[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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