[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 170 Engrossed in House (EH)]
In the House of Representatives, U.S.,
April 9, 2003.
Whereas the U.S.S. Thresher was first launched at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard on
July 9, 1960;
Whereas, with a crew of 16 officers, 96 sailors, and 17 civilians, the U.S.S.
Thresher departed Portsmouth Naval Shipyard for her final voyage on
April 9, 1963;
Whereas the military and civilian mix of the U.S.S. Thresher crew reflects the
unity of the naval submarine service in the protection of the United
States;
Whereas at approximately 7:47 a.m. on April 10, 1963, while in communication
with the surface ship U.S.S. Skylark, and approximately 300 miles off
the coast of New England, the U.S.S. Thresher began her final descent;
Whereas, on April 10, 1963, the U.S.S. Thresher was declared lost with all
hands;
Whereas the loss of the U.S.S. Thresher gave rise to the SUBSAFE program, which
has kept United States' submariners safe at sea as the strongest and
safest submarine force in history;
Whereas the loss of the U.S.S. Thresher gave rise to an ocean engineering
curricula in institutions of higher education that has enabled and
sustained the United States' preeminence in submarine warfare; and
Whereas the crew of the U.S.S. Thresher demonstrated the ``last full measure of
devotion'' in service to the United States, and this devotion
characterizes the sacrifices of all submariners, past and present: Now,
therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
(1) recognizes the 40th anniversary of the sinking of the U.S.S.
Thresher;
(2) remembers with profound sorrow the loss on April 10, 1963, of
the U.S.S. Thresher and her gallant crew of sailors and civilians;
(3) expresses its deepest gratitude to all submariners on ``eternal
patrol'', who are forever bound together by their dedicated and
honorable service to the United States; and
(4) requests the Clerk of the House of Representatives to transmit a
copy of this resolution to the Chief of Naval Operations and to the
Commanding Officer of the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard to be accepted on
behalf of the families and shipmates of the crew of the U.S.S. Thresher.
Attest:
Clerk.