[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 92 (Thursday, June 26, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Page S6507]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. REED (for himself and Mr. Chafee):
  S. 973. A bill to designate the United States Post Office building 
located at 551 Kingstown Road in Wakefield, Rhode Island, as the 
``David B. Champagne Post Office Building''; to the Committee on 
Governmental Affairs.


                 the david b. champagne post office act

  Mr. REED. Mr. President, I rise today to pay tribute to Corporal 
David B. Champagne, USMC, who was posthumously awarded the Medal of 
Honor for service in Korea. In honor of the sacrifice made by this 
heroic young man, I am introducing a bill to name the new post office 
at 551 Kingstown Road in Wakefield, RI the ``David B. Champagne Post 
Office'' with my Rhode Island colleague Senator Chafee.
  The son of Mr. and Mrs. Bernard L. Champagne, Corporal Champagne 
served in the National Guard before graduating from South Kingstown 
High School and enlisting in the Marines in March 1951. He was the only 
Rhode Island resident to receive this nation's highest award for valor, 
the Medal of Honor, for service in Korea. The citation accompanying the 
Medal read:

       For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of 
     his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as a 
     fire team leader of Company A, First Battalion, Seventh 
     Marines, First Marine Division (Reinforced), in action 
     against enemy aggressor forces in Korea on 28 May 1952. 
     Advancing with his platoon in the initial assault of the 
     company against a strongly fortified and heavily defended 
     hill position, Corporal Champagne skillfully led his fire 
     team through a veritable hail of intense enemy machine-gun, 
     small-arms and grenade fire, overrunning trenches and a 
     series of almost impregnable bunker positions before reaching 
     the crest of the hill and placing his men in defensive 
     positions. Suffering a painful leg wound while assisting in 
     repelling the ensuing hostile counterattack, which was 
     launched under cover of a murderous hail of mortar and 
     artillery fire, he steadfastly refused evacuation and 
     fearlessly continued to control his fire team. When the enemy 
     counterattack increased in intensity, and a hostile grenade 
     landed in the midst of the fire team, Corporal Champagne 
     unhesitating seized the deadly missile and hurled it in the 
     direction of the approaching enemy. As the grenade left his 
     hand, it exploded, blowing off his hand and throwing him out 
     of the trench. Mortally wounded by the enemy mortar fire 
     while in this exposed position, Corporal Champagne, by his 
     valiant leadership, fortitude and gallant spirit of self-
     sacrifice in the face of almost certain death, undoubtedly 
     saved the lives of several of his fellow Marines. His heroic 
     actions served to inspire all who observed him and reflect 
     the highest credit upon himself and the United States Naval 
     Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.

  In addition to the Medal of Honor, Corporal Champagne received the 
Korean Medal of Honor, the Rhode Island Cross, the Purple Heart, the 
National Defense Service Medal, the Korean Service Medal with 3 Battle 
Stars, the Korean Presidential Unit Citation, and the United Nation's 
Service Medal.
  Corporal Champagne is truly an American hero. In the best spirit of 
this country, he volunteered to go to a foreign land and fight for 
people he had never met, so that they would not be subjected to the 
rule of a totalitarian regime.
  In my home state of Rhode Island a Korean War Memorial is under 
construction at the State Veterans' Cemetery. Carved on that memorial 
will be the same words that are inscribed on the Korean War Memorial 
dedicated in Washington, DC: ``Freedom Is Not Free.'' Corporal 
Champagne understood the meaning of those words. He unhesitatingly paid 
the ultimate price to preserve the freedom of South Korea and to save 
the lives of his men.
  This legislation would pay proper tribute to this remarkable young 
man and commemorate his incredible valor for future generations. I ask 
my colleagues to join Senator Chafee and me in honoring Corporal David 
B. Champagne by supporting this bill.
  Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that a copy of this 
legislation to name the new Wakefield post office after Corporal 
Champagne be included in the Record.
  There being no objection, the bill was ordered to be printed in the 
Record, as follows:

                                 S. 973

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. DESIGNATION OF DAVID B. CHAMPAGNE POST OFFICE 
                   BUILDING.

       The United States Post Office building located at 551 
     Kingstown Road in Wakefield, Rhode Island, shall be known and 
     designated as the ``David B. Champagne Post Office 
     Building''.

     SEC. 2. REFERENCES.

       Any reference in a law, map, regulation, document, paper, 
     or other record of the United States to the United States 
     Post Office building referred to in section 1 shall be deemed 
     to be a reference to the ``David B. Champagne Post Office 
     Building''.
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