112 STAT. 2016 PUBLIC LAW 105-261—OCT. 17, 1998 (3) To Leland B. Fair of Jessieville, Arkansas, for extraordinary heroism in actions in the Philippine Islands on July 4, 1945, while serving as a member of the Army. (c) DISTINGUISHED-SERVICE MEDAL.— Subsection (a) applies to the award of the Distinguished-Service Medal of the Army to Richard P. Sakakida of Fremont, California, for exceptionally meritorious service while a prisoner of war in the Philippine Islands from May 7, 1942, to September 14, 1945, while serving as a member of the Army. (d) NAVY CROSS. — Subsection (a) applies to the posthumous award of the Navy Cross to Joseph F. Keenan for extraordinary heroism in actions on March 26-27, 1953, while serving as a member of the Navy. (e) SILVER STAR MEDAL. — Subsection (a) applies to the award of the Silver Star Medal of the Navy to Andrew A. Bernard of Methuen, Massachusetts, for gallantry in action on November 24, 1943, while serving as a member of the Navy. (f) DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS. — Subsection (a) applies to the award of the Distinguished Flying Cross for service during World War II or Korea (including multiple awards to the same individual) in the case of each individual (not covered by section 573(d) of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1998 (Public Law 105-85; 111 Stat. 1757)) concerning whom the Secretary of the Navy (or an officer of the Navy acting on behalf of the Secretary) submitted to the Committee on National Security of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Armed Services of the Senate, before the date of the enactment of this Act, a notice as provided in section 1130(b) of title 10, United States Code, that the award of the Distinguished Flying Cross to that individual is warranted and that a waiver of time restrictions prescribed by law for recommendation for such award is recommended. SEC. 533. COMMENDATION AND COMMEMORATION OF THE NAVY AND MARINE CORPS PERSONNEL WHO SERVED IN THE UNITED STATES NAVY ASIATIC FLEET FROM 1910-1942. (a) FINDINGS.— Congress makes the following findings: (1) The United States established the Asiatic Fleet of the Navy in 1910 to protect United States nationals, policies, and possessions in the Far East. (2) The sailors and Marines of the Asiatic Fleet ensured the safety of United States and foreign nationals and provided humanitarian assistance in that region during the Chinese civil war, the Yangtze Flood of 1931, and the outbreak of Sino-Japanese hostilities. (3) In 1940, due to deteriorating political relations and increasing tensions between the United States and Japan, a reinforced Asiatic Fleet began concentrating on the defense of the Philippines and engaged in extensive training to ensure maximum operational readiness for any eventuality. (4) Following the declaration of war against Japan in December 1941, the warships, submarines, and aircraft of the Asiatic Fleet courageously fought many battles against superior Japanese forces. (5) The Asiatic Fleet directly suffered the loss of 22 vessels, 1,826 men killed or missing in action, and 518 men captured
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