[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 37 (Wednesday, March 5, 2008)]
[House]
[Pages H1246-H1247]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 MAJOR ARTHUR CHIN POST OFFICE BUILDING

  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and 
pass the bill (H.R. 5220) to designate the facility of the United 
States Postal Service located at 3800 SW. 185th Avenue in Beaverton, 
Oregon, as the ``Major Arthur Chin Post Office Building''.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 5220

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

     SECTION 1. MAJOR ARTHUR CHIN POST OFFICE BUILDING.

       (a) Designation.--The facility of the United States Postal 
     Service located at 3800 SW. 185th Avenue in Beaverton, 
     Oregon, shall be known and designated as the ``Major Arthur 
     Chin Post Office Building''.
       (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 ``Major Arthur Chin Post Office 
     Building''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Illinois (Mr. Davis) and the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Burton) 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 to revise and extend their remarks 
on this bill.
  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, it is my pleasure to yield such 
time as he may consume to the author of this legislation, the gentleman 
from Oregon (Mr. Wu).
  Mr. WU. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman.
  Mr. Speaker, the history of America is the history of ordinary 
individuals who rise to extraordinary challenges and who volunteer 
their service in times of dire need. I rise today to recognize one such 
American, Major Arthur Chin.
  Arthur Chin was born in Portland, Oregon in 1913. As a young man, he 
helped form a flying club, the Chinese Aero Club, a group of Chinese 
Americans who trained to fly fighter aircraft. He grew very concerned 
about Japan's invasion of China's northeastern provinces in 1931, and 
he volunteered to serve in the Chinese Air Force in 1932. Although he 
was safe at home in Oregon and did not need to do this, he saw the 
threat of fascist invasion and

[[Page H1247]]

the need to face it down, and he volunteered himself to face this 
challenge, not only to China, but to the world.
  After receiving advanced fighter training, Major Chin was ultimately 
assigned to the 28th Fighter Squadron, and he saw his first aerial 
combat in 1937, four years before America entered the war. Soon he was 
credited with having shot down his first enemy aircraft of the war. 
Though he and his comrades were almost always outnumbered, Chin and his 
fellow aviators fought valiantly, and by mid-1939 he had downed five 
enemy aircraft, making him one of the first American fighter aces of 
the Second World War.
  But Arthur Chin's heroism was not without personal sacrifice. He was 
shot down three times, and on December 27, 1939, he was badly burned 
when his Gloster Gladiator took enemy fire and exploded. Chin spent the 
next years of his life enduring a painful recovery in hospitals in 
China, India and the United States.
  After America entered the war, he returned to service in 1944 as a 
major in the United States Army Air Force. Major Chin spent the 
remainder of the war flying desperately needed supplies from India to 
China over the Himalayas, the air route now known as ``the hump.'' For 
his extraordinary service, Arthur Chin received numerous medals and 
awards, including the Distinguished Flying Cross.

                              {time}  1300

  After the war, he returned to his native Portland where he raised a 
family and worked for the postal service in Beaverton. Arthur Chin 
passed away in September of 1997, and following his death he was 
honored as one of the first inductees into the American Combat Airmen's 
Hall of Fame.
  Mr. Speaker, it is altogether fitting that we should recognize Major 
Arthur Chin, both a former postal worker and a genuine war hero, with a 
post office named in his honor. It is an appropriate memorial to an 
individual who courageously answered the call of duty, whether at home 
or abroad, and who returned home to continue serving his country as a 
postal worker. I strongly urge my colleagues to support this bill.
  Mr. BURTON of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, I will submit the majority of my 
remarks for the Record.
  I would just like to say that after reading about this gentleman, Mr. 
Chin, I think it is a great honor for him to receive having his name 
put on this post office. But he earned it. He really earned it. When 
you read about his exploits, as my colleague just mentioned, you can 
see why people like this deserve recognition.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the memory of a great American, 
Arthur Chin, who passed away in 1997 at the age of 85.
   Angered by the Japanese invasion of China's northeastern provinces, 
Mr. Chin sailed to China along with other Chinese-American flyers to 
volunteer for the Chinese Air Force in 1932. After enlisting in the 
Chinese Air Force, Mr. Chin fought in many aerial battles against the 
more experienced Japanese.
   Mr. Chin excelled in his military career and rose through the ranks 
to become a major in 1939. By this time, he had been shot down and 
wounded three times, and was severely burned when his Gloster Gladiator 
was hit by enemy fire at 3,000 feet and exploded.
   Amazingly, he survived but he spent five years recovering in 
hospitals all over the world. Despite the extensive healing process, 
Mr. Chin valiantly flew again.
   He transported supplies from India to China over the Himalayas until 
the end of the war.
   After the war, Mr. Chin briefly flew for China National Airways 
Corporation in China until the Communists took over in 1949.
   Upon returning to the United States, Mr. Chin settled back in his 
hometown of Portland, Oregon where he took a job with the United States 
Postal Service.
   Because of his outstanding military service, he was awarded numerous 
medals, including the prestigious Distinguished Flying Cross. Soon 
after his death, Mr. Chin was also honored as one of the first American 
aviators inducted into the American Combat Airmen's Hall of Fame.
   In recognition of his years of selfless public service to his State 
and country, I believe it is fitting to name a post office in 
Beaverton, Oregon, in Mr. Chin's honor.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  As a member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government 
Reform, I join my colleagues in consideration of H.R. 5220, which 
renames the postal facility in Beaverton, Oregon after the legendary 
Major Arthur Chin.
  The measure being considered was first introduced by Congressman 
David Wu of the State of Oregon on January 29, 2008, and is cosponsored 
by all members of the Oregon congressional delegation. The measure was 
referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and on 
February 26, 2008, our committee approved the bill by voice vote.
  H.R. 5220 allows us to pay homage to the service of Major Arthur 
Chin, whose tale of heroism and dedication should be known by every 
American. Born in the city of Portland, Oregon, which lies in the 
congressional district of my dear friend, Representative David Wu, on 
October 23, 1913, Arthur Chin is best known for his service as a member 
of the Guangdong Provincial Air Force which was the first and original 
group of American volunteer combat aviators to fight in World War II.
  An American-born citizen of Chinese descent, Major Chin is deemed 
America's first World War II ace, and in appreciation for his valiant 
service he has been awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. This is in 
addition to having received the Five Star Medal, Six Star Medal, the 
Awe-Inspiring Medal 3rd Grade, and the list goes on.
  Major Chin's public service didn't cease with the end of the war. 
After being honorably discharged from the military in 1945, Major Chin 
returned to private life in his hometown of Portland, Oregon. It 
appears that Major Chin actually worked at the Beaverton Post Office 
before retiring in 1980. Major Chin passed away on September 3, 1997 in 
Portland, only a month before his October 4 Hall of Fame of the 
American Airpower Heritage Museum induction ceremony.
  Mr. Speaker, given Major Chin's illustrious background, I agree that 
it is only befitting that we pass H.R. 5220 and name the U.S. postal 
facility on 185th Avenue in Beaverton, Oregon after this great American 
citizen.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. 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 bill, H.R. 5220.
  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.

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