H. Res. 773 

In the House of Representatives, U. S., 

November 2, 2009. 

Whereas 100 years ago, American naval officials who witnessed a submarine, the ‘‘Holland VI’’, submerge and 

surface in the Potomac River knew this was the first successful United States submarine that would inspire the 

powerful undersea fighting force that would contribute so 

much to the United States victory in World War II; 

Whereas during World War II, the United States Submarine 

Force served with honor and valor to protect and preserve the freedoms of the United States, as well as those 

of the allies of the United States; 

Whereas the War in the Pacific could not have been won 

without the efforts of the United States Submarine 

Force; 

Whereas during World War II, the United States Submarine 

Force comprised less than two percent of the Navy’s 

fleet; 

Whereas during World War II, United States submariners 

were to suffocate Japan’s military industry, cut its oil 

supply, starve it, and prevent mass troop movements by 

sea, all by sinking the Japanese merchant fleet on which 

it was so dependent as a nation of islands; 
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•HRES 773 EH 

Whereas during World War II, United States submariners 

sank over 30 percent of the Japanese Navy including 

eight aircraft carriers, one battleship and 11 cruisers, 

and more importantly, the Submarine Force sank 1,300 

Japanese merchant ships totaling approximately 

5,000,000 tons, which was almost 60 percent of the Empire’s total merchant ship losses; 

Whereas losses inflicted by the United States Submarine 

Force contributed to the devastation of the Japanese industrial power that effectively eliminated the ability of 

the enemy to sustain combat forces and replace losses of 

ships and aircraft; 

Whereas World War II diesel-electric submarines had limited 

underwater speed, range, and endurance and usually 

sailed on the surface, where they were vulnerable to 

enemy attack; 

Whereas 52 American submarines were lost during World 

War II, 49 in the Pacific; 

Whereas the United States Submarine Force suffered the 

highest percentage of losses of any branch of the Armed 

Services; 

Whereas during World War II, approximately 3,500 submariners made the ultimate sacrifice; 

Whereas United States submariners were going to war, trusting their lives to a weapon, the torpedo, that, particularly 

in 1942 through 1943, was unreliable, and could even 

turn against them by running erratically in a circular 

path; 

Whereas submarines played both humane and special operations roles in their campaign against Japan, and in 

many of the hardest fought battles of the war, submarine 
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•HRES 773 EH 

crews rescued unlucky carrier pilots who ended up in the 

sea, like future United States President George H. W. 

Bush; and 

Whereas members of the Submarine Forces, known as the 

‘‘silent service’’, assumed the difficult task of pioneering 

a new way of fighting so as to protect the liberties and 

freedoms of the United States: Now, therefore, be it 

Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

(1) is committed to promoting and sustaining the 

spirit of unity shared by members of the United States 

Submarine Force; 

(2) is committed to paying tribute once again to the 

seven submariners who were awarded the Medal of 

Honor, including two who were awarded the medal posthumously; 

(3) wishes to help keep alive the memory of the 

Submarine Force veterans and honor their service just 

as their fellow shipmates do at their gatherings by performing the ceremony known as the ‘‘Tolling of the 

Boats’’; and 

(4) is committed to keeping alive their memory so 

that the American people never forget their courage and 

sacrifice. 

Attest: 

Clerk.