IV 
111TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. RES. 773 
Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives with respect to the 
United States Submarine Force. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
SEPTEMBER 24, 2009 
Mr. BOOZMAN (for himself and Mr. SESTAK) submitted the following 
resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs 
RESOLUTION 
Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives with 
respect to the United States Submarine Force. 
Whereas 100 years ago, American naval officials who wit-
nessed a submarine, the ‘‘Holland VI’’, submerge and 
surface in the Potomac River knew this was the first suc-
cessful 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 pre-
serve 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; 
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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; 
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 Em-
pire’s total merchant ship losses; 
Whereas losses inflicted by the United States Submarine 
Force contributed to the devastation of the Japanese in-
dustrial 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 subma-
riners made the ultimate sacrifice; 
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•HRES 773 IH 
Whereas United States submariners were going to war, trust-
ing 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 oper-
ations roles in their campaign against Japan, and in 
many of the hardest fought battles of the war, submarine 
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 
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(4) is committed to keeping alive their memory 
so that the American people never forget their cour-
age and sacrifice. 
Æ 
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