WASHINGTON –U.S. Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) today secured the unanimous passage of his Senate resolution honoring Pearl Harbor hero Joseph Leon George for rescuing six injured sailors from the sinking USS Arizona. The resolution also expresses the Senate’s desire that the U.S. Navy reconsider a past decision not to decorate George because he defied orders to rescue those sailors. George passed away in 1996 having never received official recognition for his life-saving actions at Pearl Harbor.

“Today the Senate unanimously recognized Joseph Leon George as the American hero he is. Just as importantly, we have handed the Navy an opportunity to finally do right by Joe and finally recognize the unquestionable courage and heroism he demonstrated during the attack on Pearl Harbor,” said Flake. “It has been an honor to join USS Arizona survivors Donald Stratton and Lauren Bruner – both heroes in their own right – and the families of Joe and the men whose lives he saved, to get this resolution through the Senate. I would also like to thank Senators Gardner, Lee, Cotton, McCaskill and Bennett for their leadership and support in this worthwhile effort.”

George was serving as Boatswain’s Mate Second Class aboard the USS Vestal, a repair ship moored alongside the USS Arizona, when the Imperial Japanese Air Service attacked Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941. When the Arizona suffered a direct hit by a Japanese bomb and began to sink, George spotted six severely injured sailors trapped in the Arizona’s control tower - Seaman First Class Harold Kuhn, Seaman First Class Russell Lott, Gunner's Mate Third Class Earl Riner, Boatswain's Mate Second Class Alvin Dvork, Seaman First Class Donald Stratton, and Fire Controlman Third Class Lauren Bruner. Heroically, George first threw a heaving line between the two ships, enabling the wounded sailors to climb 70 feet hand-over-hand across the line to safety. Two of those sailors would succumb to their injuries in the weeks following the attacks, while the four others would recover, serve honorably during World War II, and go on to live long lives.

In July, Flake committed to spearhead the resolution during a meeting with Stratton, Bruner, members of the George family, and multiple generations of children and grandchildren who owe their lives to George’s life-saving actions. The resolution is cosponsored by U.S. Sens. Cory Gardner (R-Colo.), Mike Lee (R-Utah), Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.), and Michael Bennet (D-Colo.).    

To view video of Flake securing the passage of the resolution, click here.
To view the full text of the resolution, click here.

Background:

• On Aug. 2, 2017 Flake introduced the resolution and spoke on the Senate floor in support of the measure, describing the details of Joe George’s heroic actions during the attack on Pearl Harbor. Read more here. 

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