[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 162 (Tuesday, October 15, 2019)]
[House]
[Pages H8132-H8135]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               WILSON AND YOUNG MEDAL OF HONOR VA CLINIC

  Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 2334) to designate the Department of Veterans Affairs 
community-based outpatient clinic in Odessa, Texas, as the ``Wilson and 
Young Medal of Honor VA Clinic''.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 2334

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. DESIGNATION OF WILSON AND YOUNG MEDAL OF HONOR VA 
                   CLINIC.

       (a) Finding.--Congress finds that Private First Class 
     Alfred ``Mac'' Wilson of the Marine Corps and Staff Sergeant 
     Marvin ``Rex'' Young of the Army were both posthumously 
     awarded the Medal of Honor for their heroic actions in the 
     Vietnam War.
       (b) Designation.--The Department of Veterans Affairs 
     community-based outpatient clinic in Odessa, Texas, shall 
     after the date of the enactment of this Act be known and 
     designated as the ``Wilson and Young Medal of Honor VA 
     Clinic''.
       (c) References.--Any reference in a law, map, regulation, 
     document, paper, or other record of the United States to the 
     facility referred to in subsection (b) shall be deemed to be 
     a reference to the ``Wilson and Young Medal of Honor VA 
     Clinic''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
California (Mr. Takano) and the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. David P. 
Roe) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from California.


                             General Leave

  Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may 
have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and 
to insert extraneous material on H.R. 2334.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from California?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the lives of Army Staff Sergeant Marvin 
``Rex'' Young and Marine Corps Private First Class Alfred ``Mac'' 
Wilson. I thank my colleague from Texas (Mr. Conaway) for bringing this 
bill before us so that we all may be able to pay tribute to two of our 
Nation's heroes.
  As soon as the law allowed, both men signed up to serve our country 
during the height of the Vietnam war. It was during this war that both 
Staff Sergeant Young and Private First Class Wilson would ultimately 
give their lives in defense of our country.
  Private First Class Wilson was born on January 13, 1948, in Olney, 
Illinois. His family moved to Odessa, Texas, in 1950, where he attended 
local schools before graduating from Odessa Senior High School in 1967. 
He enlisted in the United States Marine Corps Reserve at Abilene, 
Texas, on November 1, 1967, and was discharged to enlist in the Marine 
Corps on January 14, 1968.
  At the time of his death, Private First Class Wilson was a rifleman 
with Company M, 3rd Battalion, 9th Marines, 3rd Marine Division.
  Staff Sergeant Young was born on May 11, 1947, in Alpine, Texas, the 
youngest of three children born to Roy Clinton and Marilyn Young.
  He joined the Army from Odessa, Texas, in September 1966 and by 
August 21, 1968, was serving as a staff sergeant in Company C, 1st 
Battalion, 5th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division.
  At two different points of the Vietnam war, these two brave men gave 
their lives to support the mission of their respective units and were 
both posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor.
  For Private First Class Wilson, it was March 3, 1969, when the first 
platoon of Company M was ambushed by the North Vietnamese Army after 
returning from patrol. Intense automatic weapons fire and grenade 
attacks wounded the platoon's gunner and assistant gunner.
  Acting as squad leader, Private Wilson put himself in between enemy 
fire and his men to retrieve the machine gun from the wounded marines 
so that his platoon could maintain a heavy volume of fire against the 
enemy.
  When he reached the M-60 machine gun, a North Vietnamese soldier 
threw a grenade at him, landing between Private First Class Wilson and 
another

