[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 103 (Monday, June 25, 2007)]
[House]
[Pages H7041-H7043]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    RAYMOND G. MURPHY DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS MEDICAL CENTER

  Mr. HARE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
Senate bill (S. 229) to redesignate a Federal building in Albuquerque, 
New Mexico, as the ``Raymond G. Murphy Department of Veterans Affairs 
Medical Center''.
  The Clerk read the title of the Senate bill.
  The text of the Senate bill is as follows:

                                 S. 229

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

     SECTION 1. REDESIGNATION.

       The Federal building known and designated as the 
     ``Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center'' located at 
     1501 San Pedro Drive, SE, in Albuquerque, New Mexico, shall 
     be known and redesignated as the ``Raymond G. Murphy 
     Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center''.

     SEC. 2. REFERENCES.

       Any reference in a law, map, regulation, document, paper, 
     or other record of the United States to the Federal building 
     referred to in section 1 shall be deemed to be a reference to 
     the ``Raymond G. Murphy Department of Veterans Affairs 
     Medical Center''.

  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, on December 9, 1861, Iowa Senator James W. Grimes 
introduced S. 82 in the United States Senate, a bill designed to 
``promote the efficiency of the Navy'' by authorizing the production 
and distribution of ``medals of honor''. On December 21 the bill was 
passed, authorizing 200 such medals be produced ``which shall be 
bestowed upon such petty officers, seamen, landsmen and Marines as 
shall distinguish themselves by their gallantly in action and other 
seamanlike qualities during the present war.'' President Lincoln signed 
the bill, and the Medal of Honor was born.
  The first Medal of Honor was the Navy Medal of Honor. Raymond Murphy 
was a Second Lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps when he 
risked his life and went above and beyond the call of duty as a platoon 
commander in action against the enemy.
  Although painfully wounded by fragments from an enemy mortar shell 
while leading his evacuation platoon, Second Lieutenant Murphy refused 
medical aid and continued to lead his men up a hill through hostile 
mortar and small-arms fire, while shouting words of encouragement to 
his men.
  Under the increasing intense enemy fire, he immediately located 
casualties as they fell and made several trips up and down the fire-
swept hill to direct evacuation teams to the wounded, personally 
carrying many of the stricken Marines to safety. When reinforcements 
were needed by the assaulting elements, Second Lieutenant Murphy 
employed part of his unit as support and, during the ensuing battle, 
personally killed two of the enemy with his pistol.
  With all the wounded evacuated and the assaulting units beginning to 
disengage, he remained behind with a carbine to cover the movement of 
friendly forces off the hill, and although suffering intense pain from 
a previous wound, seized an automatic rifle to provide more firepower 
when the enemy reappeared in the trenches.
  After reaching the base of the hill, he organized a search party and 
again ascended the slope for a final check on missing Marines, locating 
and carrying the bodies of a machine gun crew back down the hill.
  Wounded a second time while conducting the entire force to the line 
of departure through a continuing barrage of enemy small-arms, 
artillery and mortar fire, he once again refused medical attention 
until assured that every one of his men, including all the casualites, 
had preceded him to the main lines.
  Second Lieutenant Murphy's actions epitomize the Marine Corps motto, 
Semper Fidelis, ``always faithful,'' and demonstrate his loyalty and 
commitment to marine comrades-in-arms.
  After the war, Mr. Murphy continued his service to his veteran 
comrades in New Mexico, serving as Director of Veteran Services at the 
VA center in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
  Renaming the VA Medical Center in Albuquerque, New Mexico is a 
fitting tribute to a tireless advocate of veterans.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased that we 
are considering S. 229 on the House floor today. This Senate bill would 
name the VA Medical Center in Albuquerque, New Mexico the Raymond G. 
``Jerry'' Murphy Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center.
  Jerry Murphy was awarded the Medal of Honor and the Silver Star for 
heroism during the Korean War. Its companion bill in the House, H.R. 
474, introduced by Representative Wilson, has the support of the entire 
New Mexico delegation as well as Governor Richardson from that State.
  During his service in the United States Marine Corps, Second 
Lieutenant Murphy was cited for his ``conspicuous gallantry at the risk 
of his life and above and beyond the call of duty as a platoon 
commander. He was twice wounded, but he repeatedly refused medical 
attention and continued to lead his men in an assault against a 
cleverly concealed and well-entrenched enemy force.
  Mr. Speaker, at this time I would submit for the Record the text of 
Lieutenant Murphy's Medal of Honor citation.

