[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 175 (Monday, November 14, 2022)]
[House]
[Pages H8446-H8447]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   CORPORAL JERRY K. CRUMP VA CLINIC

  Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 5481) to name the Department of Veterans Affairs community-
based outpatient clinic in Forest City, North Carolina, as the 
``Corporal Jerry K. Crump VA Clinic'', as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 5481

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

     SECTION 1. NAME OF DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS COMMUNITY-
                   BASED OUTPATIENT CLINIC, FOREST CITY, NORTH 
                   CAROLINA.

        The Department of Veterans Affairs community-based 
     outpatient clinic in Forest City, North Carolina, shall after 
     the date of the enactment of this Act be known and designated 
     as the ``Master Sergeant Jerry K. Crump VA Clinic''. Any 
     reference to such clinic in any law, regulation, map, 
     document, record, or other paper of the United States shall 
     be considered to be a reference to the Master Sergeant Jerry 
     K. Crump VA Clinic.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
California (Mr. Takano) and the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Ellzey) 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 
include extraneous material on H.R. 5481, as amended.
  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 life of Master Sergeant J.K. Crump, 
a native of Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, and a Korean war 
veteran who embodied the courage and indomitable fighting spirit of our 
Nation's Armed Forces.
  This bill, H.R. 5481, as amended, will name the Department of 
Veterans Affairs community-based outpatient clinic in Forest City, 
North Carolina, the Master Sergeant Jerry K. Crump VA Clinic.
  I thank my colleague, Representative Virginia Foxx, for introducing 
this bill.
  In early September 1951, Master Sergeant Crump, then an 18-year-old 
Army rifleman, and fellow members of Company L of the 3rd Infantry 
Division were attacked by invading Chinese forces near Chorwon, Korea. 
In the firefight that ensued, Master Sergeant Crump left cover twice: 
first, to retrieve a wounded comrade, and then again to recapture a 
machine gun from advancing Chinese soldiers.
  After returning to his position, an enemy grenade was flung into the 
foxhole that Master Sergeant Crump shared with four wounded 
infantrymen. With no regard for his own well-being, Master Sergeant 
Crump covered the explosives with his own body. The grenade detonated, 
but miraculously, Master Sergeant Crump survived.
  The heroism that Master Sergeant Crump displayed that day more than 
70 years ago undoubtedly saved the lives of fellow soldiers and 
rightfully earned him the Medal of Honor, our highest military 
decoration for valor, which President Truman awarded him in 1952.
  Master Sergeant Crump went on to serve another 26 years in the U.S. 
Army before retiring in 1976. He died a year later and was interred at 
the Mount Zion Community Cemetery in Cornelius, North Carolina.
  Master Sergeant Crump's actions in combat were emblematic of the 
selfless sacrifice and devotion to duty that so many who don the 
uniform of our great Nation display. He, and the generation of those 
who served alongside him, truly represented the best ideals of our 
country.
  Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record letters of support for H.R. 
5481, as amended, from The American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, 
and the Disabled American Veterans.

                                              The American Legion,


                                 Department of North Carolina,

                                      Raleigh, NC, March 16, 2022.
       Dear Congresswoman Foxx, It is with a great deal of pride 
     that I endorse the naming of the Veterans Affairs (VA) 
     outpatient clinic in Forest City, North Carolina, after the 
     Medal of Honor recipient and North Carolina native, Jerry 
     Crump.
       I am personally familiar with the facility in Forest City. 
     I receive my medical attention at that clinic. The Forest 
     City VA clinic is a wonderful facility, and the staff is 
     outstanding.
       I have met with the American Legion members in Forest City 
     and in Henrietta, NC who have advocated for the renaming to 
     the Jerry Crump VA Medical Clinic. There are a few older 
     American Legion members that remember attending school with 
     Jerry. The communities of Forest City and Henrietta are proud 
     of the native son and have often advocated for this honor. 
     The American Legion Department of North Carolina does whole 
     heartily support the renaming of the Forest City VA clinic 
     after Medal of Honor Recipient Jerry Crump.
       The honor of naming a Forest City VA Clinic after this 
     courageous American would be a fitting tribute to Corporal 
     Crump.
           Respectfully,

                                                  Jim Quinlan,

                                              The American Legion,
     Department of North Carolina.
                                  ____



                                     Veterans of Foreign Wars,

                                      Raleigh, NC, March 10, 2022.
     Rep. Virginia Foxx,
     Washington, DC.
     Re Endorsement of naming the VA Outpatient Clinic in Forest 
         City, NC after MOH Recipient Jerry Crump.

