[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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