[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 190 (Thursday, November 30, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2272-E2273]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 AMOS F. LONGORIA POST OFFICE BUILDING

                                 ______


                           HON. FRANK TEJEDA

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, November 30, 1995

  Mr. TEJEDA. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to announce to the House that I 
have introduced legislation today to designate the United States Post 
Office building located at 7980 FM 327 in Elmendorf, TX as the ``Amos 
F. Longoria Post Office Building.''
  During the August district work period, the citizens of Elmendorf 
presented me with a petition requesting that their new postal building, 
opening in December 1995, be named in honor of Pvt. Amos F. Longoria.
  Amos Longoria was born in Elmendorf, TX on September 12, 1924. He was 
the son of humble parents, Bonaficio and Juanita F. Longoria. He had 
four sisters and two brothers: Pauline Longoria, Marie Longoria Welch, 
George Longoria, William Longoria, Tommie Longoria Lynch, and Bonnie 
Longoria de Leon.
  Amos F. Longoria also had many close friends who grew up with him and 
shared love and caring during his short life. Amos is remembered as a 
happy person. He had many friends, and was kind and considerate to all. 
He enjoyed hunting, fishing, and many other sporting activities. He 
enjoyed music, played the guitar and sang. He is said to have had a 
good sense of humor, liked to laugh and make others laugh.
  During his last year of school at Elmendorf, Amos F. Longoria was 
drafted into the U.S. Army in April of 1943. World War II was raging. 
Amos, though only 18 years old, was excited to report for basic 
training at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, TX. He was then sent to 
Camp Wheeler in Georgia.
  Amos F. Longoria volunteered to serve overseas in the European 
theater. He had hopes of being near his older brother, George, who was 
serving in the 36th Infantry Division. 

[[Page E2273]]
Amos F. Longoria was assigned to the 30th Infantry, 3d Division, and 
soon saw combat in the Italian campaign. Military history records that 
some of the hardest and most hazardous fighting in World War II was in 
the Italian campaign. On a more personal note, my father, Frank M. 
Tejeda, Sr. and his close friend George Longoria, honorably served our 
country in the Italian campaign and were both seriously wounded in 
Italy in November of 1943.
  Less than 6 months after joining the military, Amos was lightly 
wounded in combat, but returned to duty shortly thereafter. A few days 
later, only 2 months into his 19th year of life, on November 13, 1943, 
Amos was mortally wounded at the famous Crossing of the Rapido River in 
Italy. Amos F. Longoria died in an army hospital in Italy on November 
19, 1943.
  A Biblical verse, John 15: 9-13, states, ``My commandment is this: 
Love one another, just as I love you. The greatest love a person can 
have for his friends is to give his life for them.''
  Private Amos F. Longoria is among the many persons who have shown 
their greatest love for country and friends. He is part of that great 
tradition of service to country, even to the point of giving up one's 
life for our country.
  I could not think of a more appropriate honor for the town of 
Elmendorf and for the Longoria family than the designation of the 
United States Post Office at 7980 FM 327 in Elmendorf, TX as the ``Amos 
F. Longoria Post Office Building.'' This designation will commemorate 
the service and sacrifice of Pvt. Amos F. Longoria and will further 
serve to remind all that the price of freedom can never be taken for 
granted.
  I would like to urge my colleagues to support the noble effort of 
Elmendorf's citizens to honor one of its native sons. I commend the 
citizens of Elmendorf for their thoughtfulness on this project, and I 
look forward to visiting the Amos F. Longoria Post Office many times in 
the future.

                          ____________________