[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 33 (Thursday, February 28, 2008)]
[House]
[Pages H1159-H1160]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               CAPTAIN JONATHAN D. GRASSBAUGH POST OFFICE

  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and 
pass the Senate bill (S. 2478) to designate the facility of the United 
States Postal Service located at 59 Colby Corner in East Hampstead, New 
Hampshire, as the ``Captain Jonathan D. Grassbaugh Post Office''.
  The Clerk read the title of the Senate bill.
  The text of the Senate bill is as follows:

                                S. 2478

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

     SECTION 1. CAPTAIN JONATHAN D. GRASSBAUGH POST OFFICE 
                   BUILDING.

       (a) Designation.--The facility of the United States Postal 
     Service located at 59 Colby Corner in East Hampstead, New 
     Hampshire, shall be known and designated as the ``Captain 
     Jonathan D. Grassbaugh 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 ``Captain Jonathan D. Grassbaugh Post 
     Office''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Illinois (Mr. Davis) and the gentlewoman from North Carolina (Ms. Foxx) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Illinois.


                             General Leave

  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. 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 Illinois?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
might consume.
  As a member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government 
Reform, I am pleased to join my colleagues in the consideration of S. 
2478 which names a postal facility in the town of East Hampstead, New 
Hampshire, after Captain Jonathan D. Grassbaugh.
  S. 2478, which was introduced in the Senate by Senator John Sununu on 
December 13, 2007, and passed by the Chamber under unanimous consent on 
December 19, 2007, has been considered and reported out of the 
Oversight Committee by voice vote as of January 29, 2008.
  Like many of the postal naming measures in which this body has 
previously considered and passed over the past couple of years, S. 2478 
seeks to honor the service and dedication of a heroic American 
serviceman, the Honorable Captain Jonathan D. Grassbaugh, by naming 
after him the post office in his hometown of East Hampstead, New 
Hampshire.
  Born and raised in the fine city of East Hampstead, New Hampshire, 
Captain Grassbaugh is held in high esteem by friends and family alike 
who recall him as an exceptional student and active community 
volunteer. After graduating from high school with honors, Captain 
Grassbaugh attended Johns Hopkins University where he graduated in 2003 
with a bachelor's degree in computer science. During his collegiate 
pursuits at Johns Hopkins, Captain Grassbaugh also served as the 
battalion commander for the school's ROTC program.
  After completing U.S. Army Ranger School in April 2004, Captain 
Grassbaugh was assigned to the 5th Squadron, 73rd Cavalry Regiment, 3rd 
Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division out of Fort Bragg, North 
Carolina. Sadly, however, on April 7, 2007, while serving in Iraq, 
Captain Jonathan Grassbaugh was tragically killed when an improvised 
explosive device detonated near his unit in Zaganiyah, Iraq.
  Mr. Speaker, given Captain Grassbaugh's commitment to his community, 
his vocation and, of course, his country, I think it only fitting that 
we pass the underlying measure to designate the post office on Colby 
Corner in East Hampstead, New Hampshire, as the Captain Jonathan D. 
Grassbaugh Post Office.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may consume.
  I rise today to urge passage of this bill designating the facility of 
the United States Postal Service located at 59 Colby Corner in East 
Hampstead, New Hampshire, as the Captain Jonathan D. Grassbaugh Post 
Office. Described by his family as ``the epitome of an officer and a 
gentleman,'' Captain Jonathan Grassbaugh was a truly remarkable young 
man.
  Born into a military family, Captain Grassbaugh moved to New 
Hampshire at the age of 3. After graduating from Phillips Exeter 
Academy, he attended Johns Hopkins University where he earned his 
degree in computer science. During his time at Hopkins, Jonathan rose 
quickly through the ranks of his Army ROTC class, selected as the cadet 
battalion commander his senior year. Jonathan's dedication and sense of 
honor served as a driving force behind the JHU Ranger Challenge team 
winning brigade competitions 2 years in a row and the battalion being 
rated third in the nation among 270 ROTC units.
  In the words of one of his professors, ``In my 9 years of teaching 
ROTC, Jonathan Grassbaugh was by far one of the most energetic and 
conscientious young men that I have ever had the honor to teach.''
  In 2005 during his first tour in Iraq, Captain Grassbaugh served as 
aide-de-camp to Brigadier General Michael Ferriter, a top adviser to 
the U.S. military commander in Iraq. Speaking at Jonathan's funeral, 
Ferriter commented on the young man he grew to know so well: ``He made 
me a better leader and a better man. He was simply as good as it gets. 
He was the best; a warrior, friend, comrade, loving husband, and caring 
son.''
  In June of 2006, Jonathan married his college sweetheart, Jenna, just 
a few

