[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 156 (Saturday, November 8, 1997)]
[House]
[Pages H10406-H10409]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 WAIVING TIME LIMITATION ON AWARDING MEDAL OF HONOR TO ROBERT R. INGRAM

  Mrs. FOWLER. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 2813) to waive time limitations specified by law in order to 
allow the Medal of Honor to be awarded to Robert R. Ingram of 
Jacksonville, FL, for acts of valor while a Navy Hospital Corpsman in 
the Republic of Vietnam during the Vietnam conflict.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                               H.R. 2813

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

[[Page H10407]]

     SECTION 1. AUTHORITY FOR AWARD OF MEDAL OF HONOR TO ROBERT R. 
                   INGRAM FOR VALOR DURING THE VIETNAM CONFLICT.

       (a) Waiver of Time Limitations.--Notwithstanding the time 
     limitations specified in section 6248 of title 10, United 
     States Code, or any other time limitation with respect to the 
     awarding of certain medals to persons who served in the naval 
     service, the President may award the Medal of Honor under 
     section 6241 of that title to Robert R. Ingram of 
     Jacksonville, Florida, for the acts of valor referred to in 
     subsection (b).
       (b) Action Described.--The acts of valor referred to in 
     subsection (a) are the actions of Robert R. Ingram on March 
     28, 1966, as a Hospital Corpsman Third Class in the Navy 
     serving in the Republic of Vietnam with Company C of the 
     First Battalion, Seventh Marines, during a combat operation 
     designated as Operation Indiana.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from 
Florida [Mrs. Fowler] and the gentleman from Pennsylvania [Mr. McHale] 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Florida [Mrs. Fowler].

