[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 73 (Monday, May 7, 2018)]
[House]
[Pages H3756-H3757]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
J. ELLIOTT WILLIAMS POST OFFICE BUILDING
Mr. RUSSELL. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
bill (H.R. 4301) to designate the facility of the United States Postal
Service located at 201 Tom Hall Street in Fort Mill, South Carolina, as
the ``J. Elliott Williams Post Office Building''.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 4301
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. J. ELLIOTT WILLIAMS POST OFFICE BUILDING.
(a) Designation.--The facility of the United States Postal
Service located at 201 Tom Hall Street in Fort Mill, South
Carolina, shall be known and designated as the ``J. Elliott
Williams Post Office Building''.
(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 ``J. Elliott Williams Post Office
Building''.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Oklahoma (Mr. Russell) and the gentleman from Illinois (Mr.
Krishnamoorthi) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Oklahoma.
General Leave
Mr. RUSSELL. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members
may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their
remarks and include extraneous material on the bill under
consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Oklahoma?
There was no objection.
Mr. RUSSELL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 4301, introduced by
Congressman Norman. The bill names the United States Post Office at 201
Tom Hall Street in Fort Mill, South Carolina, after Chief Petty Officer
James Elliott Williams.
Petty Officer Williams was born in Fort Mill, South Carolina, on
November 13, 1930. He joined the United States Navy at the young age of
16 and served for 20 years.
Chief Petty Officer Williams was awarded the Medal of Honor by
President Lyndon Johnson in 1968 for his actions during the Vietnam
war. He is just one of three sailors of Native American heritage to
receive the Medal of Honor in the 20th century.
Chief Petty Officer Williams is an American hero, and we thank him
and owe a great debt of gratitude for his service. I look forward to
hearing more about Chief Petty Officer Williams from the sponsor of the
bill, Congressman Norman, in a few minutes, and I reserve the balance
of my time.
Mr. KRISHNAMOORTHI. 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. 4301, to designate the facility of the United States Postal
Service located at 201 Tom Hall Street in Fort Mill, South Carolina, as
the J. Elliott Williams Post Office Building.
James Williams led a life of service dedicated to our country. He
served 20 years in the U.S. Navy and in both the Korean and Vietnam
wars.
In addition to receiving every sea service award for heroism, James
was awarded the Medal of Honor by President Lyndon Johnson in 1968.
After retiring from the military, James served as a U.S. marshal for
20 years.
Mr. Speaker, we should pass this bill to honor James Williams'
lifelong service to his country. I urge the passage of H.R. 4301, and I
yield back the balance of my time.
{time} 1700
Mr. RUSSELL. Mr. Speaker, I urge adoption of the bill, and I yield
back the balance of my time.
Mr. NORMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of my bill H.R.
4301, A bill to designate the facility of the United States Postal
Service located at 201 Tom Hall Street, in Fort Mill, South Carolina,
as the ``J. Elliot Williams Post Office Building.''
James Elliot Williams was born in Fort Mill, South Carolina and lived
an extraordinary life, in service to our nation. James served in the
United States Navy for 20 years. During his tenure, James served in and
during the Cold
[[Page H3757]]
War, the Korean War, the Cuban Missile Crisis, and the Vietnam War.
One example of his heroic actions occurred during the Vietnam War,
when he and his men fought off enemy combatants behind enemy lines for
three hours in South Vietnam. Under James' leadership, the American
Naval force, killed roughly one thousand Viet Cong guerrillas,
destroyed over 60 vessels, and disrupted a major enemy logistic
operation.
James retired on April 26, 1967 as the most highly decorated enlisted
sailor in the history of the United States Navy. He was the recipient
of multiple awards during his service in the Navy, including the Navy
Cross, Silver Star, Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart, Korean Service
Modal and the United Nations Service Medal and during his last seven
months in the Navy, James received every sea-service award for heroism.
On May 14, 1968, President Lyndon B. Johnson, in the name of
Congress, presented James Elliot Williams the Medal of Honor. In the
20th century, three sailors of American Indian heritage received the
medal--James was one of the three.
Mr. Speaker it is my privilege to put forth this legislation with the
entire South Carolina delegation--to honor the life of service and
sacrifice of James Elliot Williams.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. Russell) that the House suspend the rules
and pass the bill, H.R. 4301.
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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