[[Page H8133]]

marine. Private First Class Wilson first fired a burst from his M-16 
rifle, killing the enemy, and then shouted to his companion and, 
unhesitatingly, threw himself on the grenade, absorbing the full force 
of the explosion with his body.
  Because of his selfless act of valor, his platoon members were able 
to give maximum effort to aggressively and successfully defeat the 
enemy.
  On August 21, 1968, a regimental sized force of the North Vietnamese 
Army attacked Staff Sergeant Young's platoon while on a reconnaissance 
mission. Staff Sergeant Young assumed command of the platoon after the 
acting platoon leader was killed, organizing and deploying his men to 
repel the enemy force.
  While wave after wave of the enemy attacked, he courageously moved 
from position to position, encouraging and directing fire at the North 
Vietnamese Army while exposing himself to enemy bullets.
  When Staff Sergeant Young noticed that parts of his squad were unable 
to retreat, he fought his way to them, despite sustaining a critical 
head injury, so they could safely withdraw. While fighting with the 
squad as it fought its way to the rear, Staff Sergeant Young was 
seriously wounded in the arm and his leg was badly shattered.
  Without wanting to slow the retreat of his squad, he refused 
assistance and ordered their withdrawal while providing protective 
cover until the enemy engulfed his position.
  These two heroes sacrificed their lives for their fellow 
servicemembers and our freedom.
  Mr. Speaker, my colleagues and I, and a grateful Nation, owe a debt 
of gratitude to Private First Class Alfred ``Mac'' Wilson and Staff 
Sergeant Marvin ``Rex'' Young, and to their families and to their 
legacies.
  I fully support the naming of the Department of Veterans Affairs 
community-based outpatient clinic in Odessa, Texas, as the ``Wilson and 
Young Medal of Honor VA Clinic'' so that we never forget their 
sacrifices.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on this bill and 
urge our Senate colleagues to take up this bill without delay, and I 
reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. DAVID P. ROE of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time 
as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 2334, a bill sponsored 
by Congressman Michael Conaway of Texas. This bill would name the 
Department of Veterans Affairs community-based outpatient clinic in 
Odessa, Texas, the ``Wilson and Young Medal of Honor VA Clinic,'' after 
two Texas veterans who received the Medal of Honor for their heroic 
actions in the Vietnam war.
  Private First Class Alfred ``Mac'' Wilson was a marine killed in 
action March 3, 1969, when he threw himself on a grenade to save his 
platoon mate during an enemy ambush.
  Staff Sergeant Marvin ``Rex'' Young was a soldier who was killed in 
action on August 21, 1968, when he was fatally wounded while rescuing 
several of his fellow soldiers who had been pinned down by enemy fire.
  Both of these men received posthumously the Medal of Honor, our 
country's highest tribute, for their actions.
  Even these many years after their deaths, their memories live on as 
examples of true courage, selflessness, and love of country. I commend 
Congressman Conaway for introducing this bill in their honor.
  This bill is supported by the entire Texas delegation, in both the 
House and the Senate, as well as by several veterans' service 
organizations throughout Texas.
  Mr. Speaker, this is something very near and dear and personal to me. 
I am a Vietnam-era veteran myself. I remember, all too often, seeing 
these American heroes who never got to see their families, their 
children, or their grandchildren because of the sacrifice that they 
gave for this country: their life, the greatest sacrifice they could.
  And we stand here in this great country, free, because of what these 
men did. And I hope that people in Odessa, Texas, take as much pride as 
I do. Tennessee and Texas have a great connection, as the Speaker 
knows, and I take great pride, in Tennessee, in having the privilege 
today to be on this floor debating this bill and bestowing this honor 
on these two heroes.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record letters from The 
American Legion, Department of Texas; from the DAV, Disabled American 
Veterans, Department of Texas; and the VFW, the Veterans of Foreign 
Wars, in support of Mr. Conaway's bill to name the clinic in Texas 
after these gentlemen.

