[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 173 (Monday, November 14, 2011)]
[House]
[Pages H7413-H7414]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
SERGEANT ANGEL MENDEZ POST OFFICE
Mr. FARENTHOLD. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
bill (H.R. 2422) to designate the facility of the United States Postal
Service located at 45 Bay Street, Suite 2, in Staten Island, New York,
as the ``Sergeant Angel Mendez Post Office''.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 2422
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SERGEANT ANGEL MENDEZ POST OFFICE.
(a) Designation.--The facility of the United States Postal
Service located at 45 Bay Street, Suite 2, in Staten Island,
New York, shall be known and designated as the ``Sergeant
Angel Mendez 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 ``Sergeant Angel Mendez Post Office''.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Texas (Mr. Farenthold) and the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Cummings)
each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Texas.
General Leave
Mr. FARENTHOLD. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members
may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their
remarks and include extraneous material on the bill under
consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Texas?
There was no objection.
Mr. FARENTHOLD. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to
the gentleman from New York (Mr. Grimm).
Mr. GRIMM. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a brother, a member of
the United States Marine Corps. He gave his life for his country and
fellow marines during the Vietnam war.
Sergeant Angel Mendez was born to Puerto Rican American parents but
was raised in the Mission of the Immaculate Virgin, an orphanage
located in Mount Loretto, in my hometown in Staten Island, New York.
When Angel graduated from high school in 1964, he volunteered to join
the United States Marine Corps. Angel Mendez was assigned to Company
Foxtrot, 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines, 1st Marine Division as a corporal
and often said he found a family in the United States Marine Corps. His
company participated in Operation DeSoto in Duc Pho, Vietnam.
During a search and destroy mission on March 16, 1967, Mendez and his
company were taken under intense Viet Cong fire. Half of the company
sat across an open rice paddy separated by enemy fire. Among them was
the platoon commander, Lieutenant Ronald Castille, who had been shot in
his right
[[Page H7414]]
leg; and without hesitation, Sergeant Mendez volunteered to lead a
small squad to help his fellow marines and move Lieutenant Castille to
safety.
Castille remembers Mendez shouting, ``I'm coming, Lieutenant, I'm
coming,'' as he crossed the open paddy, providing cover fire for the
platoon commander and other wounded marines. Mendez shielded Lieutenant
Castille with his own body as he dressed the wound on his leg and
attempted to carry the commander to safety, but it was at this point
that he was shot in the shoulder. Two marines came to aid Mendez in
carrying Lieutenant Castille to safety, but he refused to let go of the
lieutenant and chose to directly expose himself to enemy fire while
still carrying Castille's legs. Mendez was shielding Castille and the
other marines with his own body when he was mortally wounded.
Lieutenant Castille survived the attack, which occurred on his 23rd
birthday, and later went on to become the district attorney of
Philadelphia and chief justice of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court.
{time} 1720
Sergeant Angel Mendez is a true hero who gave his life protecting
fellow marines; and in honor of his bravery, he was posthumously
promoted to sergeant and awarded the Navy Cross, the second highest
award for valor a marine can receive.
Angel Mendez is survived by his brother, Ismael, and sister-in-law,
Aida, who have long sought recognition for Angel's heroic actions on
that day.
I believe it is important for Congress to honor the sacrifice of my
fellow marine. I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 2422 in honor of
Sergeant Angel Mendez, and designate the facility of the United States
Postal Service located at 45 Bay Street in Staten Island, New York, as
the ``Sergeant Angel Mendez Post Office.''
Mr. CUMMINGS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from
Puerto Rico (Mr. Pierluisi).
Mr. PIERLUISI. I want to commend my colleague, Congressman Grimm, for
introducing this bill to name a post office in his Staten Island
district after Sergeant Angel Mendez, who, at age 20, in Vietnam, laid
down his life for his fellow marines, earning the Navy Cross for his
actions.
Sergeant Mendez died far too young, but his short life was filled
with greatness. With this bill, Congressman Grimm, a Devil Dog himself,
honors Sergeant Mendez, the Marine Corps, and this country.
The bond between New York and Puerto Rico is deep and strong.
Sergeant Mendez' parents were born in Puerto Rico and, like so many
island residents of their generation, moved to New York in search of a
better life for themselves and their children.
How Sergeant Mendez came to possess such character and courage will
never be known; and, in fact, I am moved by the description just made
by Congressman Grimm about his valor in Vietnam. But on that day in
1967 when he was mortally wounded on a battlefield thousands of miles
from Staten Island, this New York son of Puerto Rican heritage became
an American hero. Today, thanks to Congressman Grimm, we pay tribute to
his strength and his sacrifice, and engrave his name in stone.
I am now, more than ever, a proud Puerto Rican American remembering
the life of Sergeant Angel Mendez. I urge my colleagues to support H.R.
2422.
Mr. FARENTHOLD. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
H.R. 2422, introduced by the gentleman from New York (Mr. Grimm),
designating the postal facility at 45 Bay Street, Suite 2, in Staten
Island as the ``Sergeant Angel Mendez Post Office,'' was introduced in
July and favorably reported by the Oversight and Government Reform
Committee on November 3.
Stories like that of Sergeant Mendez demonstrate the bravery and
courage of all those who have served or are serving in our Armed
Forces. I urge all Members to join me in strong support of this bill,
and I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. CUMMINGS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
I am very pleased to join my colleagues in supporting H.R. 2422.
Without a doubt, Sergeant Angel Mendez was a very courageous young man.
He gave a lot for his country, and he certainly deserves this rich
honor.
The measure before us was introduced by Representative Michael Grimm
on July 6, 2011. It has been co-sponsored by all members of the New
York delegation and was reported favorably to the House by the
Committee on Oversight and Government Reform on November 3, 2011.
This legislation commemorates the bravery and the sacrifice of
Sergeant Angel Mendez.
As a child, Sergeant Mendez was raised in an orphanage on Staten
Island.
Upon his graduation from high school in 1964, he enlisted in the
United States Marine Corps.
During his service with Company F, 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines, 1st
Marine Division, Sergeant Mendez was sent to Vietnam.
While on a search and destroy mission on March 16, 1967, Mendez and
his company were ambushed by the Viet Cong, and his platoon's
lieutenant was injured in a rice paddy some 100 yards away from where
Sergeant Mendez was exchanging fire with the enemy.
Sergeant Mendez rushed to his lieutenant's aid and shielded him with
his own body as he dressed his wounds. While in the process of carrying
his lieutenant to safety, Sergeant Mendez was shot twice and suffered a
fatal wound.
He was only 20 years old at the time of his death in battle.
Mr. Speaker, H.R. 2422 honors the ultimate sacrifice made by Sergeant
Angel Mendez by renaming the Bay Street Staten Island Post Office in
his name.
I urge all of my colleagues to pass this legislation.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Texas (Mr. Farenthold) that the House suspend the rules
and pass the bill, H.R. 2422.
The question was taken.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
Mr. FARENTHOLD. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
The yeas and nays were ordered.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further
proceedings on this question will be postponed.
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