[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 13 (Monday, January 28, 2008)]
[House]
[Pages H463-H464]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
RICHARD B. ANDERSON FEDERAL BUILDING
Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend
the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4140) to designate the Port Angeles
Federal Building in Port Angeles, Washington, as the ``Richard B.
Anderson Federal Building''.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 4140
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. RICHARD B. ANDERSON FEDERAL BUILDING.
(a) Designation.--The Federal building located at 138 West
First Street, Port Angeles, Washington, shall be known and
designated as the ``Richard B. Anderson Federal Building''.
(b) References.--Any reference in a law, map, regulation,
document, paper, or other record of the United States to the
Federal building referred to in subsection (a) shall be
deemed to be a reference to the ``Richard B. Anderson Federal
Building''.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from
Texas (Ms. Eddie Bernice Johnson) and the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr.
Petri) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Texas.
General Leave
Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous
consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to
revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous materials on
H.R. 4140.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentlewoman from Texas?
There was no objection.
Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such
time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, H.R. 4140 is a bill to designate the Federal building
located at 138 West First Street, Port Angeles, Washington, as the
Richard B. Anderson Federal Building.
Private First Class Richard Anderson was born in 1921 in Tacoma,
Washington. He joined the Marine Corps on July 6, 1942, and received
his Marine Corps training in San Diego, California.
He died at the young age of 22 during World War II and on Roi Island,
part of the Marshall Islands in the Pacific. He was awarded the Purple
Heart and the Medal of Honor. His heroism is marked by his actions on
Roi Island when he hurled himself on a live grenade in a shell hole to
save the lives of many people. He was severely injured and died of his
injuries on February 1, 1944. He was buried at sea with full military
honors.
In 1945, the U.S. Navy destroyer USS Richard B. Anderson was named in
honor of Medal of Honor recipient Anderson.
It is both fitting and proper to honor the life and courageous
actions of Richard B. Anderson in this designation. I support this
bill.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of our time.
Mr. PETRI. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
The bill before us designates what is a Federal building in Port
Angeles, Washington, as the Richard B. Anderson Federal Building.
Richard Beatty Anderson served in the United States Marines during
World War II in the Marshall Islands. He sacrificed his life to save
three other marines by throwing his body on a live grenade and taking
the full impact of the explosion. Private First Class Anderson was
evacuated to a ship where he died of his wounds on February 1, 1944.
His heroism and loyalty in the face of certain death earned him the
Medal of Honor. The United States Navy destroyer USS Richard B.
Anderson was
[[Page H464]]
named in his honor in 1945 and went on to serve in both the Korean and
Vietnam Wars, earning 15 battle stars.
This bill is a fitting tribute to Private First Class Anderson's
sacrifice and service to his country. I support this measure and urge
my colleagues to do the same.
Mr. DICKS. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 4140, a bill to
designate the Port Angeles Federal Building in Port Angeles,
Washington, as the ``Richard B. Anderson Federal Building.''
Private First Class Richard B. Anderson was born in Tacoma,
Washington on June 26, 1921 and graduated from Sequim High School in
Sequim, Washington. Private Anderson entered the Marine Corps in 1942
and eventually joined his last unit, Company E, 2nd Battalion, 23rd
Marines in San Diego, California. He departed for Roi-Namur, an island
in the northern part of the Kwajalein atoll in the Marshall Islands,
with his unit in January 1944.
While hunting enemy snipers on Roi-Namur, PFC Anderson, a member of
the invasion force, hurled himself on a live grenade in a shell hole to
save the lives of three Marines. Anderson was evacuated to a ship,
where he died of his wounds on February 1, 1944. For his heroic
actions, PFC Anderson was posthumously awarded the Congressional Medal
of Honor and the Purple Heart.
Mr. Speaker, the House is now considering legislation that will honor
PFC Anderson for his heroic efforts on Roi Island. Specifically, this
legislation would rename the Federal Building in Port Angeles,
Washington after Richard B. Anderson. I urge the House to adopt this
important legislation.
Mr. OBERSTAR. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 4140 designates the Port Angeles
Federal Building located at 138 West First Street, Port Angeles,
Washington, as the ``Richard B. Anderson Federal Building.''
Private First Class, PFC, Richard B. Anderson was born on June 26,
1921, in Tacoma, Washington. Anderson grew up in Port Angeles,
Washington, and attended Sequim High School.
On July 6, 1942, Anderson joined the United States Marine Corps. He
received his basic and infantry training at the Marine Corps Recruit
Depot in San Diego, California, and was promoted to the rank of Private
First Class on April 12, 1943.
Following his promotion, PFC Anderson was assigned to the East
Company, 2nd Battalion, of the 23rd Marines. PFC Anderson's unit was
deployed to the Marshall Islands in January 1944. On February 1, 1944,
his company was part of an invasion force fighting to take control of
Rio Island from the Japanese.
During the assault, Anderson and three other Marines jumped into a
shell crater to escape enemy flre. As Anderson prepared to throw a
grenade from inside the crater, the grenade slipped from his hands and
began to roll toward the other three marines in the crater. In an act
of selfless heroism, Anderson lunged on top of the live grenade and
absorbed the full impact of the blast, saving the lives of his fellow
soldiers. Anderson died from his wounds shortly thereafter.
After his death, PFC Anderson was awarded the Purple Heart and the
Medal of Honor for his acts of bravery and service to his country.
On October 26, 1945, the United States Navy commissioned a DD-786
destroyer battleship as the USS Richard B. Anderson in honor of the
fallen hero. The ship began active service in January 1947, and was
used in combat for the Vietnam and Korean wars. The ship remained in
active service until December 20, 1975.
I strongly urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 4140.
Mr. PETRI. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I yield back
the balance of my time.
Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I have no requests
for time, and I yield back my time and urge passage.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Eddie Bernice Johnson) that the House
suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 4140.
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. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. 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 motion will be
postponed.
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