[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 83 (Monday, May 21, 2007)]
[House]
[Pages H5486-H5487]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        STAFF SERGEANT MARVIN ``REX'' YOUNG POST OFFICE BUILDING

  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and 
pass the bill (H.R. 1425) to designate the facility of the United 
States Postal Service located at 4551 East 52nd Street in Odessa, 
Texas, as the ``Staff Sergeant Marvin `Rex' Young Post Office 
Building''.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 1425

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

     SECTION 1. STAFF SERGEANT MARVIN ``REX'' YOUNG POST OFFICE 
                   BUILDING.

       (a) Designation.--The facility of the United States Postal 
     Service located at 4551 East 52nd Street in Odessa, Texas, 
     shall be known and designated as the ``Staff Sergeant Marvin 
     `Rex' Young 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 ``Staff Sergeant Marvin `Rex' Young Post 
     Office Building''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Illinois (Mr. Davis) and the gentlewoman from North Carolina (Ms. Foxx) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Illinois.


                             General Leave

  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. 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 Illinois?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  As a member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government 
Reform, I am pleased to join my colleague in consideration of H.R. 
1425, which names a postal facility in Odessa, Texas, after Marvin 
``Rex'' Young.
  H.R. 1425, which was introduced by Representative Michael Conaway on 
March 9, 2007, was reported from the Oversight Committee on March 29, 
2007, by voice vote. This measure, which has been cosponsored by 31 
Members, has the support of the entire Texas congressional delegation.
  On August 21, 1968, Staff Sergeant Marvin Young was assigned to 
Company C, 1st Battalion (Mechanized), 5th Infantry. He was leading a 
patrol when the 25th Infantry Division came under attack by a large 
force of North Vietnamese. The squad leader was killed, and Staff 
Sergeant Young assumed command and repeatedly exposed himself to enemy 
fire to help his men. Despite orders to pull back, he remained behind 
to assist several of his men who were unable to withdraw. With critical 
injuries to his body, he continued to fight to cover the withdrawal of 
his troops. The enemy engulfed his position, and he was killed.
  Staff Sergeant Young's parents were presented the Medal of Honor at 
the White House on April 7, 1970, by President Richard Nixon.
  Mr. Speaker, I commend my colleague Representative Michael Conaway 
from Texas for introducing this legislation and urge swift passage.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, it is an honor for me to speak on the floor today to 
name a post office in Odessa, Texas, for a truly great American.
  Marvin ``Rex'' Young was a genuine war hero at the young age of 21. 
He grew up in Odessa, Texas, and was quite athletic during high school, 
playing both football and baseball. A smart student, he also enjoyed 
art and spent time painting. His plans were to attend Texas Tech 
University after graduating from high school, but, unfortunately, he 
never got the chance.
  Rex Young joined the U.S. Army in September of 1966 and was deployed 
to Vietnam in 1967. He served with Company C, 1st Battalion 
(Mechanized), 5th Infantry, 25th Infantry Division as a staff sergeant. 
He was wounded twice during the war, once in December, 1967, and again 
in February, 1968. But it was on August 21, 1968, in a true act of 
heroism that he would provide the ultimate sacrifice for his country.
  He was acting as a squad leader on a reconnaissance mission in South 
Vietnam. His unit was attacked by the enemy and received a barrage of 
incoming fire. The forward platoon lost its commander, so Rex Young 
instinctively took command and organized his men into a defensive 
position, all the while under heavy enemy fire.
  In attempting to withdraw, he allowed his men to retreat while he 
stayed behind providing covering fire. It was during this action that 
he was critically injured. Heroically, he still managed to help the 
other members of his unit to retreat while continuing to cover for 
them. As more infantrymen pulled back, he remained behind to ensure 
their safe withdrawal. While the group fought its way back, he was hit 
again in the leg and in the arm. Fearing that seeking medical aid would 
slow down his team, he refused it. It was there that he sacrificed 
himself for the safety of his comrades.
  It was this act of selfless bravery, courageous leadership, and 
heroism that earned him the country's highest military award, the 
Congressional Medal of Honor. The medal was posthumously awarded to his 
family by President Nixon on April 17, 1970. It is for those same 
reasons that we name this post office for Marvin ``Rex'' Young in his 
hometown.
  I ask all Members to join me in supporting H.R. 1425
  Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to my distinguished 
colleague from the State of Texas and the person who introduced this 
resolution (Mr. Conaway).
  Mr. CONAWAY. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the gentlewoman's yielding.
  Next Monday, our Nation will pay tribute to all the young men and 
women who fought and died so bravely and honorably for our Nation. On 
Memorial Day, we will celebrate with parades and speeches and flag 
waving and fireworks, as we should. From the Revolutionary War to the 
war we are fighting today, we celebrate and remember the fallen as a 
group. For those of us who have lost a loved one in a war or through 
the service of this country, Memorial Day has a deep meaning.
  For the family and friends of the men who served with Marvin ``Rex'' 
Young, the last Monday of May is much more than just symbolic. On this 
day, Rex's family and friends and fellow soldiers remember and honor 
his brave actions on behalf of his country.
  On August 21, 1968, while in battle in Vietnam, Rex sacrificed his 
life to save the lives of his friends and comrades. He was awarded the 
Medal of Honor for his bravery and sacrifice. Mr. Speaker, today I ask 
my colleagues to honor the life and memory and heroism of Staff 
Sergeant ``Rex'' Young.
  Rex was born in Alpine, Texas, on May 11, 1947, the third and 
youngest child to Marilyn and Roy Young. Rex's mother has provided this 
picture of Rex serving in Vietnam back in 1967 and 1968.
  The family moved to Odessa when Rex was a child. I met Rex when we 
were both attending Odessa Permian High School. Rex was a year ahead of 
me and graduated in 1965. He was a gifted athlete, played both football 
and baseball while at Permian. His mother said Rex was more interested 
in just being on the team and contributing, but he was much more than 
that. He was a star player. Childhood friends remember Rex as an 
exceptional athlete who could have written his own ticket in baseball. 
And they remember him as a very unselfish guy, so they were not 
surprised when he was awarded the Medal of Honor for his bravery in 
battle.
  After graduation, Rex attended Odessa College and Kentfield Junior 
College in California and then joined the United States Army on 
September 15, 1966. He completed basic training at Fort Bliss, Texas, 
and advanced infantry training at Fort Lewis, Washington, and then 
departed for Vietnam on October 20, 1967. He was assigned to Company C, 
1st Battalion (Mechanized), 5th Infantry of the 25th Infantry Division, 
known as the ``Bobcats.'' Rex earned his first Purple Heart from a 
shrapnel wound on December 7, 1967; and he earned his second Purple 
Heart on February 1, 1968, during the TET Offensive.

