[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 23 (Monday, February 14, 2011)]
[Senate]
[Page S684]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. UDALL of Colorado (for himself and Mr. Bennett ):
  S. 327. A bill to name the Department of Veterans Affairs telehealth 
clinic in Craig, Colorado, as the ``Major William Edward Adams 
Department of Veterans Affairs Clinic''; to the Committee on Veterans' 
Affairs.
  Mr. UDALL of Colorado. Mr. President, I rise to urge my colleagues to 
support legislation I am introducing today to name the Veterans 
Telehealth Clinic in Craig, Colorado, after Medal of Honor recipient 
Major William E. Adams. I am pleased that Senator Bennet will join with 
me in introducing this bill.
  Our bill isn't the first effort to honor Major Adams. My good friend 
Congressman John Salazar introduced this legislation last year in the 
House of Representatives with the support of the entire Colorado 
delegation. I would like to see this bill through to passage in this 
Congress in part to honor John and his efforts to commemorate the 
heroism of Major Adams and to get the VA clinic established in 
northwest Colorado.
  I'd also like to honor Larry Neu, a local business owner and Veterans 
of Foreign Wars Post 4265 quartermaster, who has been the architect of 
efforts to commemorate Major Adams. With Larry's leadership and the 
help of other Craig residents, the Colorado state legislature passed a 
resolution renaming part of Colorado Highway 13 the ``Maj. William 
Adams Medal of Honor Highway.'' I know he worked closely with 
Congressman Salazar in the last Congress to develop the legislation I 
am introducing today.
  Above all, this bill is intended to honor Major William Adams himself 
and his ``conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life 
above and beyond the call of duty.''
  A resident of Craig, Major Adams served and lost his life in the 
Vietnam War. He was awarded the Medal of Honor posthumously, after 
distinguishing himself while serving as an Army helicopter pilot. In 
May 1971, he volunteered to fly a lightly armed helicopter in an 
attempt to evacuate three seriously wounded soldiers from a small base 
that was under attack. He made the decision with full knowledge that 
numerous antiaircraft weapons were positioned around the base and that 
the clear weather would make him visible to enemy gunners. As he 
approached the base, the enemy gunners opened fire, but he continued 
his approach, directing the attacks of supporting gunships while 
maintaining control of the helicopter he was flying. He picked up the 
wounded soldiers, but his aircraft was then struck and damaged by enemy 
anti-aircraft fire and crashed.
  I was pleased to learn that many of his family members attended the 
ceremony in November dedicating part of Colorado Highway 13 to Major 
Adams. I want to pay tribute today to his wife Sandra and his daughter 
Jean, both Colorado residents, and his son, Col. John Adams, an 
intelligence officer in the Marine Corps, recently back from 
Afghanistan. I hope this bill serves to reinforce what they already 
know--that Major Adams is a real hero to this county, to Colorado and 
to Craig. He is part of a special class of American heroes who will 
forever be remembered for their service and sacrifice. His story will 
continue inspiring generations to come, while reminding us all about 
the contributions and sacrifices of America's greatest.
  I have introduced this legislation not only to recognize the 
sacrifice of Major Adams, but also to recognize the service of our 
Vietnam veterans and especially all veterans in Northwest Colorado. The 
Telehealth Clinic in Craig is on track to have nearly 1700 visits from 
area veterans this year, and I will always fight to make sure our 
veterans get the health care they earned and deserve.
  As Larry Neu said about Major Adams, ``The man made the ultimate 
sacrifice for his country--he should not be forgotten.'' Passage of 
this bill will help us remember Major Adams and so many other brave 
veterans who have sacrificed their lives for our country. I urge my 
colleagues to support this legislation and to continue to support our 
dedicated men and women in uniform.
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