288 COLLAPSE OF TEXAS TOWER NO. 4 



We ai-e confronted witli an amazing series of events, gentlemen. 

 The design, fabrication, construction and upending of the tower rep- 

 resented a difficult and far-reaching undertaking and task. It was no 

 child's ]>lay to construct the tower, to tow it from port, to erect it or 

 to operate it. It was all most demanding. But it is an amazing series 

 of events to me that from the time it was upended until it collapsed, 

 years later, there was never a time, except for a short interval as I 

 view the testimony, during which the tower even nearly approached 

 its intended and its original design strength. This is not the time to 

 assess blame. The committee is not trying to assess blame at this time. 

 We are interested, as we announced in the beginning, in the strength 

 of our military program, and our defense program, for which the Air 

 Force and Navy deserve a great deal of credit. We are interested in 

 following up the dollars that we in Congress take away from people 

 to pay for this program and other Govei"nment programs. We want 

 to strengthen the military and the armed services, not weaken them. 

 We want to protect the individuals involved, contractors, professional 

 men and all where protection is justified. I think this hearing has 

 been timely in another way. if I may say so. It appears to me that the 

 full development of these facts up to January 12, 1961, by the legisla- 

 tive branch of the Government, affords a proper and a necessary back- 

 ground against which any man in the military who may have charges 

 preferred against him may be tried properly. Without the facts de- 

 veloped here, I don't see how it would have been possible, unless the 

 military went through an inquiry similar to ours, to have gotten all 

 the background facts and information in their true perspective. 



Now, I repeat that the committee has endeavored to refrain from 

 inquiring into the facts in the case which occurred after January 12, 

 1961, which was 3 days before the tower fell. Those facts will be a 

 major part of the matters in dispute in any court-martial proceedings 

 that may be held, if they are held. 



Now, the chairman has not said a single word throughout all these 

 hearings about the 28 men in the service and out of the service who lost 

 their lives in this tragic occurrence. I have refrained from doing that, 

 not because of lack of concern, interest or appreciation for the sacrifice 

 that they made, and not because of lack of sympathy for their rela- 

 tives and loved ones, but merely in an effort to keep this committee out 

 of any inquiry except the hard facts involved in the design, construc- 

 tion, repair, and operation of the tower. But I thought that before 

 closing we certainly ought to express our great regret and respect 

 as well as the utmost appreciation of the committee, the Congress, and 

 the country for the service of these 28 men and the sacrifice that they 

 made for their country. I think that they deserve the same recogni- 

 tion, the same credit, as do those persons who died in actual combat, in 

 time of actual war, and in battle. It certainly was a battle station to 

 which these men were assigned and we bow in appreciation of their 

 service and respect to their memory. They were patriots in every sense 

 of the word. 



All riglit, with the thanks of the committee again, gentlemen, to all, 

 the committee will now take a recess subject to the call of the Chair. 



(Whereupon, at 12:45 p.m., the subcommittee recessed subject to 

 the call of the Chair.) 



o 



