SUBJ/SENATE RESOLUTION COMMENDING THE SUBMARINE FORCE//

RMKS/

1. ON 19 NOVEMBER, THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES PASSED THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTION COMMENDING THE SUBMARINE FORCE ON THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF OUR FORCE:

2. "WHEREAS THE SUBMARINE FORCE OF THE UNITED STATES WAS FOUNDED WITH THE PURCHASE OF THE USS HOLLAND ON APRIL 11, 1900;

WHEREAS IN OVERCOMING DESTRUCTION RESULTING FROM THE ATTACK OF UNITED STATES FORCES AT PEARL HARBOR, HAWAII, ON DECEMBER 7, 1941, AND DIFFICULTIES WITH DEFECTIVE TORPEDOES, THE SUBMARINE FORCE DESTROYED 1,314 ENEMY SHIPS IN WORLD WAR II (WEIGHING A CUMULATIVE 5,300,000 TONS), WHICH ACCOUNTED FOR 55 PERCENT OF ALL ENEMY SHIPS LOST IN WORLD WAR II;

WHEREAS 16,000 UNITED STATES SUBMARINERS SERVED WITH COURAGE DURING WORLD WAR II, AND 7 UNITED STATES SUBMARINERS WERE AWARDED CONGRESSIONAL MEDALS OF HONOR FOR THEIR DISTINGUISHED GALLANTRY IN COMBAT ABOVE AND BEYOND THE CALL OF DUTY;

WHEREAS IN ACHIEVING AN IMPRESSIVE WORLD WAR II RECORD, THE SUBMARINE FORCE SUFFERED THE HIGHEST CASUALTY RATE OF ANY COMBATANT SUBMARINE SERVICE OF THE WARRING ALLIANCES, LOSING 375 OFFICERS AND 3,131 ENLISTED MEN IN 52 SUBMARINES;

WHEREAS FROM 1948 TO 1955, THE SUBMARINE FORCE, WITH LEADERSHIP PROVIDED BY ADMIRAL HYMAN RICKOVER AND OTHERS, DEVELOPED AN INDUSTRIAL BASE IN A NEW TECHNOLOGY, PIONEERED NEW MATERIALS, DESIGNED AND BUILT A PROTOTYPE REACTOR, ESTABLISHED A TRAINING PROGRAM, AND TOOK TO SEA THE WORLD'S FIRST NUCLEAR-POWERED SUBMARINE, THE U.S.S. NAUTILUS, THUS PROVIDING AMERICA UNDERSEA SUPERIORITY;

WHEREAS SUBSEQUENT TO THE DESIGN OF THE U.S.S. NAUTILUS, THE SUBMARINE FORCE CONTINUED TO DEVELOP AND PUT TO SEA THE WORLD'S MOST ADVANCED AND CAPABLE SUBMARINES, WHICH WERE VITAL TO MAINTAINING OUR NATIONAL SECURITY DURING THE COLD WAR;

WHEREAS THE UNITED STATES NAVY, WITH LEADERSHIP PROVIDED BY ADMIRAL RED RABORN, DEVELOPED THE WORLD'S FIRST OPERATIONAL BALLISTIC MISSILE SUBMARINE, WHICH PROVIDED AN INVALUABLE ASSET TO OUR NATION'S STRATEGIC NUCLEAR DETERRENT CAPABILITY, AND CONTRIBUTED DIRECTLY TO THE EVENTUAL CONCLUSION OF THE COLD WAR;

AND WHEREAS IN 1999, THE SUBMARINE FORCE PROVIDES THE UNITED STATES NAVY WITH THE ABILITY TO OPERATE AROUND THE WORLD, INDEPENDENT OF OUTSIDE SUPPORT, FROM THE OPEN OCEAN TO THE LITTORALS, CARRYING OUT MULTIMISSION TASKINGS ON TACTICAL, OPERATIONAL, AND STRATEGIC LEVELS: NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED,

(A) THAT THE SENATE--

(1) COMMENDS THE PAST AND PRESENT PERSONNEL OF THE SUBMARINE FORCE OF THE
UNITED STATES NAVY FOR THEIR TECHNICAL EXCELLENCE, ACCOMPLISHMENTS,
PROFESSIONALISM, AND SACRIFICES; AND
 

(2) CONGRATULATES THOSE PERSONNEL FOR THE 100 YEARS OF EXEMPLARY SERVICE THAT THEY HAVE PROVIDED THE UNITED STATES.

(B) IT IS THE SENSE OF THE SENATE THAT, IN THE NEXT MILLENNIUM, THE SUBMARINE FORCE OF THE UNITED STATES NAVY SHOULD CONTINUE TO COMPRISE AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE NAVY, AND TO CARRY OUT MISSIONS THAT ARE KEY TO MAINTAINING OUR GREAT NATION'S FREEDOM AND SECURITY AS THE MOST SUPERIOR SUBMARINE FORCE IN THE WORLD."

3. CONGRATULATIONS! YOU SHOULD ALL BE JUSTIFIABLY PROUD OF OUR PAST AND PRESENT ACCOMPLISHMENTS WHICH HAVE MADE OUR SUBMARINE FORCE THE BEST DAMN SUBMARINE FORCE IN THE ENTIRE WORLD. IT IS SIGNIFICANT THAT THIS RESOLUTION RECOGNIZES OUR ACHIEVEMENTS, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, THAT IT HIGHLIGHTS THE NEED AND COMMITTMENT FOR A SUBMARINE FORCE IN THE NEXT MILLENNIUM. OUR FUTURE CONTINUES TO BE BRIGHT!

4. KEEP CHARGING!

VADM GIAMBASTIANI AND RADM KONETZNI SEND.//