[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 148 (Monday, December 8, 2014)]
[House]
[Pages H8857-H8859]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                CORPORAL MICHAEL J. CRESCENZ ACT OF 2013

  Mr. ROE of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and 
pass the bill (S. 229) to designate the medical center of the 
Department of Veterans Affairs located at 3900 Woodland Avenue in 
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, as the ``Corporal Michael J. Crescenz 
Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center''.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                                 S. 229

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

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Corporal Michael J. Crescenz 
     Act of 2013''.

     SEC. 2. CORPORAL MICHAEL J. CRESCENZ DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS 
                   AFFAIRS MEDICAL CENTER.

       (a) Designation.--The medical center of the Department of 
     Veterans Affairs located at 3900 Woodland Avenue in 
     Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, shall after the date of the 
     enactment of this Act be known and designated as the 
     ``Corporal Michael J. Crescenz Department of Veterans Affairs 
     Medical Center''.
       (b) References.--Any reference in any law, regulation, map, 
     document, paper, or other record of the United States to the 
     medical center referred to in subsection (a) shall be 
     considered to be a reference to the Corporal Michael J. 
     Crescenz Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Tennessee (Mr. Roe) and the gentlewoman from Illinois (Mrs. Bustos) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Tennessee.


                             General Leave

  Mr. ROE of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all 
Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their 
remarks on S. 229.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Tennessee?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. ROE of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  I rise in support of S. 229, which would name the VA Medical Center 
located at 3900 Woodland Avenue in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, as the 
Corporal Michael J. Crescenz Department of Veterans Affairs Medical 
Center.
  Corporal Crescenz was the only Philadelphia native to earn the Medal 
of Honor during the Vietnam war. His posthumous award of the Medal of 
Honor resulted from an act of heroism in the Republic of Vietnam on 
November 20, 1968.
  Reading from Corporal Crescenz's Medal of Honor citation:

       In the morning, his unit engaged a large, well-entrenched 
     force of the North Vietnamese Army whose initial burst of 
     fire pinned down the lead squad and killed the two point men, 
     halting the advance of Company A.
       Immediately, Corporal Crescenz left the relative safety of 
     his own position, seized a nearby machinegun and, with 
     complete disregard for his own safety, charged 100 meters up 
     a slope toward the enemy's bunkers, which he effectively 
     silenced, killing two occupants in each.
       Undaunted by the withering machinegun fire around him, 
     Corporal Crescenz courageously moved forward toward a third 
     bunker, which he also succeeded in silencing, killing two 
     more of the enemy and momentarily clearing the route of 
     advance for his comrades.
       As a direct result of his heroic actions, his company was 
     able to maneuver freely with minimal danger and complete its 
     mission, defeating the enemy.
       Corporal Crescenz's bravery and extraordinary heroism at 
     the cost of his life are in the highest traditions of 
     military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his 
     unit, and the United States Army.

  Naming the Philadelphia VA Medical Center after this American hero is 
a tribute to his legacy and to all residents who served with our Nation 
during the Vietnam war.
  It is my pleasure to support S. 229, and I am grateful for the 
leadership and support of Chairman Miller, Ranking Member Michaud, 
Senator Toomey, and the entire Pennsylvania delegation.
  I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring this hero by supporting 
this bill.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mrs. BUSTOS. Mr. Speaker, at this time, I yield 5 minutes to the 
gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Fattah).
  Mr. FATTAH. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding.
  We have come to this floor on any number of occasions honoring 
people, but I think this may be the noblest moment that I have risen on 
the floor, because, in this instance, it is not to name a stamp after 
Wilt Chamberlain from Philadelphia or the train station after 
Congressman Gray, but this is to acknowledge a young man who graduated 
from high school in 1966 and, within a year or so, joined, enlisted, 
and went off to war on behalf of his country in a faraway place.
  He finished at Cardinal Dougherty High School. He played varsity 
baseball there. He played basketball in a summer league at Simons 
Recreation Center. He grew up in West Oak Lane in my district, on the 
7400 block of Thouron Avenue.
  But the Corporal Crescenz whom we honor today is someone who, even 
though he was only in country for just a mere few months, when this 
attack took place, he grabbed a machinegun and he went towards the 
fire. It has been recounted when President Nixon awarded him the Medal 
of Honor, he took out one machinegun nest, he took out another, he then 
took out a third. Then when a camouflaged artillery post opened up, he 
charged at it, and that is when he took this mortal round.
  But this is a young man who really, I think, represents everything 
that is important about American ideals because he lived a life of 
service on behalf of his country. He took it on himself to

