[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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