[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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