[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 21 (Monday, February 5, 2007)]
[House]
[Pages H1156-H1158]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             SERGEANT HENRY YBARRA III POST OFFICE BUILDING

  Mr. LYNCH. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill 
(H.R. 577) to designate the facility of the United States Postal 
Service located at 3903 South Congress Avenue in Austin, Texas, as the 
``Sergeant Henry Ybarra III Post Office Building''.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                                H.R. 577

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SERGEANT HENRY YBARRA III POST OFFICE BUILDING.

       (a) Designation.--The facility of the United States Postal 
     Service located at 3903 South Congress Avenue in Austin, 
     Texas, shall be known and designated as the ``Sergeant Henry 
     Ybarra III Post Office Building''.
       (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 ``Sergeant Henry Ybarra III Post Office 
     Building''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Massachusetts (Mr. Lynch) and the gentleman from Connecticut (Mr. 
Shays) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Massachusetts.


                             General Leave

  Mr. LYNCH. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may 
have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Massachusetts?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. LYNCH. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to join with my colleagues in 
the consideration of H.R. 577, legislation naming a postal facility in 
Austin, Texas, after Staff Sergeant Henry Ybarra III.
  On September 11, 2003, Sergeant Ybarra died in Iraq, performing 
maintenance on a heavy expanded mobility tactical truck when a tire 
exploded. He was serving in the Army's 6th Squadron, 6th Cavalry Unit 
when he was killed at the young age of 32.
  Born in Austin, Texas, Sergeant Ybarra grew up wanting to be just 
like

[[Page H1157]]

his father and serve in the military. At age 19 he enlisted in the Army 
and fulfilled his dream.
  Sergeant Ybarra served as a technical supply clerk, keeping track of 
spare parts for the squadron, which was not an easy task since spare 
parts are often scarce during times of conflict.
  Sergeant Ybarra was known for his upbeat attitude, his contagious 
smile, and strong devotion to the Catholic faith. He is survived by his 
wife and three children.
  Staff Sergeant Ybarra's service to our country should be remembered 
and celebrated by this small tribute, and I urge swift passage of this 
bill.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. SHAYS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Sergeant Henry Ybarra was, I am told, a regular guy. On a typical 
weekend, he could be found relaxing at home with his family, grilling 
outside with friends or watching his favorite NFL team, the Dallas 
Cowboys. At other times of the year he would tune into auto racing to 
watch his favorite NASCAR driver, Dale Earnhardt, Jr.
  Born and raised in Austin, Texas, Sergeant Ybarra was a proud family 
man with everyday American values. At the age of 19, he enlisted in the 
U.S. Army. His military career took him to Virginia, Kansas, Texas, and 
on to Germany. It was in Germany, while assigned to Troop D, 6th 
Squadron, 6th Cavalry that he fought in Operation Enduring Freedom and 
Operation Iraqi Freedom.
  His plans for the future were focused on his family and raising his 
three children; but as was pointed out, it all ended abruptly on 
September 11, 2003 in Balad, Iraq, when he was changing a tire on a 
heavy expanded mobility tactical truck when a tire suddenly exploded 
and killed him.
  As his father back home in the U.S. was attending a memorial honoring 
those who died on September 11, 2001, he regretfully received word that 
his own son, who had given so much of himself to his country, had been 
killed.
  Sergeant Ybarra was known by his friends, comrades and family for 
having a joyful spirit and a constant smile. He liked to kid to make 
others laugh. A proud father, son, husband and soldier maintained a 
positive attitude and never said, I am told, a harmful word towards 
others.