                              {time}  1715

  Mrs. FOWLER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  I am very pleased that the House is today considering H.R. 2813, 
legislation I have introduced that would waive the statute of 
limitations to enable the Defense Department to award Mr. Robert R. 
Ingram of Jacksonville, FL, a Congressional Medal of Honor. I want to 
thank especially both the chairman and the ranking Democrat of the 
House Committee on National Security and the staff there who helped 
expedite committee consideration of this bill and the gentleman from 
Arkansas [Mr. Berry], who has been profoundly interested in this matter 
and whose assistance was instrumental in helping bring this measure to 
the floor today.
  Mr. Speaker, this legislation was requested by the Defense Department 
and the award is long overdue. It was not made earlier only as a result 
of a very unfortunate oversight. In fact, Corpsman Ingram's fighting 
companions thought that the recommendation for his Congressional Medal 
of Honor had been made long ago and were shocked to learn only recently 
that the award had never been made.
  Today we must move to correct that error. I want to read to Members 
the details of what happened that day and why he should be awarded this 
medal. Corpsman Ingram was serving with Company C, First Battalion, 
Seventh Marines, against elements of a North Vietnam aggressor in Quang 
Ngai Province, Republic of Vietnam, on March 28, 1966.
  Corpsman Ingram accompanied a Marine point platoon as it dispatched 
an outpost of an NVA battalion. The momentum of the attack rolled off a 
ridge line down a tree covered slope to a small paddy in a village 
beyond. A village tree line suddenly and without any warning exploded 
in fire against the Marine platoon. There was an intense hail of 
automatic rifle fire from approximately 100 North Vietnamese regulars. 
In mere moments the platoon ranks were decimated. Oblivious to the 
slaughter and danger around him, Corpsman Ingram crawled through a hail 
of bullets to reach a downed Marine. As he administered aid, a bullet 
went through the palm of his hand. Calls for corpsmen continued across 
the ridge. Bleeding, Corpsman Ingram moved across the battlefield, 
collecting ammunition from the dead and administering aid to the 
wounded as he went. Receiving two more wounds, one in the knee and one 
in his face that he immediately knew was life threatening, he looked 
for a way off the ridge, but again heard the call for corpsmen. Again 
he answered, knowing that he was facing sure death. Though severely 
wounded three times, he gathered magazines, resupplied and encouraged 
those capable of returning fire, rendered aid to those incapable of 
movement until he finally reached the right flank of the platoon. While 
addressing the head wound of another corpsman, he sustained his fourth 
bullet wound. Even with those wounds for the next 2 to 3 hours, 
Corpsman Ingram still encouraged and doctored his Marines.
  Enduring the pain from his many wounds and disregarding his own life, 
Corpsman Ingram's intrepid actions saved many that day. By his 
indomitable fighting spirit, daring initiative and unfaltering 
dedication to duty, Corpsman Ingram earned the Medal of Honor during 
that action in Operation Indiana in March 1966. He demonstrated 
conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of 
duty.
  I commend him for his enormous courage, and I look forward to passage 
of this bill so that he can finally receive this Nation's highest award 
for valor, which he so richly deserves.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. McHALE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I 
am very pleased to join with the gentlewoman from Florida [Mrs. Fowler] 
in presenting a much overdue recommendation to this House.
  In the Marine Corps we call him Doc. He is the corpsman who 
administers to our needs both in peace and in wartime. In 2 days, we 
will celebrate the 222d birthday of the U.S. Marine Corps. I can tell 
the Speaker that there is no more courageous chapter in Marine Corps 
history than that which has been written by the corpsmen who have been 
attached. Whether you are reading the history of Iwo Jima or the 
battles in Vietnam up through the conflicts that took place in the 
Persian Gulf 6 years ago, corpsmen are by our sides when we need them.
  In this case, I hope all who are present in the Chamber heard the 
words that were just read by the gentlewoman from Florida [Mrs. 
Fowler]. Doc Ingram was shot 4 times in the service of his country. 
Over a period of several hours, having received wounds that were life 
threatening, under circumstances that were almost impossible to 
imagine, this brave sailor, wounded 4 times and bleeding, continued to 
minister to the Marines around him and while he was wrapping a bandage 
around the head of another corpsman was shot a final time. I cannot 
imagine valor of that magnitude. 30 years later, we have the 
opportunity to correct an injustice. That brave young sailor, that 
friend of Marines, that man who went in harm's way for our Nation and 
shed his blood in the process is finally being recognized today as a 
man who earned, is not being given, but earned the Congressional Medal 
of Honor.
  In 2 days, we celebrate that birthday of the Marine Corps. As someone 
who has been proud to be a marine for 25 years, I am equally proud of 
the corpsmen who have served so bravely with us.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Arkansas [Mr. 
Berry], who along with the gentlewoman from Florida [Mrs. Fowler] 
directly produced the opportunity that we have today.
  Mr. BERRY. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to join my colleagues, the 
gentlewoman from Florida and the gentleman from Pennsylvania in this 
effort. On March 28, 1966, Corpsman Robert Ingram accompanied his 
Marine platoon as it approached an outpost of the North Vietnamese 
aggressor. As they approached the tree line, suddenly and without any 
warning, there was an explosion of gunfire against the platoon. 
Approximately 100 North Vietnamese were attacking. Disregarding the 
danger and slaughter around him, Corpsman Ingram crawled through a hail 
of bullets to reach a downed marine. As he was administering aid, a 
bullet went through the palm of his hand. While he was treating other 
downed Marines and collecting magazines to return fire, he received 
three additional bullet wounds, including one penetrating his sinus 
cavity. His actions saved many lives that day.
  In 1995, former First Lieutenant Jim Fulkerson and others who served 
together in the war were working to set up a reunion for the platoon. 
They were shocked to learn in preparing for the reunion that Corpsman 
Ingram had never received the Medal of Honor. His companions all 
understood that a recommendation had been made and assumed that it was 
made. The Department of Defense agrees that Corpsman Ingram's actions 
qualify him for the Medal of Honor that day in March 1966. Now, over 30 
years later, the House of Representatives has the opportunity to see 
appropriate recognition is given to Corpsman Ingram's display of valor. 
It is because of the efforts made by his platoon members that this has 
gotten where it is today. I also commend the gentlewoman from Florida 
for her work on this important matter. This is a fitting thing that the 
Congress will do.