                           Murphy, Raymond G.

       Rank and organization: Second Lieutenant, U.S. Marine Corps 
     Reserve, Company A, 1st Battalion, 5th Marines, 1st Marine 
     Division (Rein.). Place and date: Korea, 3 February 1953. 
     Entered service at: Pueblo, Colo. Born: 14 January 1930, 
     Pueblo, Colo. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and 
     intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call 
     of duty as a platoon commander of Company A, in action 
     against enemy aggressor forces. Although painfully wounded by 
     fragments from an enemy mortar shell while leading his 
     evacuation platoon in support of assault units attacking a 
     cleverly concealed and well-entrenched hostile force 
     occupying commanding ground, 2d Lt. Murphy steadfastly 
     refused medical aid and continued to lead his men up a hill 
     through a withering barrage of hostile mortar and small-arms 
     fire, skillfully maneuvering his force from one position to 
     the next and shouting words of encouragement. Undeterred by 
     the increasing intense enemy fire, he immediately located 
     casualties as they fell and made several trips up and down 
     the fire-swept hill to direct evacuation teams to the 
     wounded, personally carrying many of the stricken marines to 
     safety. When reinforcements were needed by the assaulting 
     elements, 2d Lt. Murphy employed part of his unit as support 
     and, during the ensuing battle, personally killed 2 of the 
     enemy with his pistol. With all the wounded evacuated and the 
     assaulting units beginning

[[Page H7042]]

     to disengage, he remained behind with a carbine to cover the 
     movement of friendly forces off the hill and, though 
     suffering intense pain from his previous wounds, seized an 
     automatic rifle to provide more firepower when the enemy 
     reappeared in the trenches. After reaching the base of the 
     hill, he organized a search party and again ascended the 
     slope for a final check on missing marines, locating and 
     carrying the bodies of a machine gun crew back down the hill. 
     Wounded a second time while conducting the entire force to 
     the line of departure through a continuing barrage of enemy 
     small-arms, artillery, and mortar fire, he again refused 
     medical assistance until assured that every one of his men, 
     including all casualties, had preceded him to the main lines. 
     His resolute and inspiring leadership, exceptional fortitude, 
     and great personal valor reflect the highest, credit upon 2d 
     Lt. Murphy and enhance the finest traditions of the U.S. 
     Naval Service.

