[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 75 (Thursday, June 15, 2000)]
[House]
[Pages H4586-H4587]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
AUTHORIZING AWARD OF MEDAL OF HONOR TO ED W. FREEMAN, JAMES K. OKUBO,
AND ANDREW J. SMITH
Mr. HEFLEY. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to take from the
Speaker's table the Senate bill (S. 2722), to authorize the award of
the Medal of Honor to Ed. W. Freeman, James K. Okubo, and Andrew J.
Smith, and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.
The Clerk read the title of the Senate bill.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Pease). Is there objection to the
request of the gentleman from Colorado?
There was no objection.
The Clerk read the Senate bill, as follows:
S. 2722
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. AUTHORITY TO AWARD MEDAL OF HONOR TO ED W.
FREEMAN, JAMES K. OKUBO, AND ANDREW J. SMITH.
(a) Inapplicability of Time Limitations.--Notwithstanding
the time limitations in section 3744(b) of title 10, United
States Code, or any other time limitation, the President may
award the Medal of Honor under section 3741 of such title to
the persons specified in subsection (b) for the acts
specified in that subsection, the award of the Medal of Honor
to such persons having been determined by the Secretary of
the Army to be warranted in accordance with section 1130 of
such title.
(b) Persons Eligible To Receive the Medal of Honor.--The
persons referred to in subsection (a) are the following:
(1) Ed W. Freeman, for conspicuous acts of gallantry and
intrepidity at the risk of his life and beyond the call of
duty on November 14, 1965, as flight leader and second-in-
command of a helicopter lift unit at landing zone X-Ray in
the Battle of the Ia Drang Valley, Republic of Vietnam,
during the Vietnam War, while serving in the grade of Captain
in Alpha Company, 229th Assault Helicopter Battalion, 101st
Cavalry Division (Airmobile).
(2) James K. Okubo, for conspicuous acts of gallantry and
intrepidity at the risk of his life and beyond the call of
duty on October 28 and 29, and November 4, 1944, at Foret
Domaniale de Champ, near Biffontaine, France, during World
War II, while serving as an Army medic in the grade of
Technician Fifth Grade in the medical detachment, 442d
Regimental Combat Team.
(3) Andrew J. Smith, for conspicuous acts of gallantry and
intrepidity at the risk of his life and beyond the call of
duty on November 30, 1864, in the Battle of Honey Hill, South
Carolina, during the Civil War, while serving as a corporal
in the 55th Massachusetts Voluntary Infantry Regiment.
(c) Posthumous Award.--The Medal of Honor may be awarded
under this section posthumously, as provided in section 3752
of title 10, United States Code.
(d) Prior Award.--The Medal of Honor may be awarded under
this section for service for which a Silver Star, or other
award, has been awarded.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Hefley) is
recognized for 1 hour.
Mr. HEFLEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, S. 2722 authorizes the award of the Medal of Honor to
three individuals who have been recommended for the award following a
review by the Secretary of the Army.
In authorizing an award S. 2722, waives the time limits established
in the law for the award of the Medal of Honor. The three cases involve
extraordinary valor in combat and represent well the high standard for
bravery that is the hallmark of our Nation's most cherished decoration,
the Medal of Honor.
Corporal Andrew J. Smith, 55th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry,
saved the regimental colors from capture on November 30, 1864, during
the Battle of Honey Hill, South Carolina, when an assault left one-half
of the regiment's officers and a third of the enlisted men killed or
wounded.
Technician Fifth grade, James K. Okubo, Medical Detachment 442nd
Regimental Combat Team, rescued several badly wounded members of his
unit while under heavy enemy fire on October 28, 29, and November 4,
1944, near Biffontaine France.
Captain Ed. W. Freeman, 229 Assault Helicopter Battalion, 1st Cavalry
Division, repeatedly flew into one of the hottest and most embattled
landing zones of the Vietnam War to provide essential supplies and
evacuate wounded on November 14, 1965, at landing zone X-ray during the
battle of the LaDrang Valley, Republic of Vietnam.
