[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 187 (Wednesday, November 15, 2017)]
[House]
[Pages H9295-H9296]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
ROBERT H. JENKINS POST OFFICE
Mr. COMER. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill
(H.R. 3893) to designate the facility of the United States Postal
Service located at 100 Mathe Avenue in Interlachen, Florida, as the
``Robert H. Jenkins Post Office'', as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 3893
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. ROBERT H. JENKINS, JR. POST OFFICE.
(a) Designation.--The facility of the United States Postal
Service located at 100 Mathe Avenue in Interlachen, Florida,
shall be known and designated as the ``Robert H. Jenkins, Jr.
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 ``Robert H. Jenkins, Jr. Post Office''.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Kentucky (Mr. Comer) and the gentlewoman from New Jersey (Mrs. Watson
Coleman) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Kentucky.
General Leave
Mr. COMER. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may
have 5 legislative days in 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 Kentucky?
There was no objection.
Mr. COMER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 3893, introduced by the
gentleman from Florida (Mr. Yoho).
The bill names the United States Post Office located at 100 Mathe
Avenue in Interlachen, Florida, after U.S. Marine Private First Class
Robert H. Jenkins, Jr., who was killed in action during the Vietnam
war.
Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman
from Florida (Mr. Yoho) to further describe the bill and Private First
Class Jenkins' service to our country.
Mr. YOHO. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for yielding.
Mr. Speaker, I urge passage of my bill, H.R. 3893, which renames the
post office in Interlachen, Florida, to honor a great American hero,
Robert H. Jenkins, Jr.
Robert H. Jenkins, Jr., enlisted in the Marines in February of 1968.
In July of that year, as a Private First Class, he was transferred to
the Republic of Vietnam.
Serving as a machine gunner with Company C, south of the
demilitarized zone, he was killed in action.
On March 5, 1969, his reconnaissance team was assaulted by a North
Vietnamese Army platoon. During the firefight, a hand grenade was
thrown at him and a comrade. Realizing the consequences of his actions,
Private First Class Jenkins, Jr., pushed his comrade to the ground and
leapt on the hand grenade to shield him from the explosion. Absorbing
the full impact of the blast, he was seriously injured and succumbed to
his wounds.
John 15:13 states:
Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one's life
for one's friend.
On April 20, 1970, the Medal of Honor was presented to his family at
the White House by Vice President Agnew.
Private First Class Jenkins, Jr., is buried at Sister Spring Baptist
Cemetery in Interlachen, Florida.
The sacrifice Private First Class Jenkins, Jr., made cannot be
understated. Naming his hometown post office after him is just one
small way we as a nation can continue to honor this American hero.
Mrs. WATSON COLEMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to join my colleagues in consideration of
H.R. 3893, a bill to designate the facility of the United States Post
Office located at 100 Mathe Avenue in Interlachen, Florida, as the
Robert H. Jenkins Post Office.
Robert Jenkins joined the United States Marine Corps in Jacksonville,
Florida, in February of 1968.
After completing training at Camp Lejeune, Robert was assigned to the
3rd Marine Division in Vietnam. There he served as a scout, driver,
machine gunner for Company C in an area south of the demilitarized
zone.
In the early morning of March 5, 1969, Private First Class Jenkins'
team was suddenly attacked by the North Vietnamese Army. While Private
First Class Jenkins and a fellow marine returned machine gun fire, a
hand grenade was thrown at their location.
In an act of pure selflessness, Private First Class Jenkins threw
himself on top of his fellow marine, shielding him from the explosion,
while absorbing the full force himself. Tragically, Private First Class
was gravely wounded and died soon after.
Private First Class Jenkins was posthumously awarded the Medal of
Honor for his valiant actions in April 1970.
Mr. Speaker, we should pass this bill to honor the valiant actions of
Private First Class Jenkins and to remember his courage and
selflessness devotion to his fellow marines.
Mr. Speaker, I urge passage of H.R. 3893. I have no further speakers,
and I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. COMER. Mr. Speaker, I urge adoption of H.R. 3893, and I yield
back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Kentucky (Mr. Comer) that the House suspend the rules
and pass the bill, H.R. 3893, as amended.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the
rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
[[Page H9296]]
The title of the bill was amended so as to read: ``A bill to
designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at
100 Mathe Avenue in Interlachen, Florida, as the `Robert H. Jenkins,
Jr. Post Office'.''.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
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