[[Page H8858]]

face challenge in a faraway place. He honors us even in his death, 
which was a long, long time ago, by giving us the honor to be able to 
rise and to acknowledge his courage.
  Our city lost a lot of people in the Vietnam war. This is the only 
soldier to earn the Medal of Honor.
  I want to thank Councilman David Oh, who is a member of the 
Republican Party on our city council--it is hard to be a Republican and 
get elected in Philadelphia--but who helped to raise this issue 
locally.
  I want to thank all of the Pennsylvania Members. We introduced a 
bill, H.R. 454. Every single Member of the Pennsylvania delegation 
supported this.
  I have visited the Philadelphia VA. I have talked to veterans there 
who are getting care, all of whom are proud to have served our country. 
I think that they will be proud that the name of the medical center 
will be named after this young corporal who didn't make it in the 
headlines but, today, he is at the very forefront of the work of the 
United States Congress as we honor his service and we honor his family 
by this naming bill.
  Mr. ROE of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mrs. BUSTOS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  I have no further speakers at this time.
  The veterans of Philadelphia have for some time been trying to gain 
recognition for their brother in arms, and I thank the Pennsylvania 
delegation for their work in bringing this bill to the floor.
  I urge all my colleagues to join me in supporting S. 229, and I yield 
back the balance of my time.
  Mr. ROE of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman 
from Pennsylvania, Pat Meehan, my friend.
  Mr. MEEHAN. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding.
  I also thank my colleague from Philadelphia, the distinguished 
gentleman, who has been a strong supporter of this important bill. I 
rise in strong support of S. 229, which is the Corporal Michael J. 
Crescenz Act of 2013.
  As has been identified, the legislation would rename the Woodland 
Avenue Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Philadelphia after Corporal 
Crescenz. As has been identified, he is Philadelphia's only Medal of 
Honor recipient from the Vietnam era from Cardinal Dougherty High 
School, which had contributed more young men who gave their lives in 
the service of their country during the Vietnam war than any high 
school in the Nation, so this is quite a distinction.
  I visited, as have my colleagues, numerous times the veterans medical 
center, making sure that it ensures the veterans receive the care they 
deserve.
  But I think one of the things that is important about this kind of a 
recognition is not only that it has been earned with valor, but the 
veterans who walk in and out of there each day, many of them Vietnam 
veterans themselves, want to hear the story about Corporal Crescenz. 
His name will be enshrined, people will know about it, and his heroism 
will live and continue to live.