[[Page H10408]]

  Mr. McHALE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from 
Florida [Ms. Brown].
  Ms. BROWN of Florida. Mr. Speaker, as a member of the Committee on 
Veterans' Affairs and Representative of the Florida Third Congressional 
District, I am so proud today to honor one of Jacksonville's own, 
Robert Ingram.
  This Tuesday is Veterans Day. Our annual celebration of the 
commitment and sacrifices made by our Nation's veterans. There are more 
than 26 million veterans today, many of whom served during times of 
conflict. Many veterans live in my home State of Florida. We are proud 
to have them there. We are proud of their service and proud of their 
civic action.
  I also want to recognize for Veterans Day the many women veterans who 
have contributed to our Nation's security and preserved the American 
way of life. Last month, the Women in Military Service Memorial was 
dedicated in honor of more than 1 million women who have served this 
great country. I urge everyone to visit this great special place when 
they are in Washington.
  Our veterans face many challenges. I urge the President to speedily 
designate and the other body confirm a Secretary of Veterans Affairs. I 
want to say a special thank you to all veterans, and today I want to 
honor one in particular. As my colleague from Florida has explained, 
Mr. Robert Ingram performed incredible acts of courage, honor, and 
bravery while he was a marine stationed in Vietnam. We ask so much of 
our young men and women when they are placed into conflict, 
particularly in conflict that was so unpopular.
  Corpsman Ingram gave medical attention to other soldiers, even after 
he himself was injured with a bullet wound in his hand. He suffered 
even more wounds to his knees and face, yet continued to help others as 
they called on him. He continued to administer medical aid to others 
after receiving a total of 4 bullet wounds.
  The Medal of Honor is awarded for bravery and courage, acts beyond 
the call of duty. Robert Ingram has had an incredible fighting spirit 
to stay alive, to help his brothers in combat and to serve our great 
Nation. I am very proud today to honor a man from Jacksonville and the 
great State of Florida. He deserves this Medal of Honor and should not 
be a victim of administrative error or oversight. I urge my colleagues 
to support this bill and salute this great veteran.
  Mr. McHALE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. 
For the past 222 years, the Navy and the Marine Corps have established 
a partnership forged in steel and tempered in blood. Some 30 years ago, 
Suicide Charlie, Charlie 17, one of the most distinguished companies in 
the entire U.S. Marine Corps, faced incredible odds on a battlefield in 
Vietnam. Doc Ingram stepped forward under fire when needed by his 
country. And despite 4 serious life threatening bullet wounds, he 
continued to care for his fellow marines, his fellow sailors and for 
his country. Some 30 years later, we correct an injustice. Mr. Speaker, 
I hope sincerely that Doc Ingram is watching as we speak today. I hope 
he realizes how much he is beloved by his country.
  Doc, if you are watching, happy birthday, and semper fidelis.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mrs. FOWLER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. 
I too just want to again say how privileged I feel today to be a part 
of this honoring of Doc Ingram. I know he is in Jacksonville today, 
watching this on television, and I know he understands with what honor 
and regard we Members of the Congress hold his actions. We are so 
pleased that here today we can commend his valor and bravery. This is 
due to the people he saved, who really came forward and said, this 
award is long overdue, they were surprised it had not been given. Those 
men that he saved that day will never forget that their lives were 
saved because of his actions.
  That is what those people in our military do every day of their 
lives. They are out there sacrificing their lives for others. It is a 
great day when we can commend one. I want to again say how proud I am 
to be a part of this.
  Thank you, Doc Ingram, for all you have done.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Calvert). The question is on the motion 
offered by the gentlewoman from Florida [Mrs. Fowler] that the House 
suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 2813.
  The question was taken.
  Mr. McHALE. Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a 
quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not 
present.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Evidently a quorum is not present.
  The Sergeant at Arms will notify absent Members.
  The vote was taken by electronic device, and there were--yeas 412, 
nays 0, not voting 21, as follows:

