[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 139 (Wednesday, October 7, 1998)]
[House]
[Page H9937]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
CORPORAL HAROLD GOMEZ POST OFFICE
Mr. McHUGH. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
bill (H.R. 4616) to designate the United States Post Office located at
3813 Main Street in East Chicago, Indiana, as the ``Corporal Harold
Gomez Post Office''.
The Clerk read as follows:
H.R. 4616
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. DESIGNATION.
The United States Post Office located at 3813 Main Street
in East Chicago, Indiana, shall be known and designated as
the ``Corporal Harold Gomez Post Office''.
SEC. 2. REFERENCES.
Any reference in a law, map, regulation, document, paper,
or other record of the United States to the post office
referred to in section 1 shall be deemed to be a reference to
the ``Corporal Harold Gomez Post Office''.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from New
York (Mr. McHugh) and the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis) each will
control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New York (Mr. McHugh).
General Leave
Mr. McHUGH. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members
may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their
remarks on H.R. 4616.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from New York?
There was no objection.
Mr. McHUGH. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, we have before us, first in this bill and then in
another similar proposal that I know will follow, really two distinct
stories, two stories of two fine individuals but nevertheless two who
share a great deal. They share, it seems to me, the history of
contributions and the history of sacrifices and helping to make this
country the great place that it is.
This first bill has been introduced by our distinguished colleague
from Indiana (Mr. Visclosky), and was introduced on August 23d of this
year.
{time} 2015
This legislation has the support of each member of the House
delegation from the State of Indiana which is pursuant to the Committee
on Government Reform and Oversight rules, and it designates the United
States Post Office located at 3813 Main Street in East Chicago,
Indiana, as the Corporal Harold Gomez Post Office.
Mr. Gomez was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Alfredo Gomez. He was born in
1946 in East Chicago, Indiana. After graduating from high school, he
worked for a summer at Inland Steel Company and then, like many young
men and young women of his age, he enlisted in the Marine Corps in
1965. In March of the following year, 1966, he was sent to Vietnam
which followed his basic infantry training in San Diego, California.
Corporal Gomez was a fire team leader in a rife company of the Third
Marine Division when in 1967 he was killed by a land mine explosion in
South Vietnam. A look, however brief, at the numerous awards and medals
and recognition that this fine young man received during his military
career shows, I think, what an extraordinary individual he was: The
Purple Heart, the Combat Action Ribbon, the Presidential Unit Citation,
the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal, the RVN
Military Merit Medal and on and on and on. Truly, Mr. Speaker, this
effort to memorialize the contributions and the sacrifices of this
great individual I think is a very worth one and certainly one that I
think embodies the kind of positive effort that we have a history of in
this House of naming these very important Federal facilities after such
deserving individuals.
I know that the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis) and perhaps
others would like to make comments as well.
At this time I would with a word of urging of support of fellow
Members of this House, Mr. Speaker, reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume. I join the gentleman from New York (Mr. McHugh) in bringing to
the House floor H.R. 4616, legislation naming the United States Post
Office located at 3813 Main Street in East Chicago, Indiana, as the
Corporal Harold Gomez Post Office Building. Corporal Gomez, as we have
already heard, a Vietnam veteran, was a fire team leader in a rifle
company of the Third Marine Corps during the Vietnam War. He was the
recipient of the Silver Star Medal for his leadership and bravery
during his service, earning recognition for his actions during the
February 21, 1967 battle in which he died.
Corporal Gomez was the first citizen of northwest Indiana to die in
the Vietnam War. I commend the Indiana delegation for seeking to honor
such a man, one who would give his life in the service of his country.
Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman
from Indiana (Mr. Visclosky) the sponsor of this measure who will make
some comments.
Mr. VISCLOSKY. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the gentleman yielding and I
would first want to thank the chair of the committee for the
expeditious, speed-of-light consideration of this legislation that
literally was introduced a month and a half ago as well as thanking my
colleague from Illinois for ensuring that it was heard before Congress
adjourned. I also would be remiss if I did not thank the members of the
Indiana delegation who joined me in this effort.
Mr. Speaker, I do rise to urge my colleagues to support this
legislation to rename a post office in East Chicago, Indiana in honor
of Lance Corporal Harold Gomez. Corporal Gomez was the first resident
of East Chicago to die during the Vietnam War and his community would
like to honor him in this special way.
Corporal Gomez was born in East Chicago in 1946. After working
briefly at Inland Steel Company, he enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps
and was sent to Vietnam in 1966. Corporal Gomez quickly became a fire
team leader in a rifle company of the Third Marine Corps in Vietnam. He
was awarded the Silver Star Medal posthumously for valiant leadership
and bravery during his service, earning particular praise for his
actions during the February 21, 1967 battle in which he died. Corporal
Gomez's military awards also include the Purple Heart Medal, Combat
Action Ribbon, Presidential Unit Citation, National Defense Service
Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal, and the Rifle Sharpshooters Badge.
In Harold Gomez's short life, he touched many lives and was admired
by both friends and colleagues. I am deeply honored to offer this
legislation to honor a true hero of northwest Indiana and our country.
Corporal Gomez distinguished himself in combat and is a source of
inspiration to many citizens of East Chicago and the rest of the
northwest Indiana community. He is worthy of this honor.
On behalf of northwest Indiana's many veterans, I am proud to support
this legislation to name an East Chicago post office in honor of
Corporal Harold Gomez.
Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for
time, and I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. McHUGH. Mr. Speaker, with a final urging of support for the
gentleman from Indiana in this very worthy measure and thanking the
gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis) and his staff for their efforts and
cooperation, I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Gutknecht). The question is on the
motion offered by the gentleman from New York (Mr. McHugh) that the
House suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 4616.
The question was taken.
Mr. McHugh. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
The yeas and nays were ordered.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 5 of rule I and the
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be
postponed.
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