[[Page H1160]]

days after her graduation from Hopkins. A few weeks later he was 
deployed to Iraq as a member of the 73rd Cavalry, 5th Brigade of the 
82nd Airborne Division. On April 7, 2007, the 25-year-old Grassbaugh 
was killed by an IED while conducting a combat logistic patrol in 
Zaganiyah, Iraq.
  A loving husband, dedicated son, and accomplished soldier, Captain 
Grassbaugh was and will remain a shining example of America's best. 
Though we will never have the privilege of knowing the limits of his 
seemingly endless potential, the memory of his spirit, honor, and 
dedication should live on as an example to others. In the words of the 
Reverend Frederick Pennett at his funeral, ``He laid down his life for 
us and for his country. There is no greater love than this. Jonathan's 
story and his memory will go on forever.''
  I urge that we help preserve the memory of Captain Jonathan 
Grassbaugh with passage of this bill, and I ask my colleagues to join 
me in supporting this fitting tribute.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she might 
consume to Representative Carol Shea-Porter from New Hampshire.
  Ms. SHEA-PORTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of this 
bill and in honor of a great son of New Hampshire, Captain Jonathan 
Grassbaugh. I would like to thank my colleagues in the House for 
bringing this to the floor and my colleagues in the Senate for passing 
the original version.
  Mr. Speaker, it is a special privilege for me to offer my remarks in 
support of this legislation and to have an opportunity to share with my 
colleagues in the House the story of an outstanding young man, a 
courageous leader, and a brave husband.
  Jon was born on August 18, 1981. He and his family moved to 
Hampstead, New Hampshire, 8 years later and quickly grew roots in their 
community. His mother, Patricia, is the principal at Hampstead Middle 
School. Jon attended the elite Phillips Exeter Academy and graduated 
with honors in 1999. He attended Johns Hopkins University where he was 
commissioned through their ROTC program and graduated in 2003. That's 
also where Jon met his wife, Jenna, an Army officer in her own right. 
Tragically, they had only been married 10 months when an IED took Jon 
and three of his fellow Rangers on a combat logistics patrol in Diyala 
province.
  When Jon finished school, he continued a strong family tradition of 
service to our country. His father was also a Ranger who served in 
Vietnam. Jon's brother is a West Point and Dartmouth graduate and an 
Army surgeon at Fort Lewis.
  For Jon, it was not enough to serve. He excelled, the best of the 
best. A highly decorated officer, Jon was assigned to 5th Squad, 73rd 
Cavalry, 3rd BCT of the 82nd Airborne, Fort Bragg. As I said, the best 
of the best. Among more than a dozen of Jon's medals and honors are the 
Bronze Star he earned for combat heroism and a Purple Heart.
  Jon was killed in action on April 7, 2007. He was only 25 years old. 
Our thoughts and prayers remain with his wife, Jenna. Jon was laid to 
rest at Arlington National Cemetery alongside three centuries of 
America's heroes, hallowed ground befitting a hero. We in New Hampshire 
are lucky to have had time with him and we have been blessed by the 
life of this wonderful man.
  I urge my colleagues to join me today in continuing to honor his life 
by voting to memorialize his service, his dedication to his country and 
to his family, and his willingness to give his country his own life. 
Join me in passing S. 2478 for Army Ranger Captain Jonathan D. 
Grassbaugh.
  Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I urge passage of this resolution 
and 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. 2478.
  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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