                             [Roll No. 619]

                               YEAS--412

     Abercrombie
     Ackerman
     Aderholt
     Allen
     Andrews
     Archer
     Armey
     Bachus
     Baesler
     Baker
     Baldacci
     Ballenger
     Barcia
     Barr
     Barrett (NE)
     Barrett (WI)
     Bartlett
     Barton
     Bass
     Bateman
     Becerra
     Bentsen
     Bereuter
     Berman
     Berry
     Bilbray
     Bilirakis
     Bishop
     Blagojevich
     Bliley
     Blunt
     Boehlert
     Boehner
     Bonilla
     Bonior
     Bono
     Borski
     Boswell
     Boucher
     Boyd
     Brady
     Brown (CA)
     Brown (FL)
     Brown (OH)
     Bryant
     Bunning
     Burr
     Burton
     Buyer
     Callahan
     Calvert
     Camp
     Campbell
     Canady
     Cannon
     Cardin
     Carson
     Castle
     Chabot
     Chambliss
     Chenoweth
     Christensen
     Clay
     Clement
     Clyburn
     Coble
     Coburn
     Collins
     Combest
     Condit
     Conyers
     Cook
     Cooksey
     Costello
     Cox
     Coyne
     Cramer
     Crane
     Crapo
     Cummings
     Cunningham
     Danner
     Davis (FL)
     Davis (IL)
     Davis (VA)
     Deal
     DeFazio
     DeGette
     Delahunt
     DeLauro
     DeLay
     Dellums
     Deutsch
     Diaz-Balart
     Dickey
     Dicks
     Dingell
     Dixon
     Doggett
     Dooley
     Doolittle
     Doyle
     Dreier
     Duncan
     Dunn
     Edwards
     Ehlers
     Ehrlich
     Emerson
     Engel
     English
     Ensign
     Eshoo
     Etheridge
     Evans
     Everett
     Ewing
     Farr
     Fattah
     Fawell
     Fazio
     Filner
     Foglietta
     Foley
     Forbes
     Ford
     Fossella
     Fowler
     Fox
     Franks (NJ)
     Frelinghuysen
     Frost
     Furse
     Gallegly
     Ganske
     Gejdenson
     Gekas
     Gephardt
     Gibbons
     Gilchrest
     Gilman
     Goode
     Goodlatte
     Goodling
     Gordon
     Goss
     Graham
     Granger
     Green
     Greenwood
     Gutierrez
     Gutknecht
     Hall (OH)
     Hall (TX)
     Hamilton
     Hansen
     Harman
     Hastert
     Hastings (FL)
     Hastings (WA)
     Hayworth
     Hefley
     Hefner
     Herger
     Hill
     Hilleary
     Hilliard
     Hinchey
     Hinojosa
     Hobson
     Hoekstra
     Hooley
     Horn
     Hostettler
     Houghton
     Hoyer
     Hulshof
     Hunter
     Hutchinson
     Hyde
     Inglis
     Istook
     Jackson (IL)
     Jackson-Lee (TX)
     Jefferson
     Jenkins
     John
     Johnson (CT)
     Johnson (WI)
     Johnson, E. B.
     Johnson, Sam
     Jones
     Kanjorski
     Kaptur
     Kasich
     Kelly
     Kennedy (MA)
     Kennedy (RI)
     Kennelly
     Kildee
     Kilpatrick
     Kim
     Kind (WI)
     King (NY)
     Kingston
     Kleczka
     Klink
     Knollenberg
     Kolbe
     Kucinich
     LaFalce
     LaHood
     Lampson
     Lantos
     Largent
     Latham
     LaTourette
     Lazio
     Leach
     Levin
     Lewis (CA)
     Lewis (GA)
     Lewis (KY)
     Linder
     Lipinski
     Livingston
     LoBiondo
     Lofgren
     Lowey
     Lucas
     Luther
     Maloney (CT)
     Maloney (NY)
     Manton
     Manzullo
     Markey
     Martinez
     Mascara
     Matsui
     McCarthy (MO)
     McCarthy (NY)
     McCollum
     McCrery
     McDade
     McGovern
     McHale
     McHugh
     McInnis
     McIntyre
     McKeon
     McKinney
     McNulty
     Meehan
     Meek
     Menendez
     Metcalf
     Mica
     Millender-McDonald
     Miller (CA)
     Miller (FL)
     Minge
     Mink
     Moakley
     Mollohan
     Moran (KS)
     Moran (VA)
     Morella
     Murtha
     Nadler
     Neal
     Nethercutt
     Ney
     Northup
     Norwood
     Nussle
     Oberstar
     Obey
     Olver
     Ortiz
     Owens
     Oxley
     Packard
     Pallone
     Pappas
     Parker
     Pascrell
     Pastor
     Paul
     Paxon
     Payne
     Pease
     Pelosi
     Peterson (MN)
     Peterson (PA)
     Petri
     Pickering
     Pickett
     Pitts
     Pombo
     Pomeroy
     Porter
     Portman
     Poshard
     Price (NC)
     Pryce (OH)
     Quinn
     Radanovich
     Rahall
     Ramstad
     Rangel
     Redmond
     Regula
     Reyes
     Riggs
     Rivers
     Rodriguez
     Roemer
     Rogan
     Rogers
     Rohrabacher
     Rothman
     Roukema
     Roybal-Allard
     Royce
     Rush
     Ryun
     Sabo
     Salmon
     Sanchez
     Sandlin
     Sanford
     Sawyer
     Saxton
     Scarborough
     Schaefer, Dan
     Schumer
     Scott
     Sensenbrenner
     Serrano
     Sessions
     Shadegg
     Shaw
     Shays
     Sherman
     Shimkus
     Shuster
     Sisisky
     Skaggs
     Skeen

