[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 38 (Tuesday, April 12, 1994)]
[House]
[Page H]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[Congressional Record: April 12, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
FREDERICK C. MURPHY FEDERAL CENTER
Mr. TRAFICANT. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
Senate bill (S. 1206) to redesignate the Federal building located at
380 Trapelo Road in Waltham, MA, as the ``Frederick C. Murphy Federal
Center.''
The Clerk read as follows:
S. 1206
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. REDESIGNATION.
The Federal building located at 380 Trapelo Road in
Waltham, Massachusetts, and known as the Waltham Federal
Center, shall be known and designated as the ``Frederick C.
Murphy Federal Center.''
SEC. 2. REFERENCES.
Any reference in a law, map, regulation, document, paper,
or other record of the United States to the Federal building
referred to in section 1 shall be deemed to be a reference to
the ``Frederick C. Murphy Federal Center.''
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Ohio [Mr. Traficant] will be recognized for 20 minutes, and the
gentleman from Tennessee [Mr. Duncan] will be recognized for 20
minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Ohio [Mr. Traficant].
Mr. TRAFICANT. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Mr. Speaker, this legislation will honor Frederick C. Murphy, a
genuine American hero in World War II. Frederick Murphy, an Army medic,
was tragically killed on March 8, 1945, during a battle on the
Siegfried line in Germany while valiantly helping his fellow soldiers
who were wounded. At the time of his heroic actions he himself was
mortally wounded. He was posthumously awarded the Congressional Medal
of Honor for his extraordinary courage.
Mr. Speaker, several of my constituents served with Pfc. Murphy in
the 65th Infantry Division and they can attest to his bravery and
courage. Those constituents are:
James Shook of Youngstown; D.K. Majors of Youngstown, Rudolph
Benetsky of Youngstown, Robert Jones of Youngstown, Frank Smith of
Youngstown, James Marmagine of Austintown, and James Goldner of North
Jackson.
Frederick C. Murphy's great courage, personal valor, and disregard
for himself in face of great danger is an example to all of us. It is
fitting and proper to name this Federal building at 380 Trapelo Rd. in
Waltham, MA, after Mr. Murphy.
This bill has broad bipartisan support at the subcommittee and full
committee levels. I urge adoption of S. 1206.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. DUNCAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to support the naming of the Federal
building in Waltham, MA, as the ``Frederick C. Murphy Federal Center.''
Mr. Murphy, a native of Massachusetts, is a distinguished American
who has been honored with one of this Nation's most prestigious awards,
the Congressional Medal of Honor. This honor was bestowed on Mr. Murphy
for heroic acts during World War II.
We often honor our fellow Americans for various reasons. But those
who answer the call to duty and risk their lives on the battlefield to
preserve the liberties and freedoms we enjoy in this Nation are special
to all of us.
The naming of the Federal building in Waltham, MA, is one more way we
can honor Mr. Murphy and his family for the sacrifice he made on behalf
of all Americans. I am proud to urge my fellow Members to support the
naming of the Federal building in Waltham, MA, after an outstanding
American, Mr. Frederick C. Murphy.
I join the sponsor of this legislation, Congressman Markey in
recommending passage of S. 1206.
Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back
the balance of my time.
Mr. TRAFICANT. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to
the gentleman from Massachusetts [Mr. Markey], the sponsor of this
bill, and the subcommittee chairman from the Committee on Energy and
Commerce.
Mr. MARKEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to ask my colleagues to join me
in paying tribute to an American hero. I want to thank Chairman Mineta
and Chairman Traficant for ensuring this legislation's swift movement
through the House.
Next Monday in Massachusetts is Patriot's Day. A day in which we
honor those brave Americans who valiantly rose to create and defend the
United States. A day in which we remember the Minutemen of Lexington
and Concord, Paul Revere's ride and all the brave men and women who
have defended America's freedom. It is also the day we will honor Pfc.
Frederick C. Murphy.
I am here today as the author of this bill, bipartisan legislation
that honors Pfc. Frederick C. Murphy by rededicating 380 Trapelo Road
in Waltham, MA as the ``Frederick C. Murphy Federal Center.''
Frederick Murphy is certainly a most deserving recipient of this
honor. He was a man of singular devotion to his country, who on March
18, 1945 on the Siegfried Line in Saarlautern, Germany, sacrificed his
life so that his fellow soldiers could survive and our Nation's freedom
could continue to endure.
As a young man, Murphy answered his country's call to service by
enlisting in the U.S. Army. He became an aid man in the ``E'' Company
of the 259th Infantry of the 65th Infantry Division. Murphy landed in
the European theater in June 1944 and served meritoriously until the
time of his death in March 1945.
According to his comrades, Murphy was a man who exemplified courage
and the dawn attack at the Siegfried Line on March 18, 1945 provides
the ultimate example of his patriotism. As he crossed the battlefield
on that fateful day, Murphy was struck by an enemy bullet. Refusing to
withdraw from the battle, the young private continued to attend to his
duties as a medic. He moved across the battlefield, under extremely
heavy gunfire and in dire pain, yet continued to attend to those who
were more seriously wounded. The field was strewn with mines and as he
struggled forward he stepped on an antipersonnel mine. After the mine
ripped his foot from his body, Murphy did the unthinkable, he continued
to assist other wounded soldiers. Pressing on despite heavy blood loss,
Murphy moved from man to man. When his strength finally gave, he
shouted instructions to those who he could not reach. However, the
cries of his fellow soldiers were too much to bear and he drew upon his
indomitable courage and continued toward them. As he crawled forward he
crossed another mine that ended his life. Pvt. Frederick C. Murphy was
an American hero. His selfless desire to save the lives of fellow
Americans cost him his own life.
I believe that this fallen hero deserves this tribute. By renaming
the Federal property in Waltham the ``Murphy Federal Center,'' I
believe an appropriate tribute will be paid. This bill has already
passed the Senate and is awaiting House passage. I am proud to present
this honor for a man who I can truly call an American patriot.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in support of this
legislation by passing S. 1206 and giving this American hero the
dedication he so richly deserves.
Mr. MINETA. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of S. 1206 to redesignate
the Federal building located at 380 Trapelo Road in Waltham, MA as the
``Frederick C. Murphy Federal Center.''
Frederick Murphy was born in Boston, MA as the First World War was
concluding. As a young man, he enlisted in the U.S. Army as a medical
aid. During World War II, in June 1944, he landed in the European
theater and courageously served his country and fellow soldiers.
After being wounded in the shoulder on March 18, 1945, Private First
Class Murphy refused to withdraw from battle to treat his wound and
continued to administer first aid to his injured comrades. He then lost
his foot when he stepped on an antipersonnel mine but remained on sight
to offer medical assistance to his injured comrades. He continued
providing assistance until he crawled across another mine which killed
him.
PFC Murphy was posthumously awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor
for his extraordinary act of personal valdor, above and beyond the call
of duty.
The sacrifice of his life for his country and fellow soldiers
exemplifies American patriotism and courage and I urge adoption of S.
1206 to name the Federal building in Waltham, MA as the ``Frederick C.
Murphy Federal Center.''
Mr. TRAFICANT. Mr. Speaker, this bill has broad bipartisan support.
Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back
the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Ohio [Mr. Traficant] that the House suspend the rules
and pass the Senate bill, S. 1206.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor
thereof) the rules were suspended and the Senate bill was passed.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
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