[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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