[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 108 (Monday, September 13, 2004)]
[House]
[Pages H7018-H7020]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
THOMAS P. NOONAN, JR., DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS OUTPATIENT CLINIC
Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and
pass the bill (H.R. 1318) to name the Department of Veterans Affairs
outpatient clinic in Sunnyside, Queens, New York, as the ``Thomas P.
Noonan, Jr., Department of Veterans Affairs Outpatient Clinic.''
The Clerk read as follows:
H.R. 1318
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. NAME OF DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS OUTPATIENT
CLINIC, QUEENS, NEW YORK.
The Department of Veterans Affairs outpatient clinic in
Sunnyside, Queens, New York, shall be known and designated as
the ``Thomas P. Noonan, Jr., Department of Veterans Affairs
Outpatient Clinic''. Any reference to such clinic in any law,
map, regulation, document, paper, or other record of the
United States shall be considered to be a reference to the
``Thomas P. Noonan, Jr., Department of Veterans Affairs
Outpatient Clinic''.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from New
Jersey (Mr. Smith) and the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Corrine Brown)
each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith).
Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I
may consume.
Mr. Speaker, H.R. 1318 would name the Department of Veterans Affairs
outpatient clinic in the City of Sunnyside, Queens, New York, for Lance
Corporal Thomas P. Noonan, Jr., a Marine, who on February 5, 1969, was
killed in action in Quang Tri Province, Vietnam.
Lance Corporal Noonan was 25 years old on that fateful morning in
Vietnam when serving as a fire team leader he was mortally wounded
while valiantly trying to drag a wounded Marine to safety. For his
heroic actions, he was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor, our
Nation's highest military decoration.
I want to commend my distinguished colleague on the other side of the
aisle, the gentleman from New York (Mr. Crowley), for introducing H.R.
1318. This is the second naming bill the Committee on Veterans' Affairs
has brought to the floor today to honor servicemembers who gave their
lives in Vietnam. These are bipartisan measures which pay homage to our
fallen heroes. I am pleased to bring these bills before the House for
its consideration.
I hope that these stories of bravery and sacrifice are an inspiration
to the new generation of soldiers, sailors, Marines, and airmen who are
so ably serving our country in the war against terrorism. By naming
these facilities to honor Lance Corporals Noonan and Creek, we also
signify our intent to continue providing health care to veterans of our
Armed Forces now and into the future.
Again, I am grateful to my friend and colleague on the other side of
the aisle for introducing it.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
[[Page H7019]]
Ms. CORRINE BROWN of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time
as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to support the bill introduced by my
colleague, the gentleman from New York (Mr. Crowley), to rename the
Veterans Affairs outpatient clinic in Sunnyside, Queens, New York,
after Lance Corporal Thomas P. Noonan, Jr.
Lance Corporal Noonan was mortally wounded in combat in Vietnam. For
his actions under fire, he received the Congressional Medal of Honor
and the Purple Heart. Mr. Speaker, I support this bill and thank my
colleague for consideration in honoring a valiant veteran who gave his
life defending the principles that America stands for.
Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentlewoman from New York (Mrs.
Maloney).
Mrs. MALONEY. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms.
Corrine Brown) for yielding me this time and for her leadership on this
important committee.
Mr. Speaker, as a proud New Yorker and a representative of the people
of Queens, New York, I am very pleased and honored to rise in strong
support of H.R. 1318, a bill authored by my good friend and colleague,
the gentleman from New York (Mr. Crowley).
This bill would designate the Federal Veterans Administration
outpatient clinic located at 4103 Queens Boulevard in Sunnyside,
Queens, as the Lance Corporal Thomas P. Noonan, Jr. Veterans Outpatient
Clinic.
Thomas P. Noonan, the son of Thomas Patrick Noonan, Sr., and
Florence, was a life-long resident of Woodside, Queens, New York. He
attended school at St. Theresa's parish and graduated from Hunter
College with a bachelor's degree in physical education in 1966.
