[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 110 (Monday, July 23, 2012)]
[House]
[Pages H5110-H5111]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
{time} 1800
NICKY ``NICK'' DANIEL BACON POST OFFICE
Ms. BUERKLE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
bill (H.R. 3870) to designate the facility of the United States Postal
Service located at 6083 Highway 36 West in Rose Bud, Arkansas, as the
``Nicky `Nick' Daniel Bacon Post Office''.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 3870
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. NICKY ``NICK'' DANIEL BACON POST OFFICE.
(a) Designation.--The facility of the United States Postal
Service located at 6083 Highway 36 West in Rose Bud,
Arkansas, shall be known and designated as the ``Nicky `Nick'
Daniel Bacon 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 ``Nicky `Nick' Daniel Bacon Post Office''.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from
New York (Ms. Buerkle) and the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Connolly)
each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from New York.
Ms. BUERKLE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
General Leave
Ms. BUERKLE. 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
gentlewoman from New York?
There was no objection.
Ms. BUERKLE. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 3870, introduced by the gentleman from
Arkansas (Mr. Griffin), would designate the facility of the United
States Postal Service located at 6083 Highway 36 West in Rose Bud,
Arkansas, as the Nicky ``Nick'' Daniel Bacon Post Office. The bill is
cosponsored by the entire Arkansas State delegation and was favorably
reported by the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform on
February 7.
Mr. Speaker, First Sergeant Nick Bacon was known for his heroism
while he served in the Army during the Vietnam War. During his second
tour in Vietnam in 1968, Bacon assumed command of his company when his
platoon leader was wounded in open ground. He led his platoon to
successfully defeat the enemy gun crew.
When another platoon moved to Sergeant Bacon's location, its leader
was also wounded. Without hesitation, Sergeant Bacon took charge of the
additional platoon and continued the fight.
He is a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration,
the Medal of Honor, as well as numerous other distinctions.
Mr. Speaker, I am truly grateful for the brave and heroic service of
first Sergeant Nick Bacon and for all of those who serve and defend our
Nation every day.
I urge my colleagues to join me in strong support of this bill.
I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. CONNOLLY of Virgina. Mr. Speaker, as a member the House Committee
on Oversight and Government Reform, I'm very pleased to join my
[[Page H5111]]
colleagues in consideration of H.R. 3870, to designate the facility of
the U.S. Postal Service located at 6083 Highway 36 West in Rose Bud,
Arkansas, as the Nicky ``Nick'' Daniel Bacon Post Office.
Mr. Bacon served his tour of duty as my colleague from New York just
indicated. During his first tour of duty in Vietnam, a helicopter he
was riding in collided with another. All but First Sergeant Bacon and
one other soldier perished. But despite that fact, Sergeant Bacon did
not shrink from the call of duty and would go on to volunteer for a
second tour.
His bravery and his courage are certainly something that was
recognized by this country when he was awarded the Medal of Honor by
then-President Richard in Nixon in 1969.
He is deserving of this recognition, and I urge passage of H.R. 3870.
I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. BUERKLE. Mr. Speaker, I yield as much time as he may consume to
my distinguished colleague from the State of Arkansas (Mr. Griffin),
the sponsor of this legislation.
Mr. GRIFFIN of Arkansas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of my
bill, H.R. 3870, to designate the U.S. Post Office located at 6083
Highway 36 West in Rose Bud, Arkansas, as the Nicky ``Nick'' Daniel
Bacon Post Office.
Nick Bacon is one of Arkansas' finest sons, and he dedicated his life
to serving our country. Mr. Bacon was born in Caraway, Arkansas, on
November 25, 1945. In 1963, at the age of 17, he forged his mother's
signature so he could enlist in the Army. He went on to serve two tours
in Vietnam.
On August 26, 1968, while serving as a squad leader with the First
Platoon, Company B, in an operation west of Tam Ky, Mr. Bacon and his
unit came under fire. He destroyed an enemy position with hand
grenades, but his platoon leader was wounded in open ground. Without
hesitating, he assumed command and led the platoon in destroying still
more enemy emplacements.
When the third platoon leader was wounded, Mr. Bacon took command of
that platoon as well, leading both platoons against the remaining enemy
positions. During evacuation of the wounded, he climbed up on the deck
of a nearby tank, and from that vantage point, he directed fire into
enemy positions, all while exposed to enemy fire himself.
He personally is credited with destroying an anti-tank weapon and
moving the platoons forward so they could eliminate the enemy positions
and rescue soldiers trapped at the front. For his actions on that day,
Mr. Bacon received the Medal of Honor, which was presented to him by
President Richard Nixon during a ceremony at the White House in 1969.
Mr. Bacon also earned multiple awards for his accomplishments,
including the Distinguished Service Cross, the Legion of Merit, two
Bronze Stars, and a Purple Heart.
After retiring from active duty, he continued his service to America.
He served as the director of the Arkansas Department of Veterans
Affairs from 1993 until his retirement in 2005. During that time, Mr.
Bacon was essential to the development of the Arkansas State Veterans
Cemetery, and the Arkansas State Veterans Cemetery Beautification
Foundation. He also helped establish the Arkansas Veterans' Coalition.
Additionally, in 2004, Mr. Bacon was appointed by then-Speaker of the
House, Denny Hastert, to the Veterans' Disability Benefits Commission,
an independent, 13-member panel responsible for studying the military
system of compensating veterans for their injuries. The commission was
charged with ensuring that the compensation system was equitable and
fair.
Mr. Bacon passed away on July 17, 2010, after a long battle with
cancer. He was the last living Medal of Honor recipient from the State
of Arkansas, and he is survived by his wife, Tamera, and children and
grandchildren.
Mr. Bacon spent his final years as a resident of Rose Bud, Arkansas,
and we can honor his heroism, bravery, and service by installing a
permanent marker of his contribution to Arkansas and America. His
example is one all Americans and Arkansans can admire, and I urge my
colleagues to join me in supporting this bill to honor his legacy.
Mr. CONNOLLY of Virgina. Mr. Speaker, I certainly echo the sentiments
of our colleague from Arkansas and urge passage of H.R. 3870.
With no further speakers on this side, I yield back the balance of my
time.
Ms. BUERKLE. Mr. Speaker, I urge all Members to support the passage
of H.R. 3870, and I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentlewoman from New York (Ms. Buerkle) that the House suspend the
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 3870.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the
rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
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