[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 13 (Monday, January 28, 2008)]
[House]
[Pages H462-H463]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
LARRY S. PIERCE POST OFFICE
Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and
pass the Senate bill (S. 2110) to designate the facility of the United
States Postal Service located at 427 North Street in Taft, California,
as the ``Larry S. Pierce Post Office''.
The Clerk read the title of the Senate bill.
The text of the Senate bill is as follows:
S. 2110
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. LARRY S. PIERCE POST OFFICE.
(a) Designation.--The facility of the United States Postal
Service located at 427 North Street in Taft, California,
shall be known and designated as the ``Larry S. Pierce Post
Office''.
(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 ``Larry S. Pierce Post Office''.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Illinois (Mr. Davis) and the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Westmoreland)
each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Illinois.
General Leave
Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I would 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 now yield myself such time as I
might consume.
As a member of the House Committee on Government Reform and
Oversight, I'm pleased to join my colleagues in the consideration of S.
2110, which names the postal facility in the town of Taft, California,
after Larry S. Pierce.
S. 2110, which was introduced in the Senate by Senator Dianne
Feinstein of California on September 27, 2007, and passed by the
Chamber with unanimous consent on November 16, 2007, was considered and
reported out of the Oversight Committee by voice vote on December 12,
2007.
Mr. Speaker, the bill before us seeks to pay tribute to a great
American serviceman by requesting that the postal facility in Taft,
California, be renamed in honor of Staff Sergeant Larry Pierce, who
lost his life at the young age of 24 while fighting for our country in
the Vietnam War. A recipient of the Medal of Honor, Staff Sergeant
Pierce stands as a reminder to us all of the great sacrifice our men
and women in uniform are making on a daily basis to protect America.
And so, Mr. Speaker, I join with my colleagues from California in
recognizing the contributions of Staff Sergeant Larry S. Pierce and
urge swift passage of this bill.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. WESTMORELAND. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may
consume. I rise today to honor the memory of Army Staff Sergeant Larry
Pierce, a true American hero.
Larry Pierce was raised in Taft, California. He would have graduated
from Taft Union High School in 1959, but he chose to enlist in the Army
in 1958. Seven years later, having achieved the rank of staff sergeant,
Larry found himself in Vietnam as the squad leader of a reconnaissance
platoon. On September 20, 1965, his squad was on patrol when it was
ambushed by hostile forces. Thanks to Staff Sergeant Pierce's
leadership and courage, the squad successfully repelled the attack,
driving the enemy away. While in pursuit of the enemy, Pierce's squad
came across a dirt road. It was on this road Sergeant Pierce discovered
an anti-personnel mine. Knowing it would destroy the majority of his
squad who was not aware of its presence, Sergeant Pierce threw himself
completely on top of the mine. In this act of unbelievable bravery,
Sergeant Pierce saved the lives of all his squad, while sacrificing his
own. For his actions he was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor.
He left behind a wife and three children.
Sergeant Pierce represents the very best in the tradition of service
and selflessness of our Armed Forces. It is fitting that we name this
post office in his hometown of Taft, California, in his honor. Surely,
his story can live as an example of what it truly means to be a hero.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I would continue to reserve.
Mr. WESTMORELAND. Mr. Speaker, at this time I would like to recognize
the author of the companion bill that was dropped here in the House,
the distinguished colleague of mine from California (Mr. McCarthy) for
as much time as he may consume.
{time} 1430
Mr. McCARTHY of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong
support of the legislation, S. 2110, to designate the United States
Post Office located at 427 North Street in Taft, California, as the
Larry S. Pierce Post Office, the true hometown hero.
U.S. Army Staff Sergeant Pierce was born in Oklahoma in 1941. As a
young child, his family moved to Taft, California, which I represent
today. Sergeant Pierce attended Taft city schools and would have
graduated from Taft Union High School with the class of 1959 but
decided to serve his country by joining the U.S. Army in 1958.
Sergeant Pierce served in the 1st Battalion Airborne, 503rd Infantry
and the 173rd Airborne Brigade in the Vietnam War.
On September 20, 1965, near Ben Cat in Vietnam, Sergeant Pierce was
leading his reconnaissance platoon, was ambushed by hostile forces.
Sergeant Pierce and his squad successfully routed the hostile forces
from their location. During pursuit of this enemy, Sergeant Pierce
heroically sacrificed his own life to save his men. He came upon a road
where they found a mine. He threw himself upon it knowing that if this
mine went off, it would destroy many and take many lives of his own
men.
Upon hearing of this and upon his death, in February of 1966
President Lyndon B. Johnson awarded Sergeant Pierce the Medal of Honor.
In this award, he went on to say for his ``inspiring leadership and
personal courage,'' and his ``profound concern for his fellow
soldiers,'' acting with ``extraordinary heroism, at the cost of his
life'' and to ``great credit upon himself and the Armed Forces of his
country.''
Sergeant Pierce would have been 66 years old this year. He is
survived by his wife, Verlin, who currently lives in Bakersfield,
California; his children, Teresa, Kelley and Gregory.
This legislation is a fitting honor for a Vietnam War veteran who
sacrificed his life to save the lives of fellow soldiers by naming the
post office in his hometown of Taft in his memory.