On December 26, 1967, he enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve;
and in July 1968 he was sent to the Republic of Vietnam, where he
served as a mortar man with his battalion and later as a rifleman in
the 3rd Marine Division. He was promoted to Lance Corporal on New
Year's Day 1969.
On February 5, 1969, his company was ordered to change the position
they had been holding near the Vandergrift Combat Base in A Sahau
Valley. This change was made especially difficult by recent heavy
rains. Descent down the steep hillside proved treacherous, and four
leading men in the company were wounded by North Vietnamese soldiers
concealed in the area.
The other members of the company were unable to rescue the four
wounded Marines in the midst of heavy enemy fire. Noonan left his
position of relative safety and descended through the hazardous
terrain. Protected by rocky outcropping, Noonan shouted words of
encouragement to his fellow friends who were wounded.
Bracing himself, Noonan then made a dash towards the injured men and
had started to drag the most seriously wounded one to safety when he
himself was hit by enemy fire. Noonan picked himself up and continued
to drag the other soldier, his friend, away but was mortally wounded
himself before he could carry his comrade to safety.
His heroic actions in the face of great danger so roused his fellow
Marines that they launched an assault on the enemy position that forced
the North Vietnamese soldiers to withdraw.
Noonan was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor by President
Nixon, as well as the Purple Heart, the National Defense Service Medal,
the Vietnam Service Medal, with two Bronze Stars, and the Republic of
Vietnam Campaign Medal.
Lance Corporal Noonan's courage, inspiring initiative, and selfless
devotion to duty upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and
the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his
country.
In 1996, to commemorate his life, his spirit, and his heroic acts,
the City of New York dedicated a public park in his honor in Queens.
Now this Congress is taking the appropriate step to name the VA
outpatient clinic in Sunnyside, Queens, after Lance Corporal Noonan.
This tribute enjoys the support of every major veterans service
organization in New York State, and many local veterans posts
throughout Queens, including but not limited to the Queens County
American Legion; Queens County Catholic War Veterans; the Vietnam
Veterans of America, Queens Chapter; and the John V. Daniels VFW Post.
{time} 1615
On behalf of my colleagues in New York and especially my Queens
neighbor, the gentleman from New York (Mr. Crowley), I urge support of
my colleagues for this fitting tribute to an American hero.
Ms. CORRINE BROWN of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests
for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. CROWLEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of the bill H.R.
1318. This bill, which I have introduced, will designate the Federal
Veterans Administration Outpatient Clinic located at 41-03 Queens
Boulevard in Sunnyside, Queens as the ``Lance Corporal Thomas P.
Noonan, Jr. Veterans Outpatient Clinic.''
On October 30, 2000, I presided at the opening of the Sunnyside
Veterans Outpatient Clinic--something I had been championing on behalf
of the veterans of northwestern Queens County. After the ribbon cutting
ceremony, I was invited across the street for a drink with a few of the
people who would most benefit from this clinic--the veterans of the
John V. Daniels Veterans of Foreign Wars post.
That day, I sat down with the late Adolph Seifert, Post Adjutant and
Ray Murray, Commander of the Post. And they told me about Lance
Corporal Thomas Noonan.
Thomas P. Noonan was born November 18, 1943, in Brooklyn, NY, the son
of Thomas Patrick Noonan, Sr., and Florence. He was a lifelong resident
of Woodside, Queens; attended St. Theresa's Parish, Grover Cleveland
High School in Ridgewood, and later graduated from Hunter College with
a bachelor's degree in physical education in 1966.
On December 26, 1967, Thomas Noonan enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps
Reserve and was subsequently discharged to enlist in the Regular Marine
Corps on 31 January 1968. Private Noonan completed recruit training
with the 3d Recruit Training Battalion, Marine Corps Recruit Depot,
Parris Island, SC, in April 1968, and was promoted to private first
class, 1 April 1968. Transferred to the Marine Corps Base, Camp
Lejeune, NC, he underwent individual combat training with the 1st
Battalion, 1st Infantry Training Regiment.
