of the naval

submarine service, military and civilian, in the protection

of the Nation;

Whereas at approximately 7:45 a.m. on April 10, 1963, at a

location near 41.46 degrees North latitude and 65.03 degrees West longitude, the U.S.S. Thresher began her

final mission;

Whereas the U.S.S. Thresher was declared lost with all hands

on April 10, 1963;

Whereas from the loss of that submarine, there arose the

SUBSAFE program which has kept America’s submariners safe at sea ever since as the strongest, safest submarine force in history;

Whereas from the loss of the U.S.S. Thresher, there arose in

our Nation’s universities the ocean engineering curricula

that enables America’s preeminence in submarine warfare; and

Whereas the ‘‘last full measure of devotion’’ shown by the

crew of the U.S.S. Thresher characterizes the sacrifice of
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•SRES 318 ATS

all submariners, past and present, military and civilian,

in the service of this Nation: Now, therefore, be it

1 Resolved, That the Senate—

2 (1) remembers with profound sorrow the loss of

3 the U.S.S. Thresher and her gallant crew of sailors

4 and civilians on April 10, 1963;

5 (2) expresses its deepest gratitude to all subma6 riners on ‘‘eternal patrol’’, forever bound together by

7 their dedicated and honorable service to the United

8 States of America;

9 (3) recognizes with appreciation and respect the

10 commitment and sacrifices made by the Naval Sub11 marine Service for the past 100 years in providing

12 for the common defense of the United States; and

13 (4) offers its admiration and gratitude for the

14 workers of the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard whose

15 200 years of dedicated service to the United States

16 Navy has contributed directly to the greatness and

17 freedom of the United States.

18 SEC. 2. TRANSMISSION OF RESOLUTION.

19 The Secretary of the Senate shall transmit this reso20 lution to the Chief of Naval Operations and to the Com21 manding Officer of the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard who

22 shall accept this resolution on behalf of the families and

23 shipmates of the crew of the U.S.S. Thresher.

Æ