[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 103 (Monday, June 25, 2007)]
[House]
[Pages H7036-H7037]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1615
    ERNEST CHILDERS DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS OUTPATIENT CLINIC

  Mr. HARE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill 
(H.R. 366) to designate the Department of Veterans Affairs Outpatient 
Clinic in Tulsa, Oklahoma, as the ``Ernest Childers Department of 
Veterans Affairs Outpatient Clinic''.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                                H.R. 366

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

     SECTION 1. DESIGNATION OF ERNEST CHILDERS DEPARTMENT OF 
                   VETERANS AFFAIRS OUTPATIENT CLINIC.

       (a) Designation.--The Department of Veterans Affairs 
     Outpatient Clinic in Tulsa, Oklahoma, shall after the date of 
     the enactment of this Act be known and designated as the 
     ``Ernest Childers Department of Veterans Affairs Outpatient 
     Clinic''.
       (b) References.--Any reference in any law, regulation, map, 
     document, record, or other paper of the United States to the 
     outpatient clinic referred to in subsection (a) shall be 
     considered to be a reference to the Ernest Childers 
     Department of Veterans Affairs Outpatient Clinic.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Illinois (Mr. Hare) and the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Ginny Brown-
Waite) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Illinois.
  Mr. HARE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, the Medal of Honor is the highest award for valor in 
action against an enemy force which can be bestowed upon an individual 
serving in the Armed Services of the United States.
  It is an honor and a privilege for me to stand here before you today 
to talk about one such individual. His name was Ernest Childers.
  Ernest Childers was the first Native American to receive the 
Congressional Medal of Honor for his heroic action in 1943 at the 
battle of Oliveto, Italy, when he charged German machine gun nests 
against machine gun fire.
  Although suffering a broken foot in the assault, Childers ordered 
covering fire, advanced up a hill, single-handedly killing two snipers, 
silencing two machine gun nests, and capturing an enemy mortar 
observer.
  His courageous action helped American troops win the battle and save 
the lives of countless American soldiers. Childers was also awarded the 
Purple Heart and the Bronze Star for his actions.
  H.R. 366 would name the Department of Veterans Affairs Outpatient 
Clinic in Tulsa, Oklahoma as the ``Ernest Childers Department of 
Veterans Affairs Outpatient Clinic.''
  Until his death on March 17, 2005, Childers was Oklahoma's last 
Congressional Medal of Honor recipient still living in the State. It is 
only fitting that we remember such a courageous soldier by naming a 
veterans outpatient clinic in his honor.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I certainly thank you 
and Chairman Filner for bringing these four suspensions to the floor 
today. These bills pay tribute to the extraordinary valor and fidelity 
displayed under fire by three soldiers and one Marine by naming VA 
facilities in their honor.
  In earning the Medal of Honor, Charles George, Ernest Childers, Oscar 
Johnson and Raymond Murphy were bestowed this Nation's highest award 
for valor in combat. Generally presented to its recipients by the 
President of the United States of America in the name of Congress, the 
medal is often called the Congressional Medal of Honor.
  At a time when corrosive influences in our society concern many 
Americans, the intrepid self-sacrifice of these men, two of whom were 
Native Americans, endures untarnished. It is, therefore, entirely 
fitting that we name, in their honor, four Department of Veterans 
Affairs facilities that represent the fulfillment of this Nation's 
obligation to those who serve us and who, through their sacrifices, 
ensure our continued liberties.
  The bill before us today, H.R. 366, was introduced by Congressman 
John Sullivan, and would honor Ernest Childers, a Native American and 
Army veteran who was awarded the Medal of Honor for his valor in combat 
in Italy during World War II. I appreciate the initiative and hard work 
of my colleague from Oklahoma that he took in bringing this bill to the 
House.
  A Native American of the Creek Nation from Oklahoma, Ernest Childers 
enlisted in the Oklahoma National Guard in 1937 to earn extra money 
while attending the Indian school in North Central Oklahoma. Childers 
deployed from Fort Sill, Oklahoma to Africa to fight the Axis in World 
War II.
  Second Lieutenant Childers, a member of the 45th Infantry Division, 
was cited for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his 
life above and beyond the call of duty in action September 22, 1943 at 
Oliveto, Italy. Having already suffered a broken foot, he single-
handedly captured enemy gun positions after ordering his eight troops 
to cover him with fire. Displaying exceptional leadership, initiative, 
calmness under fire and conspicuous gallantry, Lieutenant Childers 
served as an inspiration to his men.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask that the complete text of Lieutenant Childers' 
citation award be included in the Record.