Ordered to the Republic of Vietnam in July 1968, he was assigned duty
as mortar man with H&S Company, 2d Battalion, 27th Marines, 1st Marine
Division (Rein), FMF. In August, he was reassigned to the 3d Marine
Division where he saw combat as a rifleman, M-79 man with Company G, 2d
Battalion, 9th Marines. He was promoted to Lance Corporal on January 1,
1969.
On February 5, 1969, his company was ordered to change the position
they had been holding near the Vandergrift Combat Base in Ashau Valley.
This change made especially difficult by recent heavy rains; descent
down the steep hillside provided treacherous and four leading men in
the company were wounded by North Vietnamese soldiers concealed in the
area. The other members of the company were unable to rescue the four
wounded marines in the midst of heavy enemy fire. Noonan left his
position of relative safety and descended the hazardous terrain.
Protected by a rocky outcropping, Noonan shouted words of encouragement
to the wounded men. Bracing himself, Noonan then made a dash toward the
injured men and had started to drag the most seriously wounded one to
safety when he himself was hit by enemy fire. Noonan picked himself up
and continued to drag the soldier away, but was mortally wounded
himself before he could carry his comrade to safety.
His heroic actions in the face of harrowing danger so roused his
fellow marines that they launched an assault on the enemy position that
forced the North Vietnamese soldiers to withdraw. Noonan was awarded
the Congressional Medal of Honor posthumously as well as the Purple
Heart, the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal
with two bronze stars and the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal.
Lance Corporal Noonan was survived by his parents, three sisters and
one brother.
I was taken by his bravery and loyalty. After the request from Adolph
Seifert to name the VA clinic in honor of Thomas P. Noonan, I got to
work and put together legislation to enact this change.
It is an honor to be here today seeing this tribute pass the House of
Representatives. This tribute today goes to his memory. But we would
not be here today without the support of the late Adolph Seifert, or
Ray Murray and Regis Quirin--all of the Daniels VFW Post.
But this legislation enjoyed the strong support of veterans all over
Queens County and the State of New York. On a State level, this
legislation enjoys the support of the American Legion, AMVETS, the
Vietnam Veterans of America--which is currently headed by another
Queens resident John Rowan--the Disabled American Veterans, the
Veterans of Foreign Wars, the Marine Corps League, the Military Order
of the Purple Heart, the Blinded
[[Page H7020]]
Veterans Association, the Eastern Paralyzed Veterans Association--based
in my Congressional District in Queens--and the New York State Counsel
of Veterans Organizations. Their help was invaluable in this process.
But I especially would like to note the help from local Queens County
veterans chapters, starting with the Daniels VFW Post--the inspiration
behind this tribute--as well as John Severa and the Queens County
American Legion; William Roach and the Catholic War Veterans of Queens
County; Donald Haber and the Jewish War Veterans Queens County Chapter;
Thomas Lakeman and the Frank Kowalinski Post representing the Polish
War Veterans of Queens County; Donald McBride and the Sgt Edward R.
Miller VFW Post in Glendale, Queens. I want to thank them all.
I also want to pay tribute to Florence Noonan, the mother of Lance
Corporal Thomas P. Noonan. While we pay tribute to a hero, she mourns
the loss of a son. Lance Corporal Noonan's indomitable courage,
inspiring initiative and selfless devotion to duty upheld the highest
traditions of the U.S. Marine Corps. He gallantly gave his life for his
country.
In 1996, to commemorate his life, his spirit and his heroism, the
city of New York dedicated a public park in his honor in Queens. Now
children can play and recreate in a safe community park dedicated to an
American hero, who himself majored in physical education at Hunter
College. Now, this Congress is taking the appropriate step to name the
VA outpatient clinic in Sunnyside, Queens, after Lance Corporal Noonan.
On behalf of all of my New York State colleagues--Democrat and
Republican, upstate and from the city--who were all cosponsors and
supporters of this legislation, I am pleased that the House is debating
this legislation and I look forward to its passage and enactment into
law.
This is a fitting tribute to an American hero.
Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for
time, and I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith) that the House suspend the rules
and pass the bill, H.R. 1318.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor
thereof) the rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
____________________