                                              The American Legion,


                                          Department of Texas,

                                         Austin, TX, May 30, 2019.
     Chairman Mark Takano,
     House Committee on Veterans' Affairs,
     Washington, DC.
     Ranking Member Phil Roe,
     House Committee on Veterans' Affairs,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Chairman Takano and Ranking Member Roe: On the behalf 
     of The American Legion, Department of Texas, I am honored to 
     extend my support to the efforts of U.S. Representative K. 
     Michael Conaway and the Members of Congress from Texas to 
     rename the Department of Veterans Affairs outpatient clinic 
     in Odessa, Texas to the ``Wilson and Young Medal of Honor VA 
     Clinic''.
       As Medal of Honor recipients raised in Odessa, it is 
     fitting that Alfred ``Mac'' Wilson and Marvin ``Rex'' Young 
     be memorialized by naming a facility that serves their 
     brothers and sisters in arms in their time of need. It is a 
     testament to their bravery and self-sacrifice. May it also be 
     a reminder for us all to live up to their examples.
           ``For God and Country'',
                                                 Lloyd Buckmaster,
                                                  State Commander.

           Attest:
                                                     William West,
     State Adjutant.
                                  ____

                                                              DAV,


                                          Department of Texas,

                                       Lufkin, TX, April 24, 2019.
     Chairman Mark Takano,
     House Committee on Veterans' Affairs,
     Washington, DC.
     Ranking Member Phil Roe,
     House Committee on Veterans' Affairs,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Chairman Takano and Ranking Member Roe: On the behalf 
     of the Disabled American Veterans, Department of Texas, I am 
     honored to extend my support to the efforts of U.S. 
     Representative K. Michael Conaway and the Members of Congress 
     from Texas to rename the Department of Veterans Affairs 
     outpatient clinic in Odessa, Texas to the ``Wilson and Young 
     Medal of Honor VA Clinic''.
       As Medal of honor recipients raised in Odessa, it is 
     fitting that Allied ``Mac'' Wilson and Marvin ``Rex'' Young 
     be memorialized by naming a facility that serves their 
     brothers and sisters in arms in their time of need. It is a 
     testament to their bravery and self-sacrifice. May it also be 
     a reminder for us all to live up to their examples.
           Sincerely,
                                                  Teresa Johniken,
     Adjutant/Treasurer.
                                  ____



                                      Veterns of Foreign Wars,

                                         Austin, TX, June 5, 2019.
     Chairman Mark Takano,
     House Committee on Veterans' Affairs,
     Washington, DC.
     Ranking Member Phil Roe,
     House Committee on Veterans' Affairs,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Chairman Takano and Ranking Member Roe: On the behalf 
     of the Texas Veterans of Foreign Wars, I am honored to extend 
     my support to the efforts of U.S. Representative K. Michael 
     Conaway and the Members of Congress from Texas to rename the 
     Department of Veterans Affairs Outpatient Clinic in Odessa, 
     Texas to the ``Wilson and Young Medal of Honor VA Clinic''.
       As Medal of Honor recipients raised in Odessa, it is 
     fitting that Alfred ``Mac'' Wilson and Marvin ``Rex'' Young 
     be memorialized by naming a facility that serves their 
     brothers and sisters in arms in their time of need. It is a 
     testament to their bravery and self-sacrifice. May it also be 
     a reminder for us all to live up to their examples.
           Sincerely,
                                               Ingeborg A. Conley,
                                                  State Commander.

           Attest:
                                                         Dan West,
                                     State Adjutant/Quartermaster.

  Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers and am prepared 
to close, and I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. DAVID P. ROE of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, it is my privilege to 
yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Conaway), my good 
friend from Texas' 11th District, the former chairman of the 
Agriculture Committee and now ranking member, who also serves on the 
Intelligence Committee, to honor these two great heroes.
  Mr. CONAWAY. Mr. Speaker, I want to specifically thank Chairman 
Takano

[[Page H8134]]

and Ranking Member Roe for bringing this bill to the floor and allowing 
this much-deserved recognition of two young heroes from Odessa, Texas.
  Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record the official citations from each 
of the awards of the Medal of Honor to Alfred ``Mac'' Wilson and Rex 
Young.

                           Wilson, Alfred M.

