II 109th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 1731 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES September 20, 2005 Mr. Coburn (for himself and Mr. Inhofe) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs A BILL To designate the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Muskogee, Oklahoma, as the Jack C. Montgomery Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center.

1.

Findings

Congress makes the following findings: (1)Jack C. Montgomery was awarded the Medal of Honor, the highest honor for valor awarded to members of the Armed Forces, for his actions near Padiglione, Italy, on February 22, 1944, resulting in 11 enemy dead and the taking of 32 prisoners. (2)Jack Montgomery was proud to be of Cherokee Indian ancestry. (3)Jack Montgomery was born at Long, Oklahoma, in Sequoyah County before the Great Depression and enlisted in the 45th Division Thunderbirds of the Oklahoma National Guard while attending Bacone College in Muskogee, Oklahoma. (4)In addition to being awarded the Medal of Honor during his service in World War II, Jack Montgomery was awarded the Silver Star, the Bronze Star, the Purple Heart with Cluster (wounded more than once), and many other military honors. (5)Jack Montgomery was awarded the Medal of Honor personally by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. (6)On his release from the Army after World War II, Jack Montgomery began a career with the Veterans' Administration in Muskogee, Oklahoma. (7)When the Korean War began and the 45th Division was activated for service, Jack Montgomery attempted to rejoin the Armed Forces for service in Korea. (8)On learning that recipients of the Medal of Honor cannot return to active duty and serve in combat, Jack Montgomery volunteered to serve as an instructor at Fort Benning, Georgia. (9)After his discharge from service in the Armed Forces in March 1953, Jack Montgomery returned to service with the Veterans' Administration in the State of Oklahoma. (10)After retiring from the Veterans' Administration, Jack Montgomery volunteered at the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Muskogee, Oklahoma, where he worked more than 750 hours driving a shuttle to transport veterans from the parking lot to the hospital (11)Jack Montgomery died on June 11, 2002, at age 84.

2.

Jack C. Montgomery Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center

(a)

In general

The Department of Veterans Affairs medical center in Muskogee, Oklahoma, shall after the date of the enactment of this Act be known and designated as the Jack C. Montgomery Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center. (b)

References

Any reference in any law, regulation, map, document, record, or other paper of the United States to the medical center referred to in subsection (a) shall be considered to be a reference to the Jack C. Montgomery Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center.