[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 149 (Tuesday, December 9, 2014)]
[House]
[Page H8874]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     PAYING TRIBUTE TO MASTER GUNNERY SERGEANT JIMMY MILLS HARGROVE

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Virginia (Mr. Rigell) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. RIGELL. Mr. Speaker, it is a special and high honor to be in this 
Chamber of the people's House to honor, to remember, and to pay 
respectful tribute to a most remarkable American, a true patriot, and 
one of the finest marines I have ever known, Master Gunnery Sergeant 
Jimmy Hargrove. He was a dear friend of mine and my family.
  Jimmy was enlisted. He was an enlisted marine. This is my father, 
Ike; he is also an enlisted marine. He is doing great at the age of 91. 
He is an Iwo Jima veteran. There is something about enlisted marines, 
when we meet each other, we often ask, ``Are you a Parris Island 
marine?'' I was.
  If you are a Parris Island marine, you usually give the other 
alternative, which is this. You say, ``Or are you a Hollywood marine?'' 
That is, did you go through boot camp in San Diego?
  Well, that question applies to virtually all enlisted marines, but 
there are some whom that question really doesn't apply to because the 
answer is neither Parris Island nor San Diego, but it is a different 
place they went to boot camp, Montford Point, North Carolina.
  From 1942 to 1949, 20,000 young African American men, young Black men 
from across our country like Jimmy, didn't go to Parris Island or San 
Diego. He went to Montford Point, and that is where he endured the 
training that defines, shapes, and molds young men and women now into 
marines--fully segregated units.
  These marines have gone on to fight in our Nation's battles. Jimmy, 
for example, fought in Korea and then Vietnam. Some have been 
grievously wounded. Many gave the ultimate sacrifice for our Nation.
  It was fitting and proper, Mr. Speaker, when in 2012 this body and 
the Senate unanimously passed legislation which President Obama then 
signed into law which gave to all Montford Point marines, all surviving 
Montford Point marines, the Congressional Gold Medal. It was a 
privilege to be at that ceremony. Jimmy took great pride in this, and 
he was there as well with his family and his wife, Cheryl.
  There is no question, Mr. Speaker, that we are a better, stronger, 
and safer America because of our Montford Point marines, and we are a 
better, safer, and stronger America because of the life of Jimmy 
Hargrove.
  This picture from 2013 at the Marine Corps ball is one of my favorite 
pictures. It shows the bond between two marines, really one generation 
to the next. I consider it an honor to pay tribute to him today.
  Yesterday, Jimmy was laid to rest in Arlington. It is fitting that he 
is there in Arlington in eternal rest. What I really remember about 
Jimmy and think about is--it is not pictured in this picture, but his 
smile, Jimmy's smile. He was always so optimistic, and though he knew 
the bitter fruit of segregation, he, himself, was not bitter.
  He was fully optimistic about our Nation, and he fought for our 
Nation even after his retirement. He engaged in shaping public policy 
and shaping the way our country is headed. I deeply respect him for 
this. He did not yield to apathy's seductive call, but he chose to 
continue to fight for his country.
  We marines are a proud lot. It is even embedded in our Marines' Hymn. 
The last verse is:

     If the Army and the Navy
     Ever look on Heaven's scenes;
     They will find the streets are guarded
     By United States Marines.

  I think of Jimmy as still being on duty and in Heaven as well. He was 
a man of deep faith, and so I would say to my friend, in respect for 
his life and his service to our country, ``Master Gunnery Hargrove, 
mission accomplished. Job well done, marine. Semper Fidelis. Semper 
Fi.''
  May God grant eternal rest to this fine American, and may God also 
provide a special measure of comfort and grace to his wife, Cheryl, and 
their entire family.

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