[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 97 (Tuesday, June 26, 2012)]
[House]
[Pages H3997-H3998]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
SERGEANT RICHARD FRANKLIN ABSHIRE POST OFFICE BUILDING
Mr. FARENTHOLD. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass
the bill (H.R. 3412) to designate the facility of the United States
Postal Service located at 1421 Veterans Memorial Drive in Abbeville,
Louisiana, as the ``Sergeant Richard Franklin Abshire Post Office
Building''.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 3412
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SERGEANT RICHARD FRANKLIN ABSHIRE POST OFFICE
BUILDING.
(a) Designation.--The facility of the United States Postal
Service located at 1421 Veterans Memorial Drive in Abbeville,
Louisiana, shall be known and designated as the ``Sergeant
Richard Franklin Abshire 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 ``Sergeant Richard Franklin Abshire Post
Office Building''.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Texas (Mr. Farenthold) and the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Clay) each
will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Texas.
General Leave
Mr. FARENTHOLD. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all
Members may have 5 legislative days in 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. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Madam Speaker, H.R. 3412, introduced by the gentleman from Louisiana
(Mr. Boustany), would designate the facility of the United States
Postal Service located at 1421 Veterans Memorial Drive in Abbeville,
Louisiana, as the Sergeant Richard Franklin Abshire Post Office
Building. This bill was introduced on November 14, 2011, and was
reported from the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform on
February 7.
Sergeant Richard Franklin Abshire was born on October 20, 1944, in
Louisiana and served in the United States Marine Corps. Sergeant
Abshire was awarded the Navy Cross for extraordinary heroism while
serving as a platoon sergeant with Company G, Second Battalion, Fourth
Marines, Ninth Marine Amphibious Brigade, in connection with operations
against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam on May 2, 1968.
Sergeant Abshire's unit and a sister company launched a coordinated
attack against a well entrenched North Vietnamese Army force occupying
the village of Dinh To, Quang Tri Province. By his superb leadership,
courageous fighting and selfless devotion to duty, Sergeant Abshire
inspired all who observed him and upheld the highest traditions of the
United States Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service. He
gallantly gave his life for his country. Sergeant Abshire died on May
2, 1968.
Madam Speaker, Sergeant Richard Franklin Abshire is a very worthy
designee of this postal facility naming. I urge all Members to join me
in support of this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. CLAY. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
As a member of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee,
I'm pleased to join my colleagues in
[[Page H3998]]
consideration of H.R. 3412, to designate the facility of the U.S.
Postal Service located at 1421 Veterans Memorial Drive in Abbeville,
Louisiana, as the Sergeant Richard Franklin Abshire Post Office
Building.
As was mentioned, Sergeant Richard Abshire served as the platoon
sergeant with Company G, Second Battalion, Fourth Marines, Ninth
Marines Amphibious Brigade, during the Vietnam War.
As was also mentioned, he was in a heavy firefight. Upon entering the
village, Sergeant Abshire and his unit came under heavy enemy fire. The
heavy small arms and automatic weapons fire halted the company, and
Sergeant Abshire was directed to establish a defensive position with
advantageous firing positions.
As the hostilities increased, it became apparent that the Vietnamese
were preparing to launch a counterattack. Sergeant Abshire exposed
himself to enemy fire to deploy the grenades that temporarily
disoriented the enemy.
Returning to his unit, Sergeant Abshire moved along the line,
shouting words of encouragement, and directing his unit's fire. The
sergeant then provided covering fire as his unit pulled back. After
expending his remaining ammunition, he attempted to rejoin his unit
when he was mortally wounded in the head by a burst of enemy fire.
Sergeant Abshire was posthumously awarded the Navy Cross for his heroic
actions leading his unit and ensuring their return to safety.
Madam Speaker, if anyone deserves a postal facility named after them,
it is Sergeant Abshire.
I urge the passage of the bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. FARENTHOLD. Madam Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to my neighbor from
the east, from the great State of Louisiana (Mr. Boustany).
Mr. BOUSTANY. I thank my friend from Texas for yielding time to me,
and I thank the committee for bringing this resolution to the House
floor today.
Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 3412, to designate the
facility of the United States Postal Service located at 1421 Veterans
Memorial Drive in Abbeville, Louisiana, as the Sergeant Richard
Franklin Abshire Post Office Building, and I want to thank the
Oversight and Government Reform Committee for bringing this bill to the
floor.
Today, it is really an honor for me to stand here today to celebrate
the life of United States Marine Corps Sergeant Richard F. Abshire, an
extraordinary hero of the Vietnam War. A native of Abbeville,
Louisiana, in my district, the heart of Cajun country, Sergeant Abshire
graduated from Abbeville High School in 1962 and then attended the
University of Southwestern Louisiana in Lafayette, my hometown.
Serving in Vietnam from December 1967 until May 1968, a young
Sergeant Abshire had given over 3 years of service to his country in
the Marine Corps. On May 2, 1968, while serving in Quang Tri Province
in the Republic of Vietnam, Sergeant Abshire led a coordinated attack
against an entrenched North Vietnamese force in the village of Dinh To.
Under heavy small arms and automatic weapon fire, Sergeant Abshire
displayed extraordinary valor and leadership in leading his men to
safety, sacrificing himself in the process.
{time} 1540
Upon entrance to the village of Dinh To, Sergeant Abshire's men began
sustaining heavy losses from the better positioned North Vietnamese
troops. Acting quickly, the sergeant directed his men to establish a
defensive perimeter, aiming a heavy volume of fire into the enemy
emplacements. Then realizing the enemy was preparing a counterattack,
Sergeant Abshire quickly obtained a number of hand grenades from his
fellow marines. Navigating the fiery open terrain while selflessly
exposing himself to enemy fire, Abshire threw several grenades toward
the enemy, disrupting their attack. Returning to his men, Sergeant
Abshire moved from position to position, shouting encouragement and
directing fire.
Upon realizing they were dangerously low on ammunition, Abshire
directed his men to fall back while he resolutely provided cover fire
until they could reach safety. After expending the last of his
ammunition, Sergeant Abshire was mortally wounded by a burst of enemy
fire, laying down his life for his fellow marines and his country.
Sergeant Abshire's actions are an inspiration to the marines he
fought beside and the country he fought for. Because of his heroic
actions, he was posthumously awarded the Navy Cross for his bravery in
a combat zone. Shortly after Sergeant Abshire's death, his mother
received the Navy Cross for gallantry on his behalf in Lafayette,
Louisiana, from Brigadier General Walter S. McIlhenny.
Today I join the town of Abbeville in honoring this fallen hero with
the dedication of their post office to the name of Sergeant Richard
Franklin Abshire for his extraordinary valor in battle. As we honor
Sergeant Abshire today, we must also recognize our present-day heroes
serving around the globe, those who have fallen and those who continue
to fight for our freedoms. We thank you as well as the families of all
of our Armed Forces.
I ask my colleagues to support this bill.
Mr. CLAY. Madam Speaker, I have no further speakers. I urge passage
of H.R. 3412, and I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. FARENTHOLD. Madam Speaker, I join with the gentleman from
Louisiana and the gentleman from Missouri in urging all of my
colleagues and House Members to support the passage of H.R. 3412,
renaming and creating the Sergeant Richard Franklin Abshire Post
Office.
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. 3412.
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. CLAY. Madam Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a
quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not
present.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further
proceedings on this question will be postponed.
The point of no quorum is considered withdrawn.
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