Presidential Documents

31371

Federal Register

Vol. 66, No. 112

Monday, June 11, 2001

Title 3—

The President

Proclamation 7448 of June 7, 2001

Asiatic Fleet Memorial Day

By the President of the United States of America

A Proclamation

All of America’s service personnel and veterans deserve our gratitude, and

it is fitting to pay tribute to the United States Asiatic Fleet.

The United States Navy’s presence in the Far East dates to 1822. The

Asiatic Fleet was formed in 1902, reestablished in 1910, and continued

to serve into 1942. Through years of unrest and disturbance, the Fleet

protected American lives and interests along the China coast and the Yangtze

River, bearing responsibilities that were as much diplomatic as Naval. The

Fleet also assisted civilian areas devastated by the forces of nature and

by internal warfare.

When the attack on Pearl Harbor thrust the United States into World War

II, the Asiatic Fleet played a key role in the defense of the Philippines.

Outnumbered and outgunned at sea and in the air, the Fleet was joined

by ships of the British, Dutch, and Australian navies to oppose the Japanese

advance through what is now Indonesia. The Fleet’s destroyers hit the

Japanese at Balikpapan and Badung Strait, and the cruiser Marblehead fought

her way through massive air attacks off Bali while submarines, short of

fuel and torpedoes, struck Japanese supply lines.

The battle for the ‘‘Malay Barrier’’ reached its climax in the Java Sea.

In the opening hours of March 1, 1942, the American cruiser Houston

and the Australian cruiser Perth, outnumbered and outgunned by the Japanese, fought to the last in the Sunda Strait. They went down with their

guns still firing and were followed hours later by the British cruiser Exeter.

The remaining Allied ships were then ordered to make their way to Australia.

The Asiatic Fleet was no more, but its heritage of courage and selfless

dedication helped spur our Navy to victory in World War II. Since then,

the Seventh Fleet has carried on the Asiatic Fleet’s duties, earning honor

in Korea and Vietnam and helping to preserve peace and stability in East

Asia. The men and women of our Naval services who saw the Cold War

to a peaceful conclusion and won victory in Operation Desert Storm are

worthy descendants of the sailors and Marines who earned glory in the

Java Sea. As we pay tribute to the memory of the Asiatic Fleet, I call

on all Americans to join me in saluting its proud heritage of bravery and

honor.

The Congress, by Public Law 105-261, on October 17, 1998, has authorized

and requested the President to issue a proclamation in commemoration

of the United States Navy Asiatic Fleet.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the Untied States

of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution

and laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim Friday, March 1, 2002,

as U.S. Navy Asiatic Fleet Memorial Day. I call upon all Americans to

observe this day with appropriate ceremonies, activities, and programs.

31372 Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 112 / Monday, June 11, 2001 / Presidential Documents

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this seventh day

of June, in the year of our Lord two thousand one, and of the Independence

of the United States of America the two hundred and twenty-fifth.

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