The
Rohna Survivors Memorial
Association
CONGRESSIONAL RECOGNITION
OF THE
HMT ROHNA
AND THE MEN AND FAMILIES
WHO PLAYED A PART
CONGRESSMAN METCALF'S SPEECH
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TEXT OF SPEECH
BY CONGRESSMAN JACK METCALF
TO THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
SEPTEMBER 12, 2000
REMEMBERING THE SINKING OF THE HMT ROHNA
REMEMBERING THE SINKING OF THE HMT ROHNA (House of Representatives -
September 12, 2000)
[Page: H7493] GPO's PDF
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the gentleman
from Washington (Mr. Metcalf) is recognized for 5 minutes.
Mr. METCALF. Mr. Speaker, the greatest naval disaster in the United States during World War II was the sinking of the USS Arizona. 1,177 were killed.
The Arizona has been memorialized in the national consciousness.
On November 26, 1943, however, a loss of American military personnel of almost identical magnitude occurred when the British troop transport ship, the HMT Rohna, was sunk by a radio-controlled rocket-boosted bomb launched from a German bomber off the coast of North Africa. By the next day, 1,015 American troops and more than 100 British and Allied officers and crewmen had perished.
The U.S. troops aboard the Rohna have been largely forgotten by their country. I only learned of this disaster because a neighbor of mine on Whidbey Island had a brother who was lost when the Rohna was sunk. He made me aware of the issue and his book about the sinking of the Rohna.
It is a grim story. Hundreds died when the German missile struck. The majority, however, died from exposure and drowning when darkness and rough seas limited the rescue efforts. Less than half, over 900, survived, which was less than half. American, British and French rescue workers worked valiantly to save those Rohna passengers and crew who made it off the ship and into the ocean. The USS Pioneer picked up two-thirds of all those that were saved, 606 GIs. Many of those in the water had to endure hours of chilling temperatures before being picked up. As the evening moved into the middle of the night and the early morning hours, some men were speechless with the cold. Many died deaths of unbelievable agony.
The United States Government had not properly acknowledged this event.
Because inadequate records were kept, some survivors had to fight for years to prove that the Rohna even existed, let alone that survivors might be due some recognition.
Finally, at a 1996 memorial dedication honoring the Americans who died on the Rohna, survivor John Fievet spoke the following words:
[Page: H7494] GPO's PDF
I dedicate this memorial to the memory of those who fell in the service of our country. I dedicate it in the names of those who offered their lives that justice, freedom and democracy might survive to be the victorious ideals of the world. The lives of those who made the supreme sacrifice are glorious before us. Their deeds are an inspiration. As they served America in the time of war, yielding their last full measure of devotion, may we serve America in time of peace. I dedicate this monument to them, and with it, I dedicate this society to the faithful service of our country and the preservation of the memory of those who died, that liberty might live.
The men who gave their lives for their country on board this ship were heroes who deserve to be recognized and not forgotten. Parents of virtually all of them died without learning how their sons had died, because this was something that was not made public. Their brothers and sisters, wives and children need to hear their story. All Americans need to learn of their bravery and sacrifice. Not only do the victims of the tragic sinking need to be honored, but also their comrades, who survived, to be sent on to the Burma-India-China theater of the war and there to serve valiantly.
On November 11, 1993, Charles Osgood featured the Rohna story on his widespread radio program. For the first time, in 1993, a broad cross-section of America got to hear the story of some of its unknown warriors. Osgood revisited the subject two weeks later. According to Osgood, `It is not that we forgot, it is just that we never knew.'
Americans need to know about the Rohna. They need to know about the men, who died on board, sacrificing their lives in the fight against tyranny.
Americans need to know, and certainly must never forget.
Inquiries
and suggestions may be made to:
Janet Delude
Coarsegold Ca. 93614
Rohna1943@aol.com
Jim
Bennett
Namaskar5@msn.com
Copyright
© 1998, 1999, 2000, 2010
Rohna
Survivors Memorial Association, all rights reserved.
Revised: October 2010