[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 51 (Tuesday, April 20, 2004)]
[House]
[Pages H2159-H2161]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
RICHARD G. WILSON PROCESSING AND DISTRIBUTION FACILITY
Mrs. MILLER of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and
pass the bill (H.R. 4037) to designate the facility of the United
States Postal Service located at 475 Kell Farm Drive in Cape Girardeau,
Missouri, as the ``Richard G. Wilson Processing and Distribution
Facility''.
The Clerk read as follows:
H.R. 4037
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
[[Page H2160]]
SECTION 1. RICHARD G. WILSON PROCESSING AND DISTRIBUTION
FACILITY.
(a) Designation.--The facility of the United States Postal
Service located at 475 Kell Farm Drive in Cape Girardeau,
Missouri, shall be known and designated as the ``Richard G.
Wilson Processing and Distribution Facility''.
(b) References.--Any reference in a law, map, regulation,
document, paper, or other record of the United States to the
facility referred to in subsection (a) shall be deemed to be
a reference to the Richard G. Wilson Processing and
Distribution Facility.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from
Michigan (Mrs. Miller) and the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis) each
will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Michigan (Mrs. Miller).
General Leave
Mrs. MILLER of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that
all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and
extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 4037.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentlewoman from Michigan?
There was no objection.
Mrs. MILLER of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I
may consume.
Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the Committee on Government Reform, I rise
in support of H.R. 4037, which honors the life of Richard G. Wilson by
naming this U.S. Postal Service processing and distribution facility in
Cape Girardeau, Missouri, after him.
Private First Class Wilson was an Army corpsman who served with
gallantry during the Korean War. He distinguished himself by aiding
wounded soldiers in harm's way outside Opari, Korea, in October of
1950.
At the bottom of the valley near Opari, enemy forces engaged Private
Wilson's company. As the U.S. forces suffered casualties, the unarmed
Private Wilson charged into harsh combat to provide aid to his wounded
company men, despite their protest. He treated several soldiers in the
face of the merciless enemy attack.
The company was forced to retreat, and Private Wilson's whereabouts
were initially unknown. Two days later, a U.S. patrol found him lying
next to one of the troops that he had helped during the firefight.
Wilson had been shot several times.
Private Wilson was posthumously awarded the Nation's highest military
award for valor, the Congressional Medal of Honor, on June 21, 1951.
The medal was presented to Wilson's widow Yvonna in a ceremony at the
Pentagon that day.
Mr. Speaker, this postal facility designation, introduced by the
gentlewoman from Missouri (Mrs. Emerson), will memorialize Richard
Wilson's bravery and selflessness in his hometown of Cape Girardeau,
Missouri. I understand that members of his family still live in Cape
Girardeau, and I certainly hope this exceedingly deserved honor for
Richard Wilson will be meaningful to them.
Mr. Speaker, while heroes of today fight for freedom across the globe
in places like Afghanistan and Iraq, it is always appropriate to
recognize America's military heroes of yesterday. I strongly urge every
Member of the House to support this legislation.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Mr. Speaker, as a Member of the Committee on Government Reform, I am
pleased to join my colleague in consideration of H.R. 4037, legislation
naming a postal facility in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, after Richard G.
Wilson. This measure was introduced by the gentlewoman from Missouri
(Mrs. Emerson) on March 25, 2004, and unanimously reported by our
committee on April 1, 2004. It enjoys the support and cosponsorship of
the entire Missouri delegation.
Mr. Speaker, Richard G. Wilson, Private First Class, United States
Army, was attached to Medical Company 1 of the 187th Airborne Infantry
Regiment and served in the Korean War. According to military accounts,
Pfc. Wilson distinguished himself by ``conspicuous gallantry and
intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty in action.''
As a medic, he accompanied his unit in Opari, Korea, administering
medical attention to his wounded comrades in the midst of fierce enemy
fighting. After his unit was forced to withdraw from the area, Pfc.
Wilson moved his wounded colleagues to safety and searched to make sure
that no man was left behind.
After realizing that one soldier was missing, Pfc. Wilson returned to
the area in search of his colleague. Pfc. Wilson was found 2 days later
lying beside the man he had been searching for. For his bravery,
courage and self-sacrifice for his comrades, he was posthumously
awarded the Nation's highest award for valor, the Medal of Honor.
Mr. Speaker, I commend my colleagues for seeking to honor the legacy
of Richard Wilson by naming a postal facility in his name in his
hometown of Cape Girardeau, Missouri.
Mr. Speaker, I urge swift passage.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mrs. MILLER of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may
consume to the distinguished gentlewoman from Missouri (Mrs. Emerson).
Mrs. EMERSON. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding.
Mr. Speaker, first I would like very much to thank my colleagues from
the Committee on Government Reform for so swiftly passing this very
important bill out of the committee. I know that the family of Private
First Class Wilson is very proud at this moment, and will be even
prouder when we pass this bill later today.
I do have the honor, Mr. Speaker, to speak on behalf of this bill to
honor a true American hero from the district I represented in southern
Missouri.
H.R. 4037 would dedicate the Cape Girardeau Processing and
Distribution Facility for mail to hometown and American hero Private
First Class Richard G. Wilson. I know that my other colleagues who have
spoken have mentioned some of the important things that Private First
Class Wilson did, but I would like to mention them once again.
Private First Class Wilson joined thousands of courageous soldiers
who fought in the Korean War when he enlisted in the United States Army
and became part of Company 1, Medical Company, 187th Airborne Infantry
Regiment.
As a U.S. Army medic in active combat during the Korean War at the
age of 19, Private First Class Wilson accompanied his unit during a
reconnaissance mission through Opari in Korea. When the troops were
ambushed in a narrow valley, Pfc. Wilson administered aid to his
wounded comrades. Even though his company commander ordered the unit to
move out, Pfc. Wilson returned to the field of battle to rescue a
soldier who was left for dead, but was attempting to crawl to safety.
Private First Class Wilson was unarmed, but that did not deter him from
his mission.
Two days later, Private First Class Wilson was found dead beside the
man he gave his life trying to save. This is an example of the superb
bravery that reflects Richard Wilson's character and so rightly earned
him the Nation's highest military award, the Medal of Honor.
In 1951, the Medal of Honor was awarded to Richard G. Wilson's widow,
Yvonna Wilson, at the Pentagon. Today she and hundreds of Cape
Girardeau residents remember and honor Pfc. Wilson's bravery and
commitment to our country. It is very appropriate his memory become a
prominent part of our community.
Naming the postal facility after Pfc. Wilson will serve as a lasting
testament of our gratitude to him for his brave example, just as we are
proud of all men and women from southern Missouri and around the
country who have served our country so honorably.
Richard Wilson exemplifies the valor of so many men and women who
have served our Nation in uniform. This simple reminder of his brave
actions will stand as a testament in Cape Girardeau that we respect his
sacrifice, but it also will signal that we wish him to serve as an
example for generations of Americans to come. With this designation we
claim him for our own and honor his memory.
Our definition of the word ``hero'' has changed many times over the
years. Private First Class Wilson, however, is a hero for any era.
Mrs. MILLER of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I
may consume.
[[Page H2161]]
Mr. Speaker, I urge all Members to support H.R. 4037.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentlewoman from Michigan (Mrs. Miller) that the House suspend the
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 4037.
The question was taken.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds of
those present have voted in the affirmative.
Mrs. MILLER of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and
nays.
The yeas and nays were ordered.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be
postponed.
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