       The President of the United States in the name of the 
     Congress takes pleasures in presenting the Medal of Honor to 
     Ernest Childers.
       Rank and organization: Second Lieutenant, U.S. Army, 45th 
     Infantry Division. Place and date: At Oliveto, Italy, 22 
     September

[[Page H7037]]

     1943. Entered service at: Tulsa, Okla. Birth: Broken Arrow, 
     Okla. G.O. No.: 30, 8 April 1944.
       Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at risk 
     of life above and beyond the call of duty in action on 22 
     September 1943, at Oliveto, Italy. Although 2d Lt. Childers 
     previously had just suffered a fractured instep he, with 8 
     enlisted men, advanced up a hill toward enemy machinegun 
     nests. The group advanced to a rock wall overlooking a 
     cornfield and 2d Lt. Childers ordered a base of fire laid 
     across the field so that he could advance. When he was fired 
     upon by 2 enemy snipers from a nearby house he killed both of 
     them. He moved behind the machinegun nests and killed all 
     occupants of the nearer one. He continued toward the second 
     one and threw rocks into it. When the 2 occupants of the nest 
     raised up, he shot 1. The other was killed by 1 of the 8 
     enlisted men. 2d Lt. Childers continued his advance toward a 
     house farther up the hill, and single-handed, captured an 
     enemy mortar observer. The exceptional leadership, 
     initiative, calmness under fire, and conspicuous gallantry 
     displayed by 2d Lt. Childers were an inspiration to his men.

  Mr. Speaker, Ernest Childers continued to serve his Nation after the 
war. He taught jungle training in Panama, and winter training in Alaska 
before retiring in 1965 as a Lieutenant Colonel. A brief stint with the 
Job Corps program in Washington ended after he suffered a heart attack. 
Upon returning to Oklahoma, he spoke with students about the emotional 
cost of war.
  Most recently, Lieutenant Colonel Childers wrote an inspirational 
message to the Nation against racism to discourage attacks against Arab 
Americans after our Nation was attacked on September 11, 2001. Childers 
wrote, ``Even though, as a Native American, I have darker skin than 
some Americans, that doesn't mean I'm any less patriotic. Even during 
those times in our history when Native Americans were persecuted and 
discriminated against, we still volunteered for military service.''
  He said, ``Remember, Native Americans didn't even receive the vote 
until World War I, yet we served in military action because, when all 
is said and done, we are loyal and patriotic Americans.''
  Ernest Childers died on March 17, 2005. His legacy of valor and 
courage for future generations of American lives on and it is supremely 
appropriate that we recognize his legacy by naming this VA facility 
after him.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. HARE. Mr. Speaker, I continue to reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I wish to yield as 
much time as he may consume to the gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. 
Sullivan), who sponsored this bill.
  Mr. SULLIVAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of my bill, 
H.R. 366, which will designate the Department of Veterans Affairs 
Outpatient Clinic in Tulsa, Oklahoma, the Ernest Childers VA Outpatient 
Clinic to honor one of our Nation's finest military heroes.
  Ernest Childers holds the distinction of being the first Native 
American to receive the Congressional Medal of Honor for his heroic 
action in 1943 at the battle of Oliveto, Italy, where he charged the 
German machine gun nest against machine gun fire. Although suffering a 
broken foot in the assault, Childers ordered covering fire and advanced 
up the hill, single-handedly killing two snipers, silencing two machine 
gun nests, and capturing an enemy mortar observer. His courageous 
action helped American troops win the battle and saved the lives of 
American soldiers. Childers was also awarded the Purple Heart and 
Bronze Star for his actions.
  Born in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, Childers enlisted in the Oklahoma 
National Guard in 1937 to earn extra money while attending the Chilocco 
Indian School in north central Oklahoma. While stationed at Fort Sill 
in Oklahoma, he was deployed to Africa to fight in World War II.
  Childers retired from the Army in 1965 as a Lieutenant Colonel, but 
remained very active in the Tulsa community, serving Indian youth which 
led to the naming of the middle school in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma in his 
honor.
  As a proud Creek Indian, in 1966, Childers was honored by the Tulsa 
Chapter of the Council of American Indians as ``Oklahoma's Most 
Outstanding Indian.''
  Of his military service in World War II, Childers once said, ``This 
American Indian has only one country to defend, and when you're picked 
on, the American Indian never turns his back.'' A fitting quote from a 
man who exemplified courage under fire and dedication to defending our 
Nation.
  Until his death on March 17, 2005, Childers was one of Oklahoma's 
last Congressional Medal of Honor recipients still living in the State.
  I ask my colleagues to join me in supporting this legislation to 
honor his life and legacy. We were honored to have him grace us with 
his model character, defend us with his bravery, and leave us all a 
life well lived.
  Mr. HARE. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I have no additional 
Members who have requested time, but I just would encourage a positive 
vote on this bill for, obviously, someone who loved our country very, 
very much, and would encourage Members to support this resolution.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.


                             General Leave

  Mr. HARE. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may 
have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and 
include extraneous material on H.R. 366.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Illinois?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. HARE. Mr. Speaker, I strongly urge my colleagues to unanimously 
support H.R. 366.
  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 Illinois (Mr. Hare) that the House suspend the rules and 
pass the bill, H.R. 366.
  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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