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 signifi-
cant damage during the Japanese attack on Pearl Har-
bor on December 7, 1941, after which the ship was re-
paired 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 anti-
aircraft 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 as-
sisted in defeating the last major Japanese naval coun-
teroffensive 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 dur-
ing World War II excelled due to her length of service,
degree of enemy reaction encountered, amount of main
and secondary battery ammunition expended, and effec-
tiveness 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 con-
vened 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
Resolved, That the Congress—
•HCON 421 IH
(1) commends those who served on the U.S.S.
TENNESSEE (BB–43) for their service to the Na-
tion and their role in the ship’s 13 major operations
during World War II, including the Battle of Leyte
Gulf, during which the U.S.S. TENNESSEE played
a role in the last naval action fought by a battle line;
and
(2) urges the Secretary of the Navy to recon-
sider the decision whether to recommend to the
President the award of the Presidential Unit Cita-
tion to the World War II crew of the U.S.S. TEN-
NESSEE.
Æ