[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 28 (Tuesday, February 13, 2018)]
[House]
[Pages H1081-H1083]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
LEXINGTON VA HEALTH CARE SYSTEM
Mr. ROE of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and
pass the bill (H.R. 4533) to designate the health care system of the
Department of Veterans Affairs in Lexington, Kentucky, as the
``Lexington VA Health Care System'' and to make certain other
designations, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 4533
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. FINDINGS.
Congress finds the following:
(1)(A) Private First Class Franklin Runyon Sousley was born
on September 19, 1925, in Hilltop, Kentucky. Sousley served
as a marine in the United States Marine Corps during the
period beginning on January 5, 1944, and ending March 21,
1945. Sousley graduated from Fleming County High School in
May 1943 and chose to enlist in the United States Marine
Corps. Upon completion of military basic training, he was
assigned to Company E, 2d Battalion, 28th Marines, of the 5th
Marines Division at Camp Pendleton, California, as an
automatic rifleman.
(B) Private Sousley was promoted to a private first class
on November 22, 1944. Pfc. Sousley landed on Iwo Jima on
Friday, February 19, 1945, and actively fought in the battle
for the islands. During the intense fighting, members of the
United States Armed Forces secured Mount Suribachi and
hoisted a United States flag on top of the summit on February
23, 1945. On February 23, 1945, Pfc. Sousley, alongside
Corporal Harlon Block, HM John Bradley, Pfc. Rene Gagnon,
Pfc. Ira Hayes, and Sergeant Michael Strank followed orders
to raise a larger United States flag so it could be seen over
the island. The iconic photograph taken of the 6 men, while
they raised the United States flag attached to a heavy
Japanese pipe has led to an immortalized symbol of American
bravery, perseverance, and sacrifice endured by members of
the United States Armed Forces during the intense battles of
World War II. Pfc. Sousley was killed in combat by a Japanese
sniper around Kitano Point on March 21, 1945.
(C) Originally buried in the 5th Marine Division Cemetery
at Iwo Jima in plot 9, row 8, grave 2189, on March 22, 1945,
his remains were returned to the United States on May 8,
1947, where he was finally laid to rest at Elizaville
Cemetery in Fleming County, Kentucky. Pfc. Sousley was
posthumously awarded the Purple Heart, the Combat Action
Ribbon, the Presidential Unit Citation with \5/16\" Silver
Star, the American Campaign Medal, the Asiatic-Pacific
Campaign Medal with \3/16\" Bronze Star, and the World War II
Victory Medal.
(2)(A) Mr. Troy Bowling was born on July 2, 1926, in
Hamilton, Ohio and completed his life's service on June, 17,
2017, at the age of 90 years old. At age 17, Mr. Bowling
began his service as a United States Marine and was a proud
member of the Easy Company, 2nd Battalion, 27th Marines, 5th
Division. During the United States campaign to end the war
against Japan, Mr. Bowling's unit was among the first to
arrive on the beachheads of Iwo Jima.
(B) While attempting to secure Mt. Suribachi, his unit came
under intense and concentrated fire, completely overwhelming
his unit. Two projectiles struck Mr. Bowling in the chest and
leg, leaving him critically wounded on the battlefield. At
that moment, Mr. Bowling said he looked to the heavens and
committed to serving mankind for the rest of his life if he
survived.
(C) Miraculously, a combat photographer and medical team
then carried Mr. Bowling to the safety of a landing craft
where he witnessed the planting of the American flag atop Mt.
Suribachi--an iconic image that persists as one of the most
legendary and triumphant moments of the war. The United
States Marines eventually took control of the island;
however, this victory came at a heavy cost as more than 6,800
United States service members gave their lives during the
battle of Iwo Jima.
(D) In keeping faith with his commitment to God made during
that battle, Mr. Bowling devoted more than 78,000 hours of
volunteer service to others at the Lexington VA Medical
Center. For more than 66 years, Mr. Bowling has risen through
the ranks within the Disabled American Veterans (DAV)
organization, holding nearly every position possible,
including State Commander. Mr. Bowling received the George H.