The legislation would provide the appropriate honors posthumously to
three valiant Americans of very different backgrounds, engaged in three
very different battles. No matter how different the men, no matter how
different the tactical or technological aspects of the conflicts in
which they found themselves, they each reflected the best character of
the American soldier.
Mr. Speaker, I also want to note that this legislation would, if
adopted by the House, permit Mr. Okubo's family to receive his medal
along with other Asian-American veterans who will receive Medals of
Honor in a White House Ceremony on June 21.
I urge my colleagues to join me in support of S. 2722.
Mr. Speaker, I yield to my friend and colleague, the gentleman from
Hawaii (Mr. Abercrombie).
Mr. ABERCROMBIE. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Colorado
(Mr. Hefley) for yielding.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of S. 2722, which is before the House
today authorizing the Medal of Honor for James K. Okubo, Ed. W.
Freeman, and Andrew J. Smith for the heroic actions as outlined by the
gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Hefley).
{time} 0120
These three individuals are highly deserving of this award for their
conspicuous bravery under fire in the defense of our great nation.
I am particularly pleased that this legislation is the culmination of
an exhaustive effort to recognize James K. Okubo for his valor during
World War II. Mr. Okubo, a Japanese-American, originally from
Washington State, like hundreds of others was sent to an internment
camp in California at the outset of World War II. Despite being
subjected to this shameful treatment, he never wavered in his
patriotism and dedication to this country.
James Okubo entered the Army and was assigned as a medic in the
legendary 442nd Regimental Combat Team. In October of 1944, Technician
Okubo and his unit were tasked with the rescue of the ``Lost
Battalion'' from Texas. The ``Lost Battalion'' was surrounded by German
forces and threatened with annihilation.
During a 2 day period of heavy machine gun fire, mortar and artillery
fire, Technician Okubo provided first-aid to 25 fellow soldiers wounded
in the
[[Page H4587]]
battle. On two occasions he crawled within yards of enemy lines to
evacuate wounded comrades. Later during the battle he ran 75 yards
through withering machine gun fire directed at him and evacuated a
seriously wounded crewman from a burning tank.
For his heroism displayed during these intense combat situations,
Technician Okubo was recommended for the Medal of Honor. I think it is
important to note that, Mr. Speaker, he was recommended at that time
for the Medal of Honor. However, the award was downgraded with the
explanation that since he was a medic, Technician Okubo was not
eligible for any award higher than the Silver Star.
Sadly, Mr. Okubo passed away in 1967 without ever receiving the
proper recognition he rightly deserves. However, we now have the
opportunity to correct this injustice. Mr. Okubo's case has recently
been reviewed, as the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Hefley) indicated,
by the Department of the Army under Section 1130 of Title X. After a
thorough review of the facts of the case, the Army determined that Mr.
Okubo in fact deserves to be awarded the Medal of Honor recommended for
him for his valor during World War II.
On June 21, the President will be recognizing 12 members of Mr.
Okubo's former unit, the 442nd Regimental Combat Team. These
individuals have also earned the Nation's highest award, the Medal of
Honor.
I strongly urge the House to join our colleagues in the Senate and
pass S. 2722, so that James K. Okubo can be honored with his comrades
on this momentous occasion.
Mr. Speaker, may I conclude and thank the gentleman from Colorado
(Mr. Hefley) again personally on this floor for not only his interest,
but his dedication, and thank in particular Mike Higgins and Phil
Grone, Ashley Godwin and Deborah Watta for making it possible for the
gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Hefley) and myself to appear on the floor
in such an expeditious manner. They have done a terrific job with this,
Mr. Speaker, and I am very grateful. I thank the gentleman for
yielding.
Mr. HEFLEY. Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend from Hawaii.
Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back
the balance of my time.
The Senate bill was ordered to be read a third time, was read the
third time, and passed, and a motion to reconsider was laid on the
table.
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