Political Quotes

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Thomas Strayer Nelson of Ilion, New York, who turns 100 years old today. Mr. Nelson is one of the last living survivors of the attack on Pearl Harbor. He joined the Navy right out of high school and was assigned to the USS Wasmuth, a Clemson-class destroyer that was docked in Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. He left the Navy as a first class electrician's mate. On that fateful day 80 years ago, 19-year-old Thomas Strayer Nelson was lying in his bunk aboard the ship docked in Pearl Harbor when the alarms sounded. Sensing trouble, Tom made it topside where he saw several Japanese planes bombing American ships. He quickly assessed that this was not a drill. Tom quickly jumped on his .50 caliber machine gun and successfully helped defend the Wasmuth and its crew on that fateful day. The wreckage was devastating. Nearly 20 U.S. ships were damaged or sank at sea, and more than 2,400 Americans, including civilians, were killed. Tom remembers crying that day during the aftermath, but Tom's heroism did not stop there. Nearly 1 year later, in December 1942, the Wasmuth was escorting a convoy when it was knocked off its tracks and two mines exploded below the ship. The Wasmuth sank, but 134 crew, including Tom, were rescued due in large part to Tom's efforts. Tom came back home and was an electrical inspector for over 27 years in his hometown of Ilion, New York, where he has resided for nearly his entire life.…”