                              {time}  1415

  He served his country with distinction. Among his awards and 
decorations were: the Army Commendation Medal, the Army Achievement 
Medal, three Good Conduct Medals, two National Defense Service Medals, 
the Armed Forces Service Medal, the NCO Professional Development 
Ribbon, three Overseas Service Ribbons and the Basic Marks 
qualification badge.
  Mr. Speaker, this was a man who was happy to serve his country, and 
we are grateful he did. Let us honor his ultimate sacrifice by renaming 
this post office for him.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. LYNCH. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. 
Doggett) as much time as he may consume.
  Mr. DOGGETT. I thank my colleagues for bringing this bill to the 
floor.
  Mr. Speaker, today we honor a son of Texas, Sergeant Henry Ybarra 
III, born and raised in south Austin, and a member of the parish at San 
Jose Catholic Church. On September 11, 2003, he was killed in Iraq, the 
first of a number from our State capital in Texas to lose their life 
there.
  I attended his rosary personally, joined by Marine Thomas Cruz, a 
member of my Congressional staff at that time. Today we honor Henry's 
sacrifice to our Nation by officially affixing his name to the post 
office on South Congress in Austin, the road that leads up to our State 
Capitol.
  Henry long knew that he wanted to devote his life to service. His 
mother, Mary Jane, remembers it as early as age five. His father, a 
veteran of Vietnam, would find young Henry marching around in his dad's 
boots and cap. Henry wasted no time making that dream a reality, 
enlisting in the Army only months after graduating from Johnston High 
School. That father, Hank, is at this very moment still convalescing 
from both his own service in Vietnam and the impact of the loss of his 
son. We wish him continued progress in his recovery, and express our 
deep gratitude for what he has given personally to our country.
  Henry's military career spanned a dozen years, earning numerous 
honors and awards. He met his wife, Lilian, while stationed at Fort 
Hood in Killeen, and his career took his family with daughters, Alyssa 
and Gabrielle, and his son, Henry IV, as far away as Germany. His 
commanding officer described Henry's easy manner and said, I wish I had 
a troop full of soldiers with his attitude and outlook on life.
  As Pericles once spoke of ancient Athens, so it is with our democracy 
today: ``If it should appear great to you, consider then that her 
glories were purchased by valiant men, and by men who learned their 
duty.''
  With this bill, our Nation pays tribute to a valiant man, Staff 
Sergeant Henry Ybarra, and to all those valiant men and women who serve 
and have served under our flag. The veterans groups Tejanos in Action, 
the Catholic War Veterans Post 1805, the Knights of Columbus Council 
10148, the American GI Forum, along with LULAC and other community 
organizations, have been strong supporters of the effort to memorialize 
Sergeant Ybarra by naming the South Congress station in his honor.
  Tejanos in Action is a unique organization that addresses the needs 
of our Hispanic veterans, and by providing its services to our 
community, provides a meaningful tribute to Henry and others who have 
served our country. I salute Dan Arellano, the Commander of Tejanos in 
Action; Moses Saldana, who works closely with the Knights of Columbus 
at San Jose Church, and the Catholic War Veterans and all those who 
continue to serve and inspire our youth with their service.
  Last year, I participated in the dedication of the Nicholas Perez 
Elementary School, as the Austin Independent School District recognized 
another brave son of south Austin lost in Iraq. Such memorials rightly 
honor men and women who have given their lives in service. They are 
daily reminders of both the valor of these young people and of our need 
to prevent war or its unnecessary escalation. With the death toll now 
rising towards 4,000 unique human beings tragically lost in Iraq, there 
may not be enough physical memorials to honor individually the 
sacrifice of all those who continue to fall.
  For Sergeant Henry Ybarra and his friends and family, he will always 
be in their hearts. With this memorial naming, new generations will 
learn of Sergeant Ybarra's selfless sacrifice and be inspired by that 
service.
  Mr. LYNCH. Mr. Speaker, I want to associate myself with the eloquent 
remarks of the gentleman from Texas.
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to a 
great American and war hero of our country by naming the Post Office at 
3903 South Congress Avenue in Austin, Texas in his honor. Born and 
raised in South Austin, Army SGT Henry Ybarra III was the first soldier 
from the capitol of my home state--Austin, Texas--to be killed in Iraq. 
Sergeant Ybarra graduated from Johnson High School and attended San 
Jose Catholic Church. He is survived by his wife, Lilian, and their 
three children, Alyssa, 16, Gabreielle, 14, and Henry Ybarra IV, 4.
  Army SGT Henry Ybarra III died when he was just 32 years of age on 
September 11, 2003 in Balad, Iraq. Ironically it was when his father 
was observing a moment of silence for the September 11th victims that 
he received a phone call with the grave news that his own son was dead. 
Readiness, quick thinking, leadership and dedication are some of the 
traits that America's leaders possess today and traits that Sergeant 
Ybarra displayed the day that he was killed. Army SGT Henry Ybarra III 
died under combat conditions when the tire on a 10-ton military cargo 
truck exploded as he tried to change it. Dedication and excellent 
service to his country was not new to Army SGT Henry Ybarra and during 
his military career he earned the Army Achievement Medal, Good Conduct 
Medal, National Defense Medal, Armed Forces Service Medal, National 
Defense Medal, NCO Professional Development Ribbon, Overseas Service 
Ribbon and Basic Marksmanship Badge.
  As Americans will never forget the attack on our Nation on September 
11, 2001, so we must never forget those who are fighting the war in 
Iraq and serving our country. Sergeant Ybarra's memory must live on. He 
is an example of the thousands of dedicated soldiers who have 
selflessly given their lives to protect the

[[Page H1158]]

freedoms of America and aid those in need. By honoring him, we honor 
the soldiers before him and the soldiers that are currently deployed in 
Iraq. Too many times we hear about the ugliness this war brings and as 
the death toll rises and we continue to stay in Iraq, we must not 
forget the names and faces of the fallen. I thank Rep. Doggett and urge 
my colleagues to join me in support of H.R. 577, to designate the 
facility of the United States Postal Service located at 3903 South 
Congress Avenue in Austin, TX, as the ``Sergeant Henry Ybarra III Post 
Office Building.'' We must put a face and a name to honor the fallen in 
Iraq so that his memory will never be forgotten. Help me to honor one 
of our Nation's finest and bravest by commemorating Sergeant Ybarra and 
naming a post office in Austin, Texas after him.
  Mr. LYNCH. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Lynch) that the House suspend the 
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 577.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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