     Rank: Private First Class Organization: U.S. Marine Corps
     Company: Company M, 3d Battalion Division: 9th Marines, 3d 
         Marine Division
     Born: 13 January 1948, Olney, Ill. Departed: Yes
     Place/Date: Quang Tri Province, Republic of Vietnam, 3 March 
         1969


                                Citation

       For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of 
     his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as a 
     rifleman with Company M in action against hostile forces. 
     While returning from a reconnaissance-in-force mission in the 
     vicinity of Fire Support Base Cunningham, the 1st Platoon of 
     Company M came under intense automatic weapons fire and a 
     grenade attack from a well concealed enemy force. As the 
     center of the column was pinned down, the leading squad moved 
     to outflank the enemy. Pfc. Wilson, acting as squad leader of 
     the rear squad, skillfully maneuvered his men to form a base 
     of fire and act as a blocking force. In the ensuing fire 
     fight, both his machine gunner and assistant machine gunner 
     were seriously wounded and unable to operate their weapons. 
     Realizing the urgent need to bring the weapon into operation 
     again, Pfc. Wilson, followed by another marine and with 
     complete disregard for his safety, fearlessly dashed across 
     the fire-swept terrain to recover the weapon. As they reached 
     the machinegun, an enemy soldier stepped from behind a tree 
     and threw a grenade toward the 2 marines. Observing the 
     grenade fall between himself and the other marine, Pfc. 
     Wilson, fully realizing the inevitable result of his actions, 
     shouted to his companion and unhesitating threw himself on 
     the grenade, absorbing the full force of the explosion with 
     his own body. His heroic actions inspired his platoon members 
     to maximum effort as they aggressively attacked and defeated 
     the enemy. Pfc. Wilson's indomitable courage, inspiring valor 
     and selfless devotion to duty upheld the highest traditions 
     of the Marine Corps and the U.S. Naval Service. He gallantly 
     gave his life for his country.
                                  ____


                            Young, Marvin R.

     Rank: Staff Sergeant Organization: U.S. Army
     Company: Company C, 1st Battalion Division: 5th Infantry, 
         25th Infantry Division
     Born: 11 May 1947, Alpine, Tex. Departed: Yes
     Place/Date: Near Ben Cui, Republic of Vietnam, 21 August 1968


                                Citation

       For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the 
     risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. S/Sgt. 
     Young distinguished himself at the cost of his life while 
     serving as a squad leader with Company C. While conducting a 
     reconnaissance mission in the vicinity of Ben Cui, Company C 
     was suddenly engaged by an estimated regimental-size force of 
     the North Vietnamese Army. During the initial volley of fire 
     the point element of the 1st Platoon was pinned down, 
     sustaining several casualties, and the acting platoon leader 
     was killed. S/Sgt. Young unhesitatingly assumed command of 
     the platoon and began to organize and deploy his men into a 
     defensive position in order to repel the attacking force. As 
     a human wave attack advanced on S/Sgt. Young's platoon, he 
     moved from position to position, encouraging and directing 
     fire on the hostile insurgents while exposing himself to the 
     hail of enemy bullets. After receiving orders to withdraw to 
     a better defensive position, he remained behind to provide 
     covering fire for the withdrawal. Observing that a small 
     element of the point squad was unable to extract itself from 
     its position, and completely disregarding his personal 
     safety, S/Sgt. Young began moving toward their position, 
     firing as he maneuvered. When halfway to their position he 
     sustained a critical head injury, yet he continued his 
     mission and ordered the element to withdraw. Remaining with 
     the squad as it fought its way to the rear, he was twice 
     seriously wounded in the arm and leg. Although his leg was 
     badly shattered, S/Sgt. Young refused assistance that would 
     have slowed the retreat of his comrades, and he ordered them 
     to continue their withdrawal while he provided protective 
     covering fire. With indomitable courage and heroic self-
     sacrifice, he continued his self-assigned mission until the 
     enemy force engulfed his position. By his gallantry at the 
     cost of his life are in the highest traditions of the 
     military service, S/Sgt. Young has reflected great credit 
     upon himself, his unit, and the U.S. Army.

