[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 182 (Monday, December 7, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2895-E2896]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                HONORING JAMES HARDEN ``PAT'' DAUGHERTY

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. CHRIS VAN HOLLEN

                              of maryland

                    in the house of representatives

                        Monday, December 7, 2009

  Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize a remarkable 
American. Mr. James Harden ``Pat'' Daugherty, a long-time resident of 
Silver Spring, Maryland, was drafted into the U.S. Army during World 
War II when he was 19 years old. He was assigned to the U.S. Army's 
92nd Infantry Division, known as the Buffalo Soldiers, which was the 
only division-strength unit comprised of African Americans to fight in 
the European Theater. The division fought German and Italian troops in 
northern Italy, suffering thousands of injuries and deaths. Mr. 
Daugherty watched some of his best friends die right before his eyes. 
He was decorated with the Bronze Star Medal for heroic achievement and 
the Combat Infantryman Badge for outstanding performance of duty in 
action.
  The Buffalo Soldiers were great American heroes who waged a fight for 
freedom abroad even as they were denied freedom at home. After the war, 
they returned home to face racism, segregation, job discrimination and 
wide-ranging injustices. At age 23, upon returning from war, Mr. 
Daugherty felt compelled to document his wartime experiences as an 
African American. Earlier this year, coinciding with the 65th 
anniversary of D-day and the election of the first African American 
President, Mr. Daugherty published his firsthand account as a Buffalo 
Soldier in his memoir, Buffalo Saga.
  Following the war, Mr. Daugherty resumed his studies with the aid of 
the GI Bill and received his bachelor of science from Howard University 
and his master of public health from Columbia University.
  Mr. Daugherty was an educator in the District of Columbia public 
schools, where he organized an after-school tutoring program and taught 
students in math and reading. In 1964,

[[Page E2896]]

he was the first African American to serve as Health Educator for the 
District of Columbia Health Department. He was the first African 
American to be elected to the Montgomery County, Maryland Board of 
Education and served for many years on the Board of Visitors for the 
Maryland School for the Deaf.
  From 1966 to 1994, Mr. Daugherty worked for the U.S. Public Health 
Service in a variety of positions. He was committed to improving the 
Nation's health care, particularly the underserved--rural and urban 
poor and minorities, coal miners, migrant workers, and incarcerated 
individuals. For his dedicated and tireless efforts, he received 
numerous awards and recognition, including the U.S. Public Health 
Service's ``Administrator's Award for Excellence.'' The Mississippi 
Medical and Surgical Association honored Mr. Daugherty for his ``dogged 
determination and work with divergent groups in a leading role to 
establish many community health centers throughout Mississippi and the 
South in the 1960s and 1970s--a time when racial injustice was one of 
the main barriers that separated black Americans from adequate health 
care.''
  In 1975, Mr. Daugherty was one of five co-founders of ``Blacks in 
Government'' and served as the first chairman of the national 
organization. This organization was formed to address the needs of 
African Americans in public service with the goal of promoting 
excellence in public service, equity in all aspects of American life 
and opportunity for all Americans.
  Montgomery County, Maryland, declared July 28, 2009, ``James Harden 
Daugherty Buffalo Soldier Day.'' Mr. Daugherty also was recognized for 
his contributions by Maryland's Governor and was recently interviewed 
by Smithsonian Magazine and National Public Radio.
  Mr. Daugherty is a man of courage and integrity who has been a role 
model through his inspirational life of service to our Nation, 
especially to the underserved and needy. Mr. Daugherty's desire to 
share his story in his memoir allows all of us to benefit from his 
experiences.
  Madam Speaker, I am honored to recognize Mr. James Harden ``Pat'' 
Daugherty for his life of achievement and service.

                          ____________________