       Dear Rep Foxx: As the State Commander of the Veterans of 
     Foreign Wars of America, Department of North Carolina, I am 
     writing you to express full support of the naming of the VA 
     Outpatient Clinic in Forest City, NC, after Medal of Honor 
     recipient and North Carolina native, Jerry Crump. Mr. Crump 
     embodied the spirit of patriotism, valor. fidelity and 
     selfless service needed to save the Soldiers of his Platoon 
     from death or serious injury when they came under attack on 
     September 6-7, 1951 during the Korean War. Mr. Crump 
     heroically flung himself on a grenade from an enemy Soldier 
     and shielded his comrades from the blast. Naming this VA 
     Outpatient Clinic in his name would be a great honor to this 
     distinguished Soldier

                                             Russell Chambers,

                                                  State Commander,
     Department of North Carolina.
                                  ____

                                       Disabled American Veterans,


                                 Department of North Carolina,

                                       Raleigh, NC, March 8, 2022.
     Hon. Mark Takano,
     Chairman, House Committee on Veterans Affairs, Washington, 
         DC.
     Hon. Mike Bost,
     Ranking Member, House Committee on Veterans Affairs, 
         Washington, DC.
       Chairman Mark Takano and Ranking Member Mike Bost: On 
     behalf of Disabled American Veterans, Department of North 
     Carolina, we are honored to extend our support to the efforts 
     of Congresswoman Virginia Foxx to designate the Veterans 
     Affairs (VA) outpatient clinic in Forest City, North 
     Carolina, after Medal of Honor recipient and North Carolina 
     native, Cpl. Jerry Crump.
       During the Korean War, on September 7, 1951, Cpl. Crump 
     embodied outstanding courage above and beyond the call of 
     duty to save his brothers in arms. His selflessness and 
     gallantry inspired his comrades to aggressively counterattack 
     and drive enemy forces from their perimeter. In memorializing 
     his name may everyone who enters this facility remember that 
     all gave some and some gave all.
           Sincerely,
                                        Vertis R. Richardson, III,
                                             Department Commander.
                                                  Janice Weathers,
                                              Department Adjutant.

  Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 5481, 
as

[[Page H8447]]

amended. By doing so, we will bestow a befitting name on this facility 
in Rutherford County, North Carolina, where so many military veterans 
receive top-notch medical care.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. ELLZEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 5481, as amended, a bill 
to name the Department of Veterans Affairs community-based outpatient 
clinic in Forest City, North Carolina, as the Master Sergeant Jerry K. 
Crump VA Clinic.
  Master Sergeant Crump was a soldier in the U.S. Army during the 
Korean war, where he received the Medal of Honor and a Purple Heart for 
his heroic actions in September 1951.
  Master Sergeant Crump rose above and beyond the call of duty in 
combat. One night, a numerically superior enemy force launched an 
assault against his unit's position on Hill 284. In danger of being 
overrun, he repeatedly put himself in danger, effectively firing on 
enemy combatants, killing several of them.
  He then noticed two enemy soldiers on the verge of capturing an 
American machine gun. He charged at them with his bayonet, killing both 
and regaining control of the weapon.
  Upon returning to his firing position, an enemy grenade landed in his 
bunker. He proceeded to jump on it and absorbed the blast, saving his 
fellow soldiers. His actions inspired his men so much that they rallied 
and conducted a successful counterattack.
  It is for those heroic actions that Master Sergeant Crump was 
presented with both the Purple Heart and the Medal of Honor.
  He miraculously survived the war and lived another 26 years. 
Tragically, he died in a car accident in 1977, at age 43, in Lincoln 
County, North Carolina. It is only fitting that this clinic be named 
after its hometown hero. It will serve as an inspiration, just like 
Master Sergeant Crump, for many generations to come.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I am very sorry that our good friend, 
Virginia Foxx, is not here, but I thank Ranking Member Foxx for 
bringing to our attention the amazing story of this American hero.
  I know the gentleman from Texas shares the growing emotion that I 
feel as we recognize these American heroes. It is truly remarkable.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. ELLZEY. Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to support this 
bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I likewise urge all of my colleagues to join 
me in passing H.R. 5481, as amended, and I yield back the balance of my 
time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from California (Mr. Takano) that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the bill, H.R. 5481, as amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
  The title of the bill was amended so as to read: ``A bill to name the 
Department of Veterans Affairs community-based outpatient clinic in 
Forest City, North Carolina, as the `Master Sergeant Jerry K. Crump VA 
Clinic'.''.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

                          ____________________