[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 102 (Friday, June 11, 2021)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E626]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          HONORING THE LIFE OF CORPORAL WILLIAM JAMES McCOLLUM

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. JEFF DUNCAN

                           of south carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, June 11, 2021

  Mr. DUNCAN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Corporal 
William James McCollum, who was killed in action during the Korean War 
on December 2, 1950.
  Born in Anderson, South Carolina on June 19, 1931, Corporal McCollum 
was affectionately known by his friends and family as ``Billy.'' At the 
age of 17, he was inducted into the U.S. Army at Fort Jackson in 
Columbia, SC and subsequently to the battlegrounds when the Korean War 
began. After enduring repeated enemy attacks at the Chosin Reservoir, 
Corporal McCollum was declared missing in action on December 2, 1950. 
It was not until December 3, 1953, that Corporal McCollum was 
officially declared dead, still with no knowledge of the location of 
his body.
  Following the summit between President Donald J. Trump and the 
Democratic Peoples' Republic of Korea Kim Jong-Un in July of 2018, an 
agreement was reached to return 55 boxes of remains to the USA. The 
remains were believed to be those of U.S. soldiers who had been killed 
at the Chosin Reservoir in 1950. Due to the tremendous leadership of 
President Donald J. Trump, the body of Corporal McCollum's body was 
accounted for on September 11, 2019. After 71 years, Corporal McCollum 
can return home and rest in his home city of Anderson. His funeral 
service, with military honors, will be held on June 19, 2021 at 1:00 pm 
at the M.J. Dolly Cooper Veterans Cemetery.
  Reflecting on the life of Corporal McCollum, I am reminded strongly 
of the verse John 15:13: ``Greater love has no one than this: to lay 
down one's life for one's friends.'' From a young age, Corporal 
McCollum selflessly and nobly served his country. The United States is 
blessed to have the finest troops in the world, where so many heroes 
like Corporal McCollum are willing to put on our country's uniform in 
defense of our freedoms.
  I am proud of the leadership demonstrated by President Donald J. 
Trump, and it brings me comfort knowing that families were able to be 
reunited with their loved ones after so many years, especially in the 
Third District of South Carolina. Corporal McCollum's funeral service 
will be held on the anniversary of his 90th birthday.
  Madam Speaker, it is a privilege to be able to serve the Third 
District of South Carolina and to honor the lives of those lost in 
conflict, like Corporal McCollum. My thoughts and prayers are with his 
family and friends during this time.

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