I do want to thank Senator Feinstein for introducing this legislation
and for working with me. Taft is a place where Senator Feinstein's own
father worked. She knows of the work of Sergeant Larry Pierce, the
hometown hero, as many have gone on to say.
Mr. Speaker, I include for the Record a copy of Staff Sergeant Larry
Pierce's Medal of Honor and a copy of the Taft City Council letter of
support and resolution requesting the post office in his name.
U.S. Army--Medal of Honor Citation
PIERCE, LARRY S.
Rank and organization: Sergeant, U.S. Army, Headquarters
and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion (Airborne), 503d
Infantry, 173d Airborne Brigade. Place and date: Near Ben
Cat, Republic of Vietnam, 20 September 1965. Entered service
at: Fresno, Calif. Born:
[[Page H463]]
6 July 1941, Wewoka, Okla. G.O. No.: 7, 24 February 1966.
Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the
risk of life above and beyond the call of duty. Sgt. Pierce
was serving as squad leader in a reconnaissance platoon when
his patrol was ambushed by hostile forces. Through his
inspiring leadership and personal courage, the squad
succeeded in eliminating an enemy machinegun and routing the
opposing force. While pursuing the fleeing enemy, the squad
came upon a dirt road and, as the main body of his men
entered the road, Sgt. Pierce discovered an antipersonnel
mine emplaced in the road bed. Realizing that the mine could
destroy the majority of his squad, Sgt. Pierce saved the
lives of his men at the sacrifice of his life by throwing
himself directly onto the mine as it exploded. Through his
indomitable courage, complete disregard for his safety, and
profound concern for his fellow soldiers, he averted loss of
life and injury to the members of his squad. Sgt. Pierce's
extraordinary heroism, at the cost of his life, are in the
highest traditions of the U.S. Army and reflect great credit
upon himself and the Armed Forces of his country.
____
City of Taft,
Taft, CA, September 10, 2007.
Hon. Kevin McCarthy
House of Representatives,
Washington, DC.
Sir: The City Council of the City of Taft, at their regular
meeting on September 4, 2007, unanimously passed Resolution
No. 2986-07, which requests that The Congress of the United
States of America name the Taft Post Office ``The Larry S.
Pierce Post Office''.
Enclosed is a certified copy of the Resolution and a brief
biography of SSG Pierce, and the City Council of the City of
Taft urges you to introduce legislation in the United States
House of Representatives to implement this name change. SSG
Pierce is an honored son of Taft and the citizens of Taft
wish to remember him in this manner.
A similar request is being sent to California State Senator
Dianne Feinstein for introduction of legislation in the
Senate. If you need any additional information about SSG
Pierce or the City of Taft, please feel free to contact me.
Very truly yours,
Louise Hudgens,
City Clerk.
A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Taft Requesting
Congress of the United States of America To Name the Taft Post Office
``The Larry S. Pierce Post Office''
Whereas, Larry S. Pierce was born July 6, 1941, in Wewoka,
Oklahoma, and as a young child moved with his family to Taft,
California and attended Taft City Schools and Taft Union High
School; and
Whereas, Larry S. Pierce would have graduated with the Taft
Union High School class of 1959; however, he chose instead to
serve his country and joined the United States Army in 1958
and attained the rank of Staff Sergeant in the Headquarters
and Headquarters Company of the 1st Battalion, 503rd Infantry
Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade; and
Whereas, on September 20, 1965, near Ben Cat in the
Republic of Vietnam, Larry S. Pierce, while serving as a
squad leader, gave the ultimate sacrifice by smothering the
blast of an anti-personnel mine with his body to protect his
fellow soldiers; and
Whereas, on February 24, 1966, President Lyndon B. Johnson,
36th President of the United States, posthumously awarded
Staff Sergeant Pierce the Medal of Honor, which was accepted
by Pierce's wife, Verlin, daughter Teresa, and sons Kelley
and Gregory; and
Whereas, a portion of the Medal of Honor citation reads,
``Through his indomitable courage, complete disregard for his
safety, and profound concern for his fellow soldiers, he
averted loss of life and injury to the members of his squad.
Sgt. Pierce's extraordinary heroism, at the cost of his life,
are in the highest traditions of the U.S. Army and reflect
great credit upon himself and the Armed Forces of his
country''; and
Whereas, Taft has faithfully supported its sons and
daughters who have served in the military, particularly those
who have gone in harm's way; and it is fitting and
appropriate that a community with such values should
conspicuously honor its heroes; and
Whereas, specifically the citizens of Taft, California,
wish to honor the memory of Larry S. Pierce by naming the
Taft Post Office, 427 North Street, Taft, California 93268
after him. Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, The City Council of the City of Taft does hereby
request The Congress of the United States of America to name
the Taft Post Office, ``The Larry S. Pierce Post Office''.
Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I continue to reserve.
Mr. WESTMORELAND. Mr. Speaker, at this time I have no further
speakers, and I urge all Members to support the passage of S. 2110.
I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for
time and urge the passage of this bill.
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 Senate bill, S. 2110.
The question was taken.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. 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.
____________________