[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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