[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 158 (Monday, September 14, 2020)]
[House]
[Pages H4366-H4367]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
LANCE CORPORAL RHONALD DAIN RAIRDAN POST OFFICE
Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend
[[Page H4367]]
the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4785) to designate the facility of
the United States Postal Service located at 1305 U.S. Highway 90 West
in Castroville, Texas, as the ``Lance Corporal Rhonald Dain Rairdan
Post Office''.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 4785
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. LANCE CORPORAL RHONALD DAIN RAIRDAN POST OFFICE.
(a) Designation.--The facility of the United States Postal
Service located at 1305 U.S. Highway 90 West in Castroville,
Texas, shall be known and designated as the ``Lance Corporal
Rhonald Dain Rairdan 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 ``Lance Corporal Rhonald Dain Rairdan Post
Office''.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from
New York (Mrs. Carolyn B. Maloney) and the gentleman from Texas (Mr.
Cloud) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from New York.
General Leave
Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous
consent that all Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and
extend their remarks and include extraneous material on this measure.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentlewoman from New York?
There was no objection.
Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as
much time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to join my colleagues in consideration of
H.R. 4785 to designate the facility of the U.S. Postal Service located
at 1305 U.S. Highway 90 West in Castroville, Texas, as the Lance
Corporal Rhonald Dain Rairdan Post Office.
Rhonald Dain Rairdan was born on April 22, 1984, at Eglin Air Force
Base, Florida. He was a 2003 graduate of Medina Valley High School,
where he was a member of the ROTC drill team.
Dain was raised in an Air Force family and lived in many different
places, but he wanted to be a U.S. marine his entire life.
Four months after joining the Marine Corps, Lance Corporal Rairdan
was deployed to the Middle East to join the Marine-led offensive to
take control of Fallujah.
Lance Corporal Rairdan's unit was tasked with hunting for weapon
stockpiles and policing the damaged city as residents tried to regain a
sense of normalcy.
On January 26, 2005, the helicopter he was onboard crashed near
Rutbah, Iraq, killing 30.
Dain died doing what he loved, protecting the United States.
Castroville, Texas, was his adopted home, and naming this post office
for him will allow the residents there to remember and honor his
dedicated service.
Mr. Speaker, I thank the Honorable Member from Texas, Representative
Hurd, for this legislation to honor this American hero.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. CLOUD. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 4785, which would name a post
office in Castroville, Texas, after Lance Corporal Rhonald Dain
Rairdan.
Dain, as he was called by his loved ones, was raised in an Air Force
family and lived all over the country.
He considered Castroville to be his adopted home, and it is where his
celebration of life would eventually be held.
Dain grew up wanting to join the Marine Corps because he wanted to
protect his country. Four months after joining the Marines, he was
deployed to the Middle East to join the Marine-led offensive to take
control of Fallujah.
On January 26, 2005, Dain was onboard a helicopter near Rutbah, Iraq,
when it crashed. Twenty-eight marines were killed alongside Dain.
He died serving this Nation and protecting us, a most honorable
calling.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation, and I
reserve the balance of my time.
Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the
balance of my time.
Mr. CLOUD. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Texas
(Mr. Hurd).
Mr. HURD of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 4785,
which will honor the bravery of Lance Corporal Rhonald Dain Rairdan,
who died serving his country in Iraq.
Dain, as he was called by his friends and family, grew up in an Air
Force family, moving to and living in many places around the country,
but his adopted hometown was Castroville, Texas.
It was in Castroville that Dain joined the Air Force JROTC program at
Medina Valley High School. It was here that he realized his passion for
service and, in 2005, joined the U.S. Marine Corps.
According to his friends and family, being a marine was what he
wanted to do his whole life. Four months after joining the Corps, Dain
deployed to the Middle East, where his unit was tasked with hunting for
weapon stockpiles and policing damaged cities as residents tried to
regain a sense of normalcy.
Tragically, on what was supposed to be his last mission before
leaving Iraq, Dain and 30 other servicemembers were killed when their
helicopter crashed in western Iraq.
{time} 1700
With that crash, we lost so many brave, incredible American patriots
who embodied Semper Fidelis--Always Faithful.
This was true for Dain especially. His commitment to his country left
an unwavering impact on the lives of those who knew or served with him.
He made his country, family, and friends proud.
While his legacy will undoubtedly live on through his family and all
those who knew him, the renaming of the Castroville, Texas, Post Office
in his name will forever enshrine his love of our great Nation.
I thank every one of my Texas colleagues for joining me in this
bipartisan effort to allow folks in Castroville to remember Lance
Corporal Rairdan, and I hope the rest of my colleagues in this Chamber
will do the same.
As we reflect on the bravery of one man who gave everything for
country, let's remember that our mission in the Middle East isn't
finished. He died for this mission, and we must ensure it is complete.
God bless all of our servicemen and -women.
Mr. CLOUD. Mr. Speaker, I urge passage of this bill, and I yield back
the balance of my time.
Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I urge passage of
this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. Carolyn B. Maloney) that the House
suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 4785.
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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