  Mr. CONAWAY. Mr. Speaker, both our previous speakers have described 
the last days that Mac and Rex spent on this Earth.
  I had the privilege of going to high school with Rex. He was a year 
older than I. Rex and I played on the football team together. Rex was a 
really good baseball player.
  I did not have the privilege of knowing Mac. He went to our across-
town rival. He was also a wonderful young man.
  Mr. Speaker, I want to specifically thank all of those men and women 
in Odessa, Texas, who, for years now, have attempted and worked really 
hard at maintaining the memory of Mac and Rex in our communities. They 
have done great work, and, without their support and efforts, I don't 
know if we would have gotten this done as well.
  Odessa, Texas, at that point in time, in the late sixties, was a town 
of about 80,000 or so folks. Medal of Honor recipients are really rare, 
and to have two of them come from one west Texas town is a high honor.
  Both these men embody the west Texas values of selflessness, courage, 
and devotion to one's country, and their gallant sacrifices serve as a 
somber reminder to all of us of the price that some have paid to secure 
our freedoms.
  Mr. Speaker, on Memorial Day every year we honor all of our 
servicemen and -women who have given that ultimate sacrifice on the 
altar of freedom, as we should.
  When I give speeches and talk to folks back home during that time 
frame, I ask people to make it personal. We talk about them as a group, 
and it loses some of the punch, some of the impact, so I ask my folks 
back home to find somebody specifically who gave that sacrifice and 
made that sacrifice and to think about them on that day. For me, every 
year, it is Rex.
  The VA clinic there in Odessa, Texas, will now bear both their names, 
and all of those untold numbers of current vets and future vets who 
will walk through those doors and receive the care that they have 
earned from their service to our Nation will see those two names and 
will know that two of their own were honored appropriately by having 
that VA clinic named after them.
  I want to thank the hospital in Odessa, Texas, which actually owns 
the building, for allowing us to do that, and I thank the VA system 
itself for working so hard to get this done. I am looking forward to 
the ceremony that we will conduct.
  I also want to thank Senators Cruz and Cornyn in the Senate for 
introducing the companion legislation in the Senate so that we can get 
that done over there and then move to appropriately honor two of 
America's finest, two young men who woke up one morning, their last day 
on Earth, and then went out and did something stunningly heroic. I 
don't know that they necessarily knew that day they were going to do 
it, but they did it, and they have earned this medal and they have 
earned this recognition and our deep, lasting gratitude for their 
sacrifices.

                              {time}  1715

  Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Let me say how much I appreciate this legislation from the gentleman 
from Texas. Reading through the medal citations, it was certainly very 
moving. I found myself even finding my voice very halting as I read 
through it with my staff. I see that the gentleman still, today, 
remembers his friend with great memories. He was a great ballplayer.
  It is always poignant to take note of young servicemembers who give 
their lives for our country, and we certainly want to join together, on 
a bipartisan basis, as a Nation, to express our gratitude.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in passing H.R. 2334, 
and I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. DAVID P. ROE of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time 
as I may consume.
  I will associate myself with the remarks of the gentleman from Texas 
(Mr. Conaway). I know he misses his friend.
  It is a true privilege to be here today to be able to honor this 
clinic in Odessa, Texas.
  I encourage all Members to support H.R. 2334, and I yield back the 
balance of my time.
  Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
  I urge all of my colleagues to join me in passing H.R. 2334, honoring 
Staff Sergeant Marvin ``Rex'' Young and Private First Class Alfred 
``Mac'' Wilson, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by

[[Page H8135]]

the gentleman from California (Mr. Takano) that the House suspend the 
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 2334.
  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.

                          ____________________