[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 95 (Friday, June 8, 2018)] [Extensions of Remarks] [Page E817] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] IN RECOGNITION OF THE 75TH ANNIVERSARY OF NAVAL WEAPONS STATION EARLE ______ HON. FRANK PALLONE, JR. of new jersey in the house of representatives Friday, June 8, 2018 Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the 75th anniversary of Naval Weapons Station Earle. Since its opening, Naval Weapons Station Earle has been a pivotal base for the United States Department of Defense and its significance is truly deserving of this body's recognition on this historic milestone. Named after Rear Admiral Ralph Earle, the Chief of the Bureau of Ordnance during WWI, Naval Weapons Station Earle was called Naval Ammunition Depot Earle until 1974. It is based in two facilities in Monmouth County, New Jersey--the Waterfront, located in the Leonardo section of Middletown, and Mainside bordering Colts Neck, Howell, Tinton Falls and Wall Township. The two sections are connected by the military corridor and rail line, Normandy Road. The Waterfront includes a miles long finger pier--the longest in the Western Hemisphere--into Sandy Hook Bay. The pier sustained damage in Superstorm Sandy and now includes oyster reefs as an additional protection measure from future storms. Naval Weapons Station Earle was established out of the need for a munitions loading base in the Port of New York, a need that became increasingly pressing during World War II. The Leonardo and Colts Neck locations were chosen for their distance from densely populated and developed neighborhoods yet their proximity to important landmarks such as New York City, New York Harbor and the Atlantic Ocean. During WWII, the base served a vital role in transporting ordnance, including most of the munitions used in the invasion of Normandy. Naval Weapons Station Earle's strategic location has remained critical to our military, loading ships used in Operation Desert Storm and Operation Iraqi Freedom. Naval Weapons Station Earle encompasses nearly 12,000 acres and remains an active base today with over 1,500 personnel. With six times more loading capacity of any base on the East Coast, the support Naval Weapons Station Earle provides to our country is invaluable. Mr. Speaker, I sincerely hope that my colleagues will join me in recognizing the vital contributions of Naval Weapons Station Earle as it celebrates 75 years of operation. ____________________