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US-RI jointly work to protect sunken gravesite
An interim report jointly assessed by US navy underwater archaeologists and Indonesian Navy divers reveals that the wrecked vessel surveyed in the Java Sea in June is âconsistent with the identificationâ of the World War II wreck of the cruiser USS Houston (CA 30)
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n interim report jointly assessed by US navy underwater archaeologists and Indonesian Navy divers reveals that the wrecked vessel surveyed in the Java Sea in June is 'consistent with the identification' of the World War II wreck of the cruiser USS Houston (CA 30).
During the survey, the divers documented conclusive evidence of a pattern of unauthorized disturbances at the gravesite.
'We're grateful for the support of our Indonesian partners in determining the condition of the USS Houston. In my discussions with our Indonesian Navy partners, they share our sense of obligation to protect this and other gravesites,' US Pacific Fleet commander Adm.Harry Harris said in a statement made available to The Jakarta Post on Tuesday.
'Surveying the site, of course, was only the first step in partnering to respect those sailors who made the ultimate sacrifice to ensure the freedoms and security that we richly enjoy today,' he added.
In June, US navy divers from Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit (MDSU) One Company 1-5 and Indonesian Navy personnel surveyed the wreck during a joint training evolution, which is part of the Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) 2014 exercise.
Over the course of 19 dive excursions, ends of the wrecked vessel were marked with buoys while the exposed port side and the deck were documented using video recording.
The Naval History and Heritage Command's assessment concluded that all of the recorded data was consistent with the identification of the wrecked vessel as the former USS Houston.
The site of the sunken ship, which is now a popular recreational dive site, is the final resting place of approximately 700 sailors and marines. The assessment recorded signs that unknown persons removed hull rivets and a metal plate from the ship.
'US and Indonesian representatives are currently coordinating to develop measures to prevent continued disturbance of the site,' the release stated.
Houston, nicknamed 'The Galloping Ghost of the Java Coast', was sunk in combat during the World War II Battle of Sunda Strait in 1942.
The ship's commanding officer, Capt.Albert H.Rooks, who was killed in action, posthumously received the Medal of Honor for extraordinary heroism while the USS Houston was awarded two battle stars and the Presidential Unit Citation. (ebf)
