[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 415 Introduced in House (IH)]







110th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 415

  Honoring Edward Day Cohota, Joseph L. Pierce, and other veterans of 
  Asian and Pacific Islander descent who fought in the United States 
                               Civil War.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                              May 17, 2007

Mr. Honda (for himself, Mr. Wu, Mr. Radanovich, Mr. Gonzalez, Ms. Eddie 
 Bernice Johnson of Texas, Mr. Gutierrez, Mr. Grijalva, Ms. Bordallo, 
 Mr. Rangel, Mrs. Napolitano, Ms. Berkley, Ms. Hirono, Mr. Lantos, Ms. 
Zoe Lofgren of California, Ms. McCollum of Minnesota, Mr. Salazar, Mr. 
   Becerra, Mr. McDermott, Mr. Wynn, and Mr. Larson of Connecticut) 
submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee 
                           on Armed Services

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
  Honoring Edward Day Cohota, Joseph L. Pierce, and other veterans of 
  Asian and Pacific Islander descent who fought in the United States 
                               Civil War.

Whereas soldiers of Asian and Pacific Islander descent fought bravely and 
        honorably during the United States Civil War;
Whereas Edward Day Cohota was among the soldiers of Asian descent who fought in 
        the Civil War;
Whereas as a small child, Mr. Cohota stowed away in the ship Cohota, leaving 
        Shanghai, China, in 1845;
Whereas Mr. Cohota enlisted in the 23rd Regiment, Massachusetts Volunteer 
        Infantry, in 1864;
Whereas during the Civil War, Mr. Cohota fought valiantly in the fog-bound 
        Battle of Drury's Bluff, where other soldiers reported that he had 7 
        bullet holes in his coat, but was not wounded;
Whereas Mr. Cohota repeatedly proved his courage in the Battle of Petersburg and 
        at Cold Harbor, where he heroically saved the wounded William E. Low and 
        where a minie ball left a permanent part in Cohota's hair;
Whereas Mr. Cohota served in the United States Army for 30 years;
Whereas Joseph L. Pierce was also among the soldiers of Asian descent who fought 
        in the Civil War;
Whereas Mr. Pierce was sold by his family to Captain Amos Peck III in 1852 and 
        raised as an adopted son;
Whereas Mr. Pierce enlisted in the 14th Regiment, Connecticut Volunteer 
        Infantry, in 1862;
Whereas Mr. Pierce fought in his first battle at Antietam, distinguished himself 
        in the Battle of Gettysburg, and bravely volunteered for a perilous 
        attack on Bliss Farm during the day of Pickett's charge; and
Whereas many of the soldiers of Asian and Pacific Islander descent who fought in 
        the Civil War, including Edward Day Cohota and Joseph L. Pierce, were 
        denied rightful recognition of their service: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved,  That the House of Representatives--
            (1) recognizes and expresses its appreciation for the 
        courageous and loyal contributions made by soldiers of Asian 
        and Pacific Islander descent during the United States Civil 
        War; and
            (2) recognizes and honors the 2 most documented of those 
        soldiers, Edward Day Cohota and Joseph L. Pierce, for their 
        distinguished and dedicated service to preserving and 
        maintaining the Union.
                                 <all>