[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 23 (Tuesday, February 12, 2008)]
[House]
[Pages H840-H841]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              PRIVATE JOHNATHON MILLICAN LULA POST OFFICE

  Mr. BUTTERFIELD. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass 
the bill (H.R. 3532) to designate the facility of the United States 
Postal Service located at 5815 McLeod Street in Lula, Georgia, as the 
``Private Johnathon Millican Lula Post Office''.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 3532

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

     SECTION 1. PRIVATE JOHNATHON MILLICAN LULA POST OFFICE.

       (a) Designation.--The facility of the United States Postal 
     Service located at 5815 McLeod Street in Lula, Georgia, shall 
     be known and designated as the ``Private Johnathon Millican 
     Lula 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 ``Private Johnathon Millican Lula Post 
     Office''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
North Carolina (Mr. Butterfield) and the gentleman from Connecticut 
(Mr. Shays) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from North Carolina.


                             General Leave

  Mr. BUTTERFIELD. 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 North Carolina?
  There was no objection.

                              {time}  1615

  Mr. BUTTERFIELD. Mr. Speaker, I'm pleased to join my colleagues today 
in the consideration of H.R. 3532 which seeks to name a postal facility 
in Lula, Georgia, after Private Johnathon Millican, a distinguished and 
heroic American serviceman.
  H.R. 3532, which was introduced by Representative Deal of Georgia, 
was introduced on September 14, 2007, and was considered and reported 
by the Oversight Committee on January 29, 2008, by a voice vote.
  This measure has the support of the entire congressional delegation 
from the State of Georgia and provides us with yet another opportunity 
to pay tribute to a member of our country's armed service.
  Johnathon Millican served his country proudly as a member of an 
airborne artillery brigade based out of Fort Richardson in Anchorage, 
Alaska, where I was a few weeks ago, and it is very cold out there, Mr. 
Speaker.
  Private Millican gave his life in his service to our country when, on 
January 20, 2007, his unit was attacked by enemy insurgents in Karbala, 
Iraq. While Private Millican was only 20 years old when he lost his 
life in the line of duty, his service and faithful commitment to 
preserving the liberties and freedoms on which our Nation is built are 
sure to live on forever.
  Mr. Speaker, let's remember and pay tribute to the ultimate sacrifice 
made by Private Millican. I urge the swift passage of this bill.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. SHAYS. Mr. Speaker, a mere 20 years old, Private First Class 
Johnathon Millican of Trafford, Alabama, displayed wisdom beyond his 
years when he once said, ``You don't have to love the war, but you have 
to love the warrior.''
  It is an honor for me to speak today about Private Millican, a true 
American hero who epitomizes bravery and loyalty to his country and 
fellow comrades.
  Soon after graduating high school in 2005, Johnathon Millican 
enlisted into the Army and was assigned to the 377th Parachute Field 
Artillery Regiment from Fort Richardson, Alaska. In Karbala, Iraq, on 
January 20, 2007, Private Millican was off duty in a communications 
room talking with his wife, Shannon, when an attack started. The 
attackers fired several rounds and a grenade into the room, and 
tragically, he and four fellow officers lost their lives. Private 
Millican had been in Iraq for just 3 months.
  Family and friends will forever remember Johnathon Millican's 
dedication to the cause of freedom and his commitment to bringing that 
cherished freedom to the people around the world where he served. It is 
with gratitude for his bravery and sacrifice and for the sacrifice of 
those who loved him that I ask all Members to join me in naming the 
Lula, Georgia, postal facility located on McLeod Street in his honor.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. BUTTERFIELD. Mr. Speaker, I don't have any additional speakers. I 
will reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. SHAYS. Mr. Speaker, at this time it is my privilege to recognize 
the very distinguished Member from Georgia (Mr. Deal) for as much time 
as he would consume.
  Mr. DEAL of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the memory of 
Army Private First Class Johnathon Miles Millican, dedicating the 
United States Post Office located in Lula, Georgia, as the ``Private 
Johnathon Millican Lula Post Office.''
  Twenty-year-old Private First Class Johnathon Millican, a Hall 
County, Georgia, native, was killed by insurgents in Iraq while 
conducting a dismounted operation in Karbala on January 20, 2007. 
Private First Class Millican was off duty in a communications room 
talking with his wife when the attackers fired several rounds into the 
room with an AK-47 and one of them tossed in a concussion grenade. 
Courageously, he covered the grenade with his body, attempting to 
protect his comrades from the enemy intrusion. Private First Class 
Johnathon Millican was later awarded the Silver Star Medal of Honor for 
his courage, valor, and dedication for his fellow soldiers.
  Johnathon Millican had attended Lula Elementary, East Hall Middle 
School, and East Hall High school in my home County of Hall. While in 
high school, Johnathon was active in the community, working the 
concessions stand at the community ballpark and coaching a 5-year-old 
T-Ball team. After graduating from high school in 2005, he moved to 
Locust Grove, Alabama, before enlisting in the Army. Johnathon was a 
member of the 377th Parachute Field Artillery Regiment from Fort 
Richardson, Alaska. Johnathon Millican left behind his wife, Shannon; 
his parents, Mitchell and Angie Millican; and Mary and Ronald Lykins 
and sisters, Amber'le, Ashley, and Amanda.
  Mr. Speaker, I'm proud to rise today to pay tribute to this 
courageous young man and to join my constituents