  Mr. Speaker, after the Korean War, Jerry Murphy spent most of his 
adult life in service to New Mexico's veterans. He was Director of the 
Veterans Services Division of the Albuquerque, New Mexico, VA Regional 
Office from 1974 to 1997.
  Jerry Murphy was a paragon of service because after his retirement he 
served as a volunteer at the VA Hospital, pushing veterans in their 
wheelchairs to their appointments. Many of those veterans did not know 
who was helping them, but that's the kind of man that Jerry was. This 
brave marine and true comrade left this Earth on April 6, 2007. Of 
course he was buried wearing his VA Hospital volunteer smock.
  Mr. Speaker, no one could be more deserving of having a VA Hospital 
named after him than Jerry Murphy, who served his country with 
conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity well beyond the call of duty.
  I urge my colleagues to support S. 229.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. HARE. Mr. Speaker, I yield as much time as he may consume to the 
gentleman from New Mexico (Mr. Udall).
  Mr. UDALL of New Mexico. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of 
legislation to rename the VA Medical Center in Albuquerque, New Mexico 
after Raymond ``Jerry'' Murphy. I believe this naming will go far to 
honor a veteran who gave so much of his personal life and professional 
career to this Nation.
  After serving as a Marine Corps captain in Korea and earning the 
Congressional Medal of Honor, Mr. Murphy spent over 20 years as the VA 
Director of Veterans Services at the very VA medical center this 
legislation would rename after him. He was a tireless advocate for 
veterans and helped thousands of veterans and their families over the 
decades.
  While the entire delegation has risen in strong support of this 
legislation, it should be noted that both New Mexico's veterans' 
service organizations and John Garcia, the Secretary of Veterans 
Services in New Mexico and a veteran himself, initiated this renaming, 
bringing the service of Mr. Murphy to our attention and suggesting the 
legislation.
  Both Senator Domenici and Representative Wilson are to be commended 
for introducing this legislation, and Senator Domenici for getting it 
out of the Senate and getting it over here to the House so that we 
could act upon it.
  Additionally, I would like to thank Chairman Filner for his 
leadership on this legislation and his leadership on all veterans 
issues.
  Unfortunately, Mr. Murphy fell ill with cancer and passed away before 
this honor could be bestowed upon him. However, this naming will ensure 
that future generations of New Mexicans will learn of the selfless work 
of Mr. Murphy, and hopefully many more will emulate him in devoting 
their lives to public service.
  Mr. Murphy personified duty, and I'm pleased that this legislation 
will be passing the House today.
  Mr. HARE. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the 
gentlelady from New Mexico (Mrs. Wilson) as much time as she may 
consume.
  Mrs. WILSON of New Mexico. Mr. Speaker, in January of this year, I 
introduced the companion to the Senate measure that we're considering 
today, and I wanted to thank both my colleagues from New Mexico, Mr. 
Pearce and Mr. Udall, for their support of that legislation.
  I'm very happy today that the House is taking up the Senate version 
of this bill, which is supported both by Senator Bingaman and by 
Senator Domenici. I am also very pleased that the governor of New 
Mexico, Governor Richardson, and a wide variety of veterans' 
organizations in New Mexico, have supported this legislation.
  Jerry Murphy passed away on April of this year, on Good Friday. He 
was a hero in Korea, as my colleagues have pointed out, but it's the 
way he chose to spend the rest of his life that makes him so special to 
New Mexico's veterans. He was a Second Lieutenant in the Marine Corps 
Reserves. He volunteered to go into the Marine Corps when it looked as 
though he was going to be drafted and sent to Korea in the Army and he 
thought the Marine Corps might suit him better. In 1952, he commanded 
an infantry platoon in the Fifth Marines in Seoul, Korea, and was a 
recipient of the Silver Star.
  In February of 1953, he positioned his unit about the Imjin River 
facing the Chinese Communist troops. Their job was to continually push 
the Chinese lines to keep them from getting too dug in. He was 
commanding the reserve platoon, and as the battle went on and he sensed 
that the operation was not being executed as planned because there were 
no wounded coming back to the lines, he decided he had to go forward 
and find out what was going on. When he took his platoon forward, he 
found that all the officers and the noncommissioned officers of the two 
assault platoons were dead or wounded, and there was mass confusion 
among the troops.
  He very quickly took command, and in the midst of machine gun fire, 
he ordered his men to find their comrades and evacuate the area. He 
made several trips in the midst of heavy gunfire to rescue casualties. 
At one point, he was helping to lift a stretcher and he was hit in the 
back by the fragments of an enemy grenade. He refused medical attention 
and continued to lead his men to rescue their wounded comrades.
  As he continued to command his reserves, he came face to face with 
two Chinese soldiers, and he killed them both. The Chinese entered the 
trenches as the last American wounded troops were being evacuated. 
Jerry Murphy picked up an automatic rifle and held off the Chinese 
Communist forces until all of the marines were safe.
  He then went and counted all his marines. He noticed he had a handful 
still missing, and he went back to the top of the hill with a search 
team. He located the bodies of a machine gun crew and took them down 
the hill.

                              {time}  1700

  At this point, he was wounded a second time. He again refused medical 
treatment until all his men had preceded him into the main line. He 
eventually received treatment and returned to America.
  In October, 1953, when he was in graduate school, Jerry Murphy was 
awarded the Medal of Honor. It was presented to him by President 
Eisenhower on October 27, 1953.
  For more than 20 years after Jerry Murphy left the service, he 
dedicated his life to serving New Mexico veterans. He served at the VA 
hospital as Director for Veterans Services. For 23 years, he provided 
lots of support to all kinds of veterans in New Mexico. The neat thing 
is that even after he retired from the VA, he continued to volunteer at 
the VA hospital.
  One of the VA hospital employees once told me that Jerry Murphy was a 
volunteer; he had his turquoise smock on, and he would push veterans to 
and from their appointments at the VA hospital. The veterans had no 
idea who it was that was pushing them around in their wheelchairs. He 
was always a humble servant. That is the kind of man he was: A quiet, 
humble servant, soft-spoken, a modest man who was concerned with his 
fellow soldiers. His humility really never ended. You know, if you 
think about this guy, he was a Marine, a Medal of Honor winner, and he 
chose to be put to rest wearing his VA volunteer smock. He will be 
missed by his family and his wife, Mary Ann.
  I want to commend Senators Domenici and Bingaman for sponsoring this 
legislation and ushering it through the