Seal Award for outstanding volunteer, which he received at
[[Page H1082]]
the 2005 National DAV Convention in Las Vegas and the
Lifetime Service Achievement Award from the Department of
Veteran Affairs. Mr. Bowling was also nominated and selected
to be inducted in the Kentucky Veterans Hall of Fame for his
lifetime of service to veterans.
SEC. 2. LEXINGTON VA HEALTH CARE SYSTEM.
(a) Designation.--The health care system of the Department
of Veterans Affairs in Lexington, Kentucky, shall after the
date of the enactment of this Act be known and designated as
the ``Lexington VA Health Care System''.
(b) References.--Any reference in any law, regulation, map,
document, paper, or other record of the United States to the
health care system referred to in subsection (a) shall be
deemed to be a reference to the ``Lexington VA Health Care
System''.
SEC. 3. TROY BOWLING CAMPUS.
(a) Designation.--The health care facility of the
Department of Veterans Affairs located at 1101 Veterans Drive
in Lexington, Kentucky, shall after the date of the enactment
of this Act be known and designated as the ``Troy Bowling
Campus''.
(b) References.--Any reference in any law, regulation, map,
document, paper, or other record of the United States to the
health care facility referred to in subsection (a) shall be
deemed to be a reference to the ``Troy Bowling Campus''.
SEC. 4. FRANKLIN R. SOUSLEY CAMPUS.
(a) Designation.--The health care facility of the
Department of Veterans Affairs located at 2250 Leestown Road
in Lexington, Kentucky, shall after the date of the enactment
of this Act be known and designated as the ``Franklin R.
Sousley Campus''.
(b) References.--Any reference in any law, regulation, map,
document, paper, or other record of the United States to the
health care facility referred to in subsection (a) shall be
deemed to be a reference to the ``Franklin R. Sousley
Campus''.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Tennessee (Mr. Roe) and the gentleman from California (Mr. Takano) 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 have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their
remarks.
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.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 4533, as amended, a bill
to designate the collective healthcare facilities of the Department of
Veterans Affairs, VA, in Lexington, Kentucky, as the Lexington VA
Health Care System; to designate the Lexington VA Medical Center
Leestown Division as the Franklin R. Sousley Campus; and to designate
the Lexington VA Medical Center Cooper Division as the Troy Bowling
Campus.
The bill is sponsored by my good friend Congressman Andy Barr from
Kentucky, and I am grateful to him for introducing this legislation in
honor of two American heroes.
One healthcare facility of the Department of Veterans Affairs located
at 2250 Leestown Road in Lexington, Kentucky, would be named the
Franklin R. Sousley Campus in honor of Private First Class Franklin
Runyon Sousley.
Private First Class Sousley was born in Hilltop, Kentucky, and became
a marine in 1944. Following basic training, he was assigned to the
newly formed Fifth Marine Division at Camp Pendleton, California, and
slated for the upcoming invasion of Iwo Jima.
A force of 70,000 marines, including Private First Class Sousley,
landed on February 19, 1945, on the south side of the island of Iwo
Jima. On the fourth day of the invasion, Private First Class Sousley
was one of the six men in the famous photograph of United States
Marines raising the flag on Mount Suribachi. Tragically, he was killed
in action by a Japanese sniper 27 days later.
Private First Class Sousley was posthumously awarded the Purple
Heart, the Combat Action Ribbon, the Presidential Unit Citation with a
Silver Star, the American Campaign Medal, the Asiatic Pacific Campaign
Medal with a Bronze Star, and the World War II Victory Medal.
The other healthcare facility of the Department of Veterans Affairs,
located at 1101 Veterans Drive in Lexington, Kentucky, would be named
the Troy Bowling Campus in honor of Private Troy Bowling.