[[Page H841]]

of Lula, Georgia, in naming the ``Private Johnathon Millican Post 
Office.'' This honor will serve as a lasting reminder of the true 
recognition that is deserving of a fallen hometown hero who sacrificed 
his life to save the lives of his fellow soldiers.
  Mr. Speaker, I include for the Record a copy of the letter from Mr. 
Milton Turner, the Mayor of the City of Lula, requesting that this post 
office be named the ``Private Johnathon Millican Lula Post Office.''

                                                 City of Lula,

                                        Lula, GA, August 20, 2007.
     Subject: Consideration of Honorarium for PFC Johnathon 
         Millican.

     Congressman Nathan Deal,
     Wachovia Center, Jesse Jewell Parkway, Gainesville, GA.
       Dear Congressman Deal: This letter represents the request 
     of the City of Lula to recognize and honor the sacrifice and 
     contributions made by a local young man, a fallen hero, 
     Private First Class Johnathon Millican with the recognition 
     and honor of his service and dedication to his country the 
     naming of the Lula Post Office located on McLoud Street. Our 
     20-year-old young hero (a Hall County Native), was killed by 
     insurgents in Iraq on Jan. 20, he had covered an enemy 
     concussion grenade with his body attempting to protect his 
     comrades from the enemy intrusion and was one of five U.S. 
     soldiers killed during the attack in Karbala.
       Johnathon had attended Lula Elementary and East Hall Middle 
     School and High School only recently moving to Locust Grove 
     Alabama before enlisting in the Army. Millican was a member 
     of the 377th Parachute Field Artillery Regiment from Fort 
     Richardson, Alaska.
       PFC Millican was off duty in a communications room 
     exchanging e-mails with his wife when the Jan. 20 attack 
     started. The attackers fired several rounds into the room 
     with an AK47 and one of them tossed in a grenade. In an 
     earlier interview, Mitchell Millican told The Birmingham News 
     his son was on one knee facing the door ``ready to shoot'' at 
     that point and ``He could just as easily have jumped behind a 
     desk or ducked down or whatever, but he chose to cover the 
     grenade'' Mitchell Millican said ``and, to me, that shows 
     character''.
       We know of your commitment to our service men and woman and 
     know how moved you were at his loss; this honor would help to 
     establish the true recognition deserving of a fallen hero. 
     Also we would encourage your efforts to move forward the 
     campaign to have the pentagon award PFC J. Millican with the 
     ``Medal of Honor'' a process which we realize could take 
     months or even years.
       Further we hope to have the opportunity in the near future 
     to honor Jonathon's heroics here in Hall County and depending 
     on your guidance will await some possible timetable for 
     suggested dedication. Please advise the city of your schedule 
     allowing your attendance and participation.
           Best regards,
                                              Mayor Milton Turner.