  Mr. FATTAH. Will the gentleman yield?
  Mr. MEEHAN. I yield to the gentleman from Pennsylvania.
  Mr. FATTAH. I missed the opportunity, and I should acknowledge the 
strong contribution of Congressman Bob Brady in this effort, along with 
yourself and Congressman Fitzpatrick. I neglected in my early remarks 
to do so, so if I could lay that on the Record. This would not have 
happened without Congressman Brady's support.
  Mr. MEEHAN. Mr. Speaker, reclaiming my time, I also want to express 
my appreciation. I think it is one of the endearing factors. While we 
from time to time may have strong disagreements about issues, we 
actually have had many more that we have been able to work together on. 
This is one that I am proud to support.
  I will conclude by saying that this was undoubtedly an act in which 
he not only acted selflessly for himself, but he saved his fellow 
warfighters from harm.
  I would like to commend those who have worked tirelessly on renaming 
this facility, and I hope that my colleagues will support this measure.
  Mr. ROE of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, at this time, I yield 2 minutes to 
the gentleman from Pennsylvania, Michael Fitzpatrick, my friend, to 
speak on this issue.
  Mr. FITZPATRICK. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman.
  I also am very pleased to join with my colleagues in both the House 
and the Senate in advancing legislation which will, we hope, appear on 
the President's desk to honor the service and sacrifice, the very 
significant sacrifice, of Corporal Michael Crescenz, whom, as we have 
heard many times here today, was Philadelphia's sole Medal of Honor 
winner during the Vietnam war.
  I want to also thank my friend, Mr. Fattah, for his work in getting 
the bill to the floor here today.
  Corporal Crescenz received a Medal of Honor for his actions on 
November 20, 1968, in Vietnam's Hiep Duc Valley. His citation states--
and I know the citation was already quoted here today, but I think it 
bears repeating, at least in part--that Corporal Crescenz gave his life 
when he ``left the relative safety of his own position, seized a nearby 
machinegun and, with complete disregard for his safety, charged 100 
meters up a slope toward the enemy's bunkers, which he effectively 
silenced. As a direct result of his heroic actions, his company was 
able to maneuver freely with minimal danger and to complete its 
mission, defeating the enemy.''
  By moving to rename the Philadelphia Veterans Affairs Medical Center 
the Corporal Michael J. Crescenz Department of Veterans Affairs Medical 
Center, we immortalize the legacy of Corporal Crescenz and remember his 
sacrifice in the defense of our freedom.
  Mr. Speaker, the Philadelphia region has a long and proud tradition 
of selfless sacrifice to our Nation dating back to the Revolution. 
Generations of military members have called our area home, and they 
continue to serve today. We must continue to recognize those who 
sacrifice and those who gave their lives at the altar of freedom.
  Corporal Crescenz continues to have many friends, led by Joe Griffies 
and his friends at the Welcome Home Veterans radio program, who have 
never forgotten Michael Crescenz and have fought tirelessly as well for 
this legislation.
  Mr. Fattah's Corporal Michael J. Crescenz's Department of Veterans 
Affairs Medical Center legislation reminds us all that the 
contributions of our Nation's veterans should never be forgotten.
  Mr. ROE of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers. I will 
close by saying I can't think of anything more appropriate than naming 
this VA medical center after this Medal of Honor winner. I am a 
Vietnam-era veteran, lost a lot of friends in the war in Vietnam. It is 
difficult for me to even talk about it. I can't think of anything more 
appropriate than naming this great medical center after this hero from 
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
  Once again, Mr. Speaker, I encourage all Members to support S. 229.
  With that, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of 
the Corporal Michael J. Crescenz Act of 2013, to rename the 
Philadelphia VA Medical Center in honor of Medal of Honor recipient and 
Philadelphia native Corporal Michael Crescenz.
  Mr. Speaker, I am grateful that we are able to bring this long 
overdue honor to a great Philadelphian and a worthy American hero. I 
have been working to accomplish this renaming since I first drafted 
legislation in 2012, and I am thankful that my colleagues Congressman 
Fattah and Senator Toomey, as well as the rest of the Pennsylvania 
delegation, have joined me in this important endeavor.
  Mr. Speaker, Corporal Michael J. Crescenz is the only Philadelphia-
born recipient of the Medal of Honor, our nation's highest military 
honor, from the Vietnam War. Born on January 14, 1949 to Mary Ann and 
Charles Crescenz, Michael grew up in the West Oak Lane neighborhood of 
Philadelphia and went on to graduate from Cardinal Dougherty High 
School Class of 1966. He enlisted in the US Army in September 1968, the 
same month that his older brother Charles was discharged from active 
duty.
  According to his Medal of Honor citation, 19-year old Cpl. Crescenz's 
platoon came under attack on November 20, 1968, in Vietnam's Hiep Duc 
Valley. Rather than remain in the relative safety of his position, Cpl. 
Crescenz seized a nearby machine gun,

[[Page H8859]]

charged toward the enemy's position, and silenced two bunkers. He then 
courageously advanced toward a third bunker, which he also silenced, 
clearing a route for his comrades. Shortly thereafter, gunfire emerged 
from a fourth, unseen bunker, and in order to protect his fellow 
soldiers, Cpl. Crescenz advanced on the position, firing with his 
machine gun. He was mortally wounded when he was just 5 meters away 
from the camouflaged bunker. His selfless actions allowed his company 
to maneuver freely to complete its mission, ultimately defeating the 
enemy.
  President Nixon posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor to Cpl. 
Crescenz in April, 1970 for his gallantry and intrepidity in action. 
Now, 46 years after his heroic stand, we again humbly recognize the 
sacrifice of Cpl. Crescenz, along with the sacrifice of all those who 
paid the ultimate price in Vietnam and in all wars in defense of our 
nation.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Roe) that the House suspend the rules and 
pass the bill, S. 229.
  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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