Private Troy Bowling was born in Hamilton, Ohio, and was another
proud marine who served during World War II. Private Bowling's unit was
among the first to land at the beaches of Iwo Jima. His unit came under
intense and concentrated fire, completely overwhelming his unit.
Two projectiles struck Mr. Bowling, leaving him critically wounded on
the battlefield. At that moment, Private Bowling said he looked to the
heavens and committed to serving mankind for the rest of his life if he
survived. Miraculously, a combat photographer and medical team then
carried Mr. Bowling to the safety of a landing craft, where he
witnessed the planting of the American flag atop Mount Suribachi.
Private Bowling followed through on his battlefield promise to God,
devoting over 78,000 hours of volunteer service at the Lexington VA
Medical Center and rising through the ranks of the Disabled American
Veterans, eventually holding nearly every position possible, including
state commander.
At the 2005 DAV National Convention, Private Bowling received the
George H. Seal Award for outstanding volunteer and the VA Lifetime
Service Achievement Award. Mr. Bowling was also nominated and selected
to be inducted into the Kentucky Veterans Hall of Fame for his lifetime
of service to veterans.
After a life of service to our Nation and his brothers and sisters in
arms, he passed away on June 17, 2017.
Mr. Speaker, it is only fitting and appropriate that, a week before
the 73rd anniversary of the invasion of Iwo Jima, we honor both these
heroes by naming the two VA medical center campuses in Lexington,
Kentucky, after them. This legislation satisfies all the committee's
naming criteria and is cosponsored by the entire Kentucky congressional
delegation and supported by many Kentucky veteran service
organizations. I am proud to support it, as well, and urge my
colleagues to join me.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may
consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to support H.R. 4533, which designates the
healthcare system of the Department of Veterans Affairs in Lexington,
Kentucky, as the Lexington VA Health Care System.
However, it is two other designations in this bill that I wish to
highlight because they honor the memories of two extraordinary Greatest
Generation heroes from Kentucky: Troy Bowling and Franklin R. Sousley.
H.R. 4533 names two campuses in the Lexington, Kentucky, healthcare
system after these brave marines.
Seventy-three years ago this month, United States Marines landed on
the Pacific island of Iwo Jima and engaged the Japanese forces in some
of the most intense and costly fighting of World War II. Among them
were Troy Bowling and Franklin R. Sousley, just teenagers at the time.
Bowling's unit was among the first to arrive on Iwo Jima. On the
second day, he was critically wounded by mortars and eventually
evacuated to the beach, where he received lifesaving care and witnessed
the raising of the American flag atop Mount Suribachi. Lying wounded on
that beach, Mr. Bowling made a deal with God that, if he survived, he
would spend his life in the service of others.
He kept that promise over the next 72 years through more than 78,000
hours of volunteer service at the Lexington VA Medical Center. In his
work with the Disabled American Veterans, he has held nearly
every position possible, including state commander, among others; and
he is the recipient of the Lifetime Service Achievement Award from the
Department of Veterans Affairs.
Now, upon his arrival on the island of Iwo Jima, Private Sousley was
also involved in intense, concentrated fighting. Eventually, as we all
know, American forces prevailed. Private Sousley was among the six
marines proudly hoisting that flag. Tragically, less than a month
later, he would be killed in action. Highly decorated for bravery,
Private Sousley is now buried in the Elizaville Cemetery in Fleming
County, Kentucky.
These two men are the personification of duty, patriotism, and self-
sacrifice. It is entirely appropriate that the two campuses of the
Lexington VA Health Care System be named in their honor.
[[Page H1083]]
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. ROE of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman
from Kentucky (Mr. Barr), who is my good friend and Mr. Bowling's
Congressman from Lexington.
