PAUL FERGUSON'S SPEECH ON VETERANS' DAY 2001

 

   Paul Ferguson said: “America’s veterans, who are pledged to protect and serve the common good, have been on the scene at every significant moment of Our Nation’s history. Founders Washington and Hamilton led the patriot army in the war for independence; Sailors and Marines faced the Barbary Pirates in that 18th Century war on terrorism; In the 19th Century, American servicemen struggled against foreign armies and navies, as well as their own brothers; and in the 20th Century, American Soldiers, Sailors (including submarine sailors), Airmen, and Marines defended Democracy and Freedom against a relentless onslaught of imperialism, totalitarianism, and Communism. Then after each war, after each campaign, American veterans returned to their hometowns as leaders, public servants, workers, and role models for succeeding generations. 

 

   Today, we include in our thoughts, firefighters, police officers, and rescue workers who risked and sacrificed their lives on day One of America’s newest war. It is only fitting that we should do so. 

 

   And, it is most fitting that we Hawaii submarine veterans, once again, gather here at this memorial, before this wall of honor, to remember the great sacrifices of the Great Generation and to draw from them inspiration for the struggles ahead.  

 

   The Submarine Memorial at Submarine Base PH enshrines the names of boats lost and the men who perished during WW II.  America’s submarine force played a significant role following Pearl Harbor. In the early days of the war SUBPAC submarines thrust westward from Hawaii to intercept and engage enemy naval forces. By 1945 the men and boats of the Pacific Submarine Force had greatly restrained Japan’s ability to make war and had seriously damaged her ability to defend against allied advances.

 

   That small force, less than 2% of our Navy, accounted for the destruction of over 55% of the enemy shipping. But that success came with a large cost to SUBPAC. The 52 submarines lost represented 25% of our nation’s submarines and the 3500 submariners lost represented 20% of her submariners.”

 

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