[[Page H5487]]

  On August 21, 1968, Rex was killed by enemy fire as he provided 
protective fire to shelter elements of his platoon as they were 
withdrawn to safety. It was in these final selfless acts that Rex saved 
so many of his friends' lives.
  Jesus said in John 15:13, ``Greater love hath no man than this, that 
he lay down his life for his friends.''
  I would like to read from the citation that describes Rex's final 
moments on this Earth:
  ``Staff Sergeant Young distinguished himself at the cost of his life 
while serving as a squad leader with Company C. While conducting a 
reconnaissance mission, Company C was suddenly engaged by an estimated 
regimental-size force of the North Vietnamese Army. During the initial 
volley of fire, the point element of the 1st Platoon was pinned down, 
sustaining several casualties, and the active platoon leader was 
killed. Sergeant Young unhesitatingly assumed command of the platoon 
and immediately began to organize and deploy his men into a defensive 
position in order to repel the attacking force. As a human wave attack 
advanced on Sergeant Young's platoon, he moved from position to 
position, encouraging and directing fire on the hostile insurgents 
while exposing himself to the hail of enemy bullets.
  ``After receiving orders to withdraw to a better defensive position, 
he remained behind to provide covering fire for the withdrawal. 
Observing that a small element of the point squad was unable to extract 
itself from its position, and completely disregarding his personal 
safety, Sergeant Young began moving toward their position, firing as he 
maneuvered.