[[Page H10409]]


     Skelton
     Slaughter
     Smith (MI)
     Smith (NJ)
     Smith (OR)
     Smith (TX)
     Smith, Adam
     Smith, Linda
     Snowbarger
     Snyder
     Solomon
     Souder
     Spence
     Spratt
     Stabenow
     Stark
     Stearns
     Stenholm
     Stokes
     Strickland
     Stump
     Stupak
     Sununu
     Talent
     Tanner
     Tauscher
     Tauzin
     Taylor (MS)
     Thomas
     Thompson
     Thornberry
     Thune
     Thurman
     Tiahrt
     Tierney
     Torres
     Towns
     Traficant
     Turner
     Upton
     Velazquez
     Vento
     Visclosky
     Wamp
     Waters
     Watkins
     Watt (NC)
     Watts (OK)
     Waxman
     Weldon (FL)
     Weldon (PA)
     Weller
     Wexler
     Weygand
     White
     Whitfield
     Wicker
     Wise
     Wolf
     Woolsey
     Wynn
     Young (AK)
     Young (FL)

                             NOT VOTING--21

     Blumenauer
     Clayton
     Cubin
     Flake
     Frank (MA)
     Gillmor
     Gonzalez
     Holden
     Klug
     McDermott
     McIntosh
     Myrick
     Neumann
     Riley
     Ros-Lehtinen
     Sanders
     Schaffer, Bob
     Schiff
     Taylor (NC)
     Walsh
     Yates

                              {time}  1750

  Messrs. SMITH of Texas, BARTLETT of Maryland and COMBEST and Mrs. 
LOWEY changed their vote from ``nay'' to ``yea''.
  So (two-thirds having voted in favor thereof) the rules were 
suspended and the bill was passed.
  The result of the vote was announced as above recorded.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

                          ____________________