HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.C.R. NO.

37

TWENTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2004

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 
   


HOUSE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

 

requesting that the United States Navy transfer the U.S.S. Hoga to the Hoga Preservation Society for placement in Hawaii as a permanent memorial to the Second World War and to the brave men and women who fought and died to preserve our freedom.

 

WHEREAS, on December 7, 1941 the Navy combination Tugboat/Fireboat U.S.S. Hoga was present in Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard during the attack by the warplanes of the Empire of Japan; and

WHEREAS, during the attack the U.S.S. Hoga maneuvered through the blanketing smoke and flames to rescue many sailors from the harbor waters; and

WHEREAS, the U.S.S. Hoga pulled the repair ship Vestal away from the sinking Battleship Arizona; and

WHEREAS, the U.S.S. Hoga pulled the sinking minelayer "Ogala" out of the channel; and

WHEREAS, the U.S.S. Hoga then played a crucial role in the battle by pulling the Battleship Nevada out of the mud and away from the harbor channel, preventing her from blocking the channel and allowing the "Nevada" to avoid sinking by grounding herself; and

WHEREAS, the U.S.S. Hoga then returned to battleship row, where she fought fires aboard the battleships Maryland, Tennessee, and the ill-fated Arizona for three days; and

WHEREAS, the U.S.S. Hoga and her crew were decorated by Admiral Chester W. Nimitz for their distinguished service and disregard for their personal safety during the attack; and

WHEREAS, the U.S.S. Hoga is the last surviving, operable navy vessel to have an active part in the December 7, 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor, and is an important historical artifact; and

WHEREAS, the U.S.S. Hoga is listed as one of the "Top Eleven Most Endangered" historical sites in the United States for historic preservation; and

WHEREAS, Hawaii is the single most appropriate location to berth the U.S.S. Hoga, where in combination with the battleship U.S.S. Missouri, as a floating museum, the U.S.S. Hoga will represent one of the bookends of the Second World War; marking the beginning of the war as the U.S.S. Missouri marks the end; and

WHEREAS, the Tugboat Hoga Preservation Society was established; and

WHEREAS, the society would play a central role in fundraising, boat restoration and maintenance, facilities renovation along with an experience for visitors; and

WHEREAS, the Governor of the State of Hawaii and the Hawaii member of the United States House Armed Services Committee and the people of Hawaii support the return of the U.S.S. Hoga to Hawaii; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-second Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2004, the Senate concurring, that the State of Hawaii requests that the United States Navy transfer the U.S.S. Hoga to the Hoga Preservation Society for placement in Hawaii as a permanent memorial to the Second World War and to the brave men and women who fought and died to preserve our freedom; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the President of the United States and to the Secretary of the Navy.

 

 

 

 

OFFERED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:

Tugboat/Fireboat U.S.S. Hoga; placement in Hawaii for memorial