                              {time}  1600

  ``When halfway to their position, he sustained a critical head 
injury, yet he continued his mission and ordered the element to 
withdraw.
  ``Remaining with the squad as it fought its way to the rear, he was 
twice seriously wounded, once in the arm and once in the leg. Although 
his leg was badly shattered, Sergeant Young refused assistance that 
would have slowed down the retreat of his comrades, and he ordered them 
to continue their withdrawal while he provided protective covering 
fire. With indomitable courage and heroic self-sacrifice, he continued 
his self-assigned mission until the enemy engulfed his position. By his 
gallantry, at the cost of his life, and which is in the highest 
tradition of military service, Staff Sergeant Young has reflected great 
credit on himself, his unit and the United States Army.''
  In the heavy fighting that day, Company C suffered 17 men killed, 21 
wounded. And no one knows how many other men would have died that day 
had Rex not stepped in to save his friends.
  For his gallantry and self-sacrifice, Sergeant Young was posthumously 
promoted to staff sergeant. Rex earned his country's highest award for 
bravery, the Medal of Honor. In addition to the medal, Staff Sergeant 
Young was awarded the Combat Infantryman's Badge, the Bronze Star with 
``V'' Device, Purple Heart with two Oak Leaf Clusters, the National 
Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal, the Republic of 
Vietnam Military Merit Medal and the Republic of Vietnam Cross of 
Gallantry with Palm.
  Rex was buried with full military honors at Sunset Memorial Gardens 
Cemetery in Odessa, Texas. Near him lie many other Odessans who 
perished in the Vietnam War. Fifty feet north rests another Medal of 
Honor recipient, Alfred ``Mac'' Wilson, Corporal, United States Marine 
Corps.
  Rex's sister Margaret now lies next to him. His brother Charles Ray 
and his father are also deceased. His mother lived in Odessa for many 
years. She has recently moved to McKinney to be close to her friends.
  Rex's last day on Earth was almost 39 years ago. Because he and I are 
close to the same age, I think often of all the experiences that I have 
had that he willingly gave up that hot, fateful day halfway around the 
world.
  I am loved by a wonderful woman, and together we have raised four 
children. I have watched them grow into responsible adults. I have 
watched the boys play football and basketball, baseball and golf. I 
watched my daughters lead cheers as a cheerleader and a team mascot. I 
have watched our sons take beautiful young women to be their wives. I 
walked one of my daughters down the aisle so that her mother and I 
could give her in marriage to a starry-eyed young man. I have held our 
seven grandchildren in my arms and looked into the eyes of America's 
future. And I buried a wife and a father. These are life experiences 
that Rex should have had. All of these experiences that I know Rex must 
have looked forward to, the good and the bad, were sacrificed on 
freedom's altar in his heroic acts that day so long ago.
  Mr. Speaker, next Monday our Nation celebrates Memorial Day, a day 
set aside each year to honor all of the Rex Youngs our country has 
produced and who have made that same supreme sacrifice that Rex made. 
This includes, of course, the brave men and women who for the past 5-
plus years have stood between us and some very bad, soulless people 
that want to destroy our way of life.
  I would like to challenge each of us that in addition to honoring 
these men and women as a group, that we think about them on an 
individual basis. By that I mean that each of us should have a specific 
person that we think about, honor and celebrate each and every time 
sacrifices are mentioned. It could be somebody in our family, it could 
be a friend or somebody that you know through a history lesson, but my 
challenge to you is this: That every time you are reminded of all the 
lives that have been given in defense of this country, that you think 
about a specific life given. For me, Mr. Speaker, that life is Rex 
Young.
  With that, Mr. Speaker, it is with great pleasure and gratitude that 
I ask this House to honor SSG Marvin ``Rex'' Young by naming the post 
office at 4551 East 52nd Street in Odessa, Texas, after him. By doing 
so, his memory will live on not just in the hearts of those of us who 
knew him, but also by everyone that uses or drives by that post office 
and sees his name.
  His Nation honored him with its highest honor for bravery. I now ask 
that his Nation honor his memory by taking one more official act. I ask 
each of you to vote in favor of this legislation.
  Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, I think it is very appropriate that this week, 
just before Memorial Day, we are honoring these several people who have 
sacrificed their lives so that the rest of us can be here and be free. 
I particularly want to thank Mr. Conaway for his comments about not 
just recognizing in a collective way the people who have given their 
lives and who have served, but who have done it in a personal way. This 
morning I had the honor to recognize Mr. Larry Bauguess, who has 
recently lost his life in Afghanistan on behalf of our country.
  I urge all Members to support the passage of H.R. 1425.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, to close, I want to thank the 
gentleman from Texas for his introduction of this legislation. I also 
want to thank Mr. Conaway for his passionate description of the life of 
one of our heroes. I would certainly concur and urge that we pass this 
resolution. I am very pleased to support it, and I urge passage.
  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 Illinois (Mr. Davis) that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the bill, H.R. 1425.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds 
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
  Ms. FOXX. 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 question will 
be postponed.

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