[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
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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,
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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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