Mr. BARR. Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Roe for his tireless
leadership as a veteran himself, as a physician, and for his
exceptional leadership on veterans issues as chairman of the committee.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 4533, to designate the
healthcare system of the Department of Veterans Affairs in Lexington,
Kentucky, my hometown, as the Lexington VA Health Care System and to
individually designate medical facilitates located at 1101 Veterans
Drive in Lexington, Kentucky, as the Troy Bowling Campus, a campus
where my own grandfather, a World War II veteran, spent his final days;
and to designate the Department of Veterans Affairs Healthcare Center
located at 2250 Leestown Road in Lexington, Kentucky, as the Franklin
R. Sousley Campus.
Born in Hilltop, Kentucky, Marine Private First Class Franklin R.
Sousley landed on Iwo Jima on Friday, February 19, 1945, and he
actively fought in the battle for the islands. During these intense
fighting moments, members of the United States Armed Forces secured
Mount Suribachi and hoisted a United States flag on top of the summit.
On February 23, 1945, Private First Class Sousley, alongside five
other brave U.S. servicemembers, raised a larger U.S. flag so it could
be seen over the island. The iconic photograph taken of these six
marines while they raised the U.S. flag attached to a heavy Japanese
pipe soon became the immortalized symbol of American bravery,
perseverance, and sacrifice endured by members of the United States
Armed Forces during the intense battles of World War II.
Tragically, Private First Class Sousley was killed in combat by a
Japanese sniper around Cayetano Point on March 21, 1945, and was
finally laid to rest at the Elizaville Cemetery in Fleming County,
Kentucky. I have been to that grave site many times. The VFW in Fleming
County always, on an annual basis, goes out there to pay their respects
to the Sousley family right at that grave site.
Private Troy Bowling bravely fought at Iwo Jima. While attempting to
secure Mount Suribachi, his unit came under intense and concentrated
fire, as was previously said, completely overwhelming his unit. Two
projectiles struck Private Bowling in the chest and leg, leaving him
critically wounded on the battlefield. At that moment, Bowling said:
``As I lay bleeding on the black sands of Iwo Jima, I looked to the
heavens, promising that, if I survived, I would serve mankind for the
rest of my life.''
Troy's unit received the Presidential Unit Citation, and he received
the Purple Heart. In keeping faith with his commitment to God made
during that battle, Private Bowling, whom I had the honor of meeting on
several occasions, devoted the next 66 years of his life by giving over
78,000 hours of volunteer service to others at the Lexington VA Medical
Center, and he rose through the ranks within the Disabled American
Veterans organization, holding nearly every position, including state
commander.
He also received a Lifetime Service Achievement Award from the
Department of Veterans Affairs and was nominated and selected to be
inducted into the Kentucky Veterans Hall of Fame for his lifetime of
service to veterans.
These two deserving veterans, Franklin Sousley and Troy Bowling,
embody the best of American ideals, values, and commitment to serving
others, never abandoning the marine motto of ``semper fidelis,'' always
faithful. Therefore, it is fitting that we rename the Lexington VA
Medical Center campuses during the 73rd anniversary of the landing of
the U.S. forces on the beaches of Iwo Jima and honor these two
servicemembers for their service and sacrifice to our country and to
our veterans.
I would like to thank the members of the Sixth Congressional District
Veterans Coalition for bringing the idea for this legislation to my
attention. I would also like to thank my colleagues in the Kentucky
congressional delegation--Leader Mitch McConnell, Senator Rand Paul,
Congressman Hal Rogers, Congressman John Yarmuth, Congressman Brett
Guthrie, Congressman Thomas Massie, and Congressman James Comer--for
their support as well.
Mr. Speaker, in closing, I urge my colleagues in the House to support
the passage of this meaningful legislation honoring veterans in
Kentucky.
Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I urge my
colleagues to join me in passing this meaningful piece of legislation.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
{time} 1545
Mr. ROE of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my
time.
Mr. Speaker, once again, I encourage all Members to support this
legislation. From this Army veteran, I wish Private Sousley and Private
Bowling to rest in peace. Semper fi.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
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, H.R. 4533, as amended.
The question was taken.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
Mr. ROE of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and
nays.
The yeas and nays were ordered.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further
proceedings on this motion will be postponed.
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