SENATE RESOLUTION

                         1991-8659

By Senators Nelson, Oke, Metcalf, Thorsness, Rasmussen, Bluechel, Cantu, McCaslin, Talmadge, Vognild, Sutherland, McMullen, Snyder, Bauer and Stratton

     WHEREAS, The recent success of the coalition forces in halting ruthless military aggression in the Persian Gulf brings back memories of World War II, in which this country similarly stopped hostilities against free and peace-loving people; and

     WHEREAS, In the darkness of the early morning hours of April 28, 1944, 749 American soldiers and sailors perished when "Exercise Tiger," a virtually unescorted practice mission in the English Channel, was attacked by German torpedo boats; and

     WHEREAS, In the true spirit of mankind, those aboard the vessel LST 515 bravely and unselfishly risked their lives to rescue the survivors of the sister ships that had been sunk; and

     WHEREAS, Lt. Roger P. Shaeffer of Bellevue, Washington, a crewmember of LST 289, a vessel damaged in Exercise Tiger, was severely injured during the brief, but deadly battle; and

     WHEREAS, Joseph E. "Eddie" McCann, Jr. of Everett, Washington, a 15-year-old Coxswain at the time, quickly launched his small landing craft from LST 515 and with the bravery, skill, and intuition of a person many years his senior, navigated through the wreckage, retrieving survivors from the cold, oily water; and

     WHEREAS, For more than forty years, a military veil of secrecy kept from public view the tragedy of Exercise Tiger; and

     WHEREAS, The personal sacrifices made by those who served this country so faithfully and with so much courage and bravery during Exercise Tiger deserve the gratitude of all Americans;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Washington State Senate recognize and pay tribute to the soldiers and sailors who served this country in Exercise Tiger and that the twenty-eighth day of April, 1991, be designated as "Exercise Tiger Day"; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Secretary of the Senate immediately transmit copies of this resolution to Roger P. Shaeffer and Joseph E. McCann, Jr.

I, Gordon A. Golob, Secretary of the Senate,

do hereby certify that this is a true and

correct copy of Senate Resolution 1991-8659,

adopted by the Senate April 10, 1991.

GORDON A. GOLOB

Secretary of the Senate