  Mr. BACHUS. Mr. Speaker, it is my honor to express my full support 
for H.R. 3532, naming the Federal post office in Lula, Georgia, in 
honor of PFC Johnathon Millican. It is a fitting tribute to a brave 
solider.
  This recognition from the community where Johnathon spent his boyhood 
comes in addition to the inspiring ceremony held last July 28 at Locust 
Fork High School in Alabama, where Johnathon received his diploma. It 
was my great privilege to participate in the ceremony, in which 
Johnathon's wife and father were presented with his posthumous Silver 
Star award.
  Johnathon's actions during the raid on Karbala on January 20, 2007 
are the embodiment of the scriptural passage that says there is no 
greater love for a man than to lay down his life for his friends. His 
valor saved the lives of his fellow soldiers, and he died defending 
freedom.
  At this time, allow me to introduce the remarks I made during the 
ceremony into the Record.

       The actions of Johnathon Millican embody the same 
     scriptural passage that we've heard at funerals of many of 
     our veterans. It is: Greater love has no man than this, that 
     one lay down his life for his friends.
       Johnathon's life was short, but his legacy will stand.
       His father shared with me a conversation he had with 
     Johnathon just before he graduated here. Many of Johnathon's 
     classmates were planning for college. Others had lined up a 
     job. Still others were talking about how they were going to 
     spend their summers, the things they were going to do.
       Johnathon had already made another decision. He was going 
     to enlist in the Army. The call to duty to serve his country 
     was strong in the aftermath of 9/11.
       Johnathon knew there would be personal sacrifices involved. 
     He knew the fight would not be easy. In fact, his father 
     reminded him that it could be dangerous. Johnathon accepted 
     that. But Johnathon believed in the mission. From Iraq, he 
     posted an observation on the Internet which I wish everyone 
     in this country would observe.
       The quote is, ``You don't have to love the war but you have 
     to love the warrior.''
       One definition of warrior is ``someone notable strength of 
     spirit.''
       Johnathon resoundingly demonstrated those qualities this 
     past January 20th, when insurgents broke into the government 
     compound in Karbala.
       I think it is Johnathon's valor and our concern for all our 
     young men and women in the field that brings us together. The 
     Silver Star Award has given each and every one of us an 
     opportunity to thank Johnathon and his family in a tangible 
     way for his service and his courage. I very much appreciate 
     each and every one of you who have come out this morning to 
     show your love, your compassion, and your gratitude to 
     Johnathon and his family.
       It's a struggle to find the right words at a time like 
     this. I think it's best to go to the soldiers in the field. 
     Let me read from the email sent to me this week from Iraq by 
     Captain Tom Morris, who was Johnathon's commanding officer.
       ``As a commander of troops in combat, losing your soldiers 
     is harder than losing family members. Speaking at Johnathon's 
     memorial service was the hardest thing I ever had to do.
       ``It brings me great pleasure to know that he is being 
     awarded the Silver Star and that there will be a memorial at 
     his high school in his honor. I believe the most important 
     thing to do is to tell his story to those who do not know it, 
     especially those who attend his school.
       ``I will always remember him, especially his deep southern 
     accent and that he was a country boy who was the toughest 
     there was and that nothing really bothered him. I can only 
     hope that I can be as strong, both mentally and physically, 
     as he was.
       ``He will be missed, but never forgotten. He was my 
     soldier, friend, and fellow paratrooper.''
       ``Hero'' is an overused word these days. It's used to 
     describe a TV actor or football player. There is a difference 
     between fame and worthy accomplishment.
       The reason we need to tell Johnathon's story is so people, 
     especially our young men and women and boys and girls, do 
     understand the difference between celebrity and heroism. The 
     students who go past the memorial here at Locust Fork High 
     School will know that a real hero walked their halls.
       To conclude, a passage from Corinthians (16:13) is 
     appropriate for Johnathon and all of the soldiers who protect 
     us. It reads:
       ``Be on your guard, stand firm in the faith, be men of 
     courage, be strong.''
       These words apply perfectly to Johnathon, and why he is 
     deserving of the Silver Star being presented to his family 
     today.

  Mr. BUTTERFIELD. Mr. Speaker, I don't have any additional speakers. I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. SHAYS. I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Butterfield) that the House suspend 
the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 3532.
  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.

                          ____________________