[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 109 (Monday, July 14, 2014)]
[House]
[Pages H6156-H6157]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   HAROLD GEORGE BENNETT POST OFFICE

  Mr. GOSAR. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill 
(H.R. 4355) to designate the facility of the United States Postal 
Service located at 201 B Street in Perryville, Arkansas, as the 
``Harold George Bennett Post Office''.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 4355

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. HAROLD GEORGE BENNETT POST OFFICE.

       (a) Designation.--The facility of the United States Postal 
     Service located at 201 B Street in Perryville, Arkansas, 
     shall be known and designated as the ``Harold George Bennett 
     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 ``Harold George Bennett Post Office''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Arizona (Mr. Gosar) and the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Cummings) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Arizona.


                             General Leave

  Mr. GOSAR. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may 
have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks 
and to include extraneous material on the bill under consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Arizona?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. GOSAR. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, H.R. 4355, introduced by Representative Tim Griffin of 
Arkansas, would designate the facility of the United States Postal 
Service located at 201 B Street in Perryville, Arkansas, as the Harold 
George Bennett Post Office.
  Harold George Bennett was born in Thornburg, Arkansas, in 1940 and 
joined the Army in 1957 at the beginning of the Vietnam war. He 
continued his service when he volunteered to serve in South Vietnam as 
a Special Forces adviser. In late 1964, he was captured after a fierce 
firefight. After his capture, Bennett was a prisoner of war for 179 
days. He was executed by the Viet Cong on June 25, 1965, after injuring 
an enemy soldier after his third escape attempt. Bennett was 24 years 
old when he died, and he was the first American POW murdered in 
Vietnam. His remains have never been returned to the United States, but 
his bravery and perseverance will be remembered.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. CUMMINGS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to join my colleagues in the 
consideration of H.R. 4355, a bill to designate the facility of the 
United States Postal Service located at 201 B Street in Perryville, 
Arkansas, as the Harold George Bennett Post Office.
  Harold Bennett was born on October 16, 1940, in Perryville, Arkansas. 
Bennett and his brothers served in the United States Army. Sergeant 
George Bennett was trained as an airborne infantryman and served with 
the 82nd and 101st Airborne Divisions.
  While serving as an infantry adviser to South Vietnam's Army on 
December 29, 1964, he was airlifted to a village that had been overrun 
by the Viet Cong. Upon landing, Sergeant Bennett's unit was confronted 
by enemy forces, and Sergeant Bennett and his radio operator were 
captured. Sergeant Bennett was the first American prisoner of war to be 
executed by the Viet Cong.
  As a prisoner of war, Sergeant Bennett displayed remarkable courage, 
resistance, and devotion to his country. He was reportedly executed for 
injuring one of his captors during one of his three escape attempts. 
Sergeant Bennett was posthumously awarded the Silver Star.
  Mr. Speaker, we would urge all Members of the Congress to vote in 
favor of this legislation, and, with that, I yield back the balance of 
my time.
  Mr. GOSAR. Mr. Speaker, I yield as much time as he may consume to the 
gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Griffin), my distinguished colleague.
  Mr. GRIFFIN of Arkansas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of my 
bill, H.R. 4355, to designate the U.S. Post Office located at 201 B 
Street in Perryville, Arkansas, as the ``Harold George Bennett Post 
Office.''
  Staff Sergeant Harold George Bennett is one of Arkansas' finest sons, 
and he dedicated his life to serving our country. Sergeant Bennett was 
born on October 16, 1940, in Thornburg, Arkansas, a small town near the 
outskirts of the Ouachita National Forest. A graduate of Perryville 
High School, he enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1957.
  Sergeant Bennett served as an airborne infantryman with the 82nd and 
101st Airborne Divisions, where he earned his Master Parachute Wings 
and Expert Infantry Badge. He completed Special Forces training in 
1963, and in 1964, volunteered to serve in South Vietnam as a Special 
Forces adviser with the Military Assistance Command.
  On December 29, 1964, his unit was airlifted to a small village after 
it had been overrun by a division of Viet Cong. Immediately upon 
landing, Sergeant Bennett's unit was confronted by a well dug-in 
regiment of enemy forces, and despite fighting furiously and 
courageously throughout the afternoon, his unit was overrun. Concerned 
for the safety of his fellow servicemembers, he twice directed American 
helicopter pilots attempting to rescue him to stand down, and was 
captured by the Viet Cong.
  Sergeant Bennett spent 179 days as a POW and attempted to escape 
three times. During his last attempt, he injured an enemy soldier, and 
his captors executed him on June 25, 1965. As a

[[Page H6157]]

prisoner of war, the only thing more remarkable than the courageous 
resistance he displayed throughout his captivity was his steadfast 
devotion to duty, honor, and country. His faith in God and the trust of 
his fellow prisoners was unshakeable. Only 24 years old, Sergeant 
Bennett was the first American POW killed in Vietnam, and, like many 
other U.S. servicemen who lost their lives there, his remains have 
never been returned home.
  Nearly four decades later, in 2004, Sergeant Bennett was inducted 
into the Ranger Hall of Fame at Fort Benning. In 2006, his family was 
presented with his Combat Infantryman's Badge, National Defense Service 
Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Prisoner of War Medal, Army Good Conduct 
Medal, and Purple Heart. And in 2010, Sergeant Bennett's family was 
presented with his Silver Star.
  Mr. Speaker, Sergeant Bennett was a selfless young man who answered 
his Nation's call to service and placed duty and honor above all else. 
Although he may no longer be with us, the example and selflessness of 
this brave young Arkansan will forever live on in our hearts. While a 
grateful nation could never adequately express its indebtedness to men 
like Staff Sergeant Harold George Bennett, it should take every 
opportunity to honor them and their families for the sacrifice they 
have paid on our behalf.
  Mr. GOSAR. Mr. Speaker, I urge all Members to support the passage of 
H.R. 4355, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Gosar) that the House suspend the rules and 
pass the bill, H.R. 4355.
  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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