[[Page H7043]]

Senate; my colleagues, Mr. Pearce and Mr. Udall, for cosponsoring the 
House version of the bill; Secretary John Garcia of New Mexico for 
first suggesting to all of us that it might be appropriate to name the 
VA medical center after Jerry; the chairman and ranking member of the 
Veterans Affairs Committee, Mr. Buyer and Mr. Filner, for their 
leadership and willingness to bring this legislation forward.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge passage of this bill.
  Mr. HARE. Mr. Speaker, I continue to reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as 
he may consume to the gentleman from New Mexico (Mr. Pearce).
  Mr. PEARCE. I thank the gentlewoman from Florida for yielding.
  Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman of the committee for his work on 
this important bill; Senator Domenici, Senator Bingaman, Secretary 
Garcia, Governor Richardson, Congressman Udall, and Congresswoman 
Wilson for their lead in recognizing Jerry Murphy's life of service.
  We have heard about his exploits. We have heard about the valor that 
he displayed under fire. Many of us too often believe that heroism can 
only be exhibited in those extreme circumstances. But I would say that 
it takes more courage to live a life of service that he chose to live 
after his heroic exploits where he was awarded the Nation's highest 
award for valor where he received the Silver Star, the Purple Heart, 
the Korean Service Medal, the Bronze Stars. This was a true hero. Yet, 
he wasn't faced with multi-million dollar book signing deals, no movie 
contracts; just a quiet life serving other veterans who are often 
overlooked.
  The Korean War is often referred to in New Mexico by veterans of that 
conflict as ``the Forgotten War,'' because so many of the veterans of 
that time have simply been overlooked. Yet, Jerry Murphy chose to live 
a life where he remembered each and every one of them. So, it is 
entirely appropriate today that we would name a facility in New Mexico 
for the guy who worked at the facility, always remembering those 
forgotten veterans. That is the kind of life that takes real valor and 
real heroism to live day after day after day.
  For his quiet life of service, we are simply saying, Thank you for a 
job well done, Mr. Murphy. God bless you and keep you.
  Mr. HARE. Mr. Speaker, I continue to reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida. Mr. Speaker, at each opportunity 
granted us to consider a bill honoring the service of a Medal of Honor 
recipient, I stand in awe of the dedication to country and comrades 
these people displayed through their lives, whether those lives 
extended beyond their act of bravery or were ended in that the act.
  Of the four Medal of Honor recipients to whom we have paid tribute 
today, one made the ultimate sacrifice for his comrades and his Nation. 
Three survived the battle to return home where they continued to serve 
their Nation through service in the military and through service to the 
Federal Government. Many who lived and worked with them had no 
knowledge that these men had received America's highest award for valor 
in combat. Their lives of quiet humility only accentuated their moments 
of resounding achievement.
  The great example of those lives and those moments will, with passage 
of these bills, Mr. Speaker, be enshrined in the namings that we are 
now considering.
  We must remember that we are voting not simply to name four 
buildings; we are consecrating the gift of four lives lived well.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support S. 229.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. HARE. Mr. Speaker, in closing, I have had the opportunity I think 
twice now to be able to manage bills on the floor of the House. I want 
to say that today is a very proud day for me. These are four great, 
great men; heroes they are, one and all. I am honored, and I thank the 
committee for allowing me the opportunity to do this.
  As my colleague said, this isn't just naming buildings after 
somebody. This is really a lasting memory of people who have given 
everything they have ever had. Everything we are as a Nation we owe to 
these four great people.
  I urge my colleagues to unanimously support Senate bill 229.
  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 Senate bill, S. 229.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the Senate bill was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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