[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 183 (Tuesday, November 29, 2022)]
[House]
[Pages H8605-H8607]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         LANCE CORPORAL DANA CORNELL DARNELL OUTPATIENT CLINIC

  Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 5943) to designate the outpatient clinic of the Department 
of Veterans Affairs in Greenville, South Carolina, as the ``Lance 
Corporal Dana Cornell Darnell Outpatient Clinic,'' as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 5943

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

     SECTION 1. DESIGNATION OF LANCE CORPORAL DANA CORNELL DARNELL 
                   VA CLINIC.

       (a) Designation.--The outpatient clinic of the Department 
     of Veterans Affairs in Greenville, South Carolina, shall 
     after the date of the enactment of this Act be known and 
     designated as the ``Lance Corporal Dana Cornell Darnell VA 
     Clinic''.
       (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 Dana Cornell Darnell VA 
     Clinic''.

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

[[Page H8606]]

  



                             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. 5943, 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 in support of this bill, H.R. 5943, as amended, 
which will appropriately honor the memory of Lance Corporal Dana C. 
Darnell as one of the more than 58,000 names etched on the Vietnam 
Veterans Memorial just down the street on The National Mall.
  Like so many of those who served our great Nation, Lance Corporal 
Darnell's life was tragically cut short. In April 1967, his Marine 
platoon was ambushed by enemy forces in the Quang Tri Province in 
north-central Vietnam.
  Lance Corporal Darnell, at just 19 years old, displayed remarkable 
bravery and selflessness in the face of adversity. When his platoon's 
mortar gunner was knocked unconscious, Lance Corporal Darnell quickly 
retrieved the weapon and began firing it into the enemy's position.
  After exhausting his ammunition, he moved from man to man, collecting 
additional mortar rounds to help silence the attack. In doing so, Lance 
Corporal Darnell undoubtedly saved the lives of others in his platoon.
  Even after being temporarily blinded by enemy fire, Lance Corporal 
Darnell refused to be evacuated. Instead, he quickly began caring for 
his wounded comrades. Two days later, Lance Corporal Darnell was killed 
in action.
  For his extraordinary heroism, Lance Corporal Darnell was 
posthumously awarded the Navy Cross by President Johnson. The 
Greenville, South Carolina, native also received a Purple Heart and 
National Defense, Vietnam Service, and Vietnam Campaign Medals for his 
meritorious service.
  I thank my colleague, Representative Timmons, for introducing this 
bill, which will designate the Department of Veterans Affairs 
outpatient clinic in Greenville, South Carolina, the Lance Corporal 
Dana Cornell Darnell Outpatient Clinic.
  This bill has letters of support from The American Legion, the 
Veterans of Foreign Wars, and Disabled American Veterans. Mr. Speaker, 
I include these letters in the Record.

                       [From the American Legion]

       Whereas, The American Legion is always preserving the 
     memories in incidents in all wars and to the men, women and 
     families sacrifice to the country of The United States of 
     America will never be forgotten; and
       Whereas, The American Legion has paid homage to the courage 
     and commitments from the United States military and the 
     values they have brought to our great nation; and
       Whereas, the United States is a grateful nation for the 
     ultimate sacrifice of 58,220 United States Service members 
     during the war with the North Vietnamese from 1955-1975; and
       Whereas, one of those conflicts was the battle of Quang Tri 
     Provence the northern provincial capital of The republic of 
     South Vietnam involving Company B, First Battalion, 9th 
     Marines, Third Marine Division, Fleet Marine Force April 24, 
     1967; and
       Whereas, Greenville South Carolina's very own United States 
     Marine Lance Corporal Dana Cornell was engaged in a search 
     and destroy operation against the Viet Cong and the North 
     Vietnamese ambushed Cornell as they entered a field; and
       Whereas, using heavy small arms Lance Corporal Dana Cornell 
     was knocked unconscious while seeking cover and still managed 
     to face extraordinary calmness in the face of enemy fire, 
     Cornell retrieved the mortar, and was unable to set it up 
     properly, due to the urgency of the situation, holding it 
     between his legs and steadying it from his hands, began 
     firing into enemy positions; and
       Whereas, Cornell exhausted all of his ammunition and moved 
     from man to man collecting mortars until the enemy fire was 
     silenced and his platoon began to withdraw from the clearing 
     Darnell, was dragging two wounded Marines from the clearing 
     when he was temporary blinded; and
       Whereas, Darnell showed exceptional courage staying in the 
     field tending to the wounded. By his outstanding courage, 
     exceptional fortitude, and valiant fighting spirit he served 
     to inspire all who observed him and upheld the highest 
     traditions of the United States Marine Corps and the United 
     States Naval Service; and
       Whereas, It has pleased almighty God, the Great Commander 
     to summon his immortal and beloved comrade at arms Lance 
     Corporal Dana Cornell while paying the ultimate sacrifice of 
     his life at age 19 so that others could be free April 26, 
     1967; and be it finally
       Resolved, That South Carolinas Largest Veterans 
     organization the American Legion, Department of South 
     Carolina Executive Committee at a specially called meeting 
     assembled on this day in November 10, 2022 that it supports 
     designating the outpatient clinic of the Department of 
     Veterans Affairs in Greenville, South Carolina, as the 
     ``Lance Corporal Dana Cornell Darnell Outpatient Clinic''.
     James Kvam,
       Chairman, Internal Affairs.
     James Jarvis,
       South Carolina Department Commander.
                                  ____

         Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States, Department 
           of South Carolina,
                                                 November 4, 2022.
     Hon. Mark Takano,
     Veterans Affairs Committee,
     Washington, DC.
       Chairman Takano: On behalf of the Veterans of Foreign Wars 
     Department of South Carolina, it is my honor and privilege to 
     pledge our support for HR 5943 naming the Department of 
     Veterans Affairs (VA) outpatient clinic in Greenville, SC 
     after Lance Corporal Dana Cornell Darnell.
       Lance Corporal Darnell's service and sacrifice for our 
     nation is truly worthy of this honor. The heroic deeds of 
     this South Carolina native during action in Vietnam reflects 
     great credit upon this organization, and all of America's 
     combat veterans . . . past, present, and future.
       This measure would bring about a fitting tribute to Lance 
     Corporal Darnell in his native Greenville. We stand in 
     solidarity with South Carolina's veterans' community and our 
     elected representatives in support of this bill.
           Yours in Comradeship,

                                             Ed Stefanak, Jr.,

                                                  State Commander,
                                 VFW Department of South Carolina.
       Attested:

                                                 Kevin L. Joy,

                                                   State Adjutant,
     VFW Department of South Carolina.
                                  ____

                                                              DAV,


                                 Department of South Carolina,

                              West Columbia, SC, November 3, 2022.
     Subject: Support for Bill, Naming Greenville CBOC

     Congressman William Timmons (SC-04),
     Attn: Jessica Ridley.
       The DAV Department of South Carolina, fully support 
     Congressman William Timmons' Bill that would name the VA 
     Greenville Community-Based Outpatient Clinic (CBOC) for a 
     Vietnam Marine who was killed in 1967 at Khe Sanh during an 
     action for which he received the Navy Cross.
       We are honored to write this letter of recommendation for 
     LCpl Dana Cornell Darnell, United States Marine Corps.
       LCpl Darnell was born in Greenville, South Carolina on 
     February 5, 1948. He joined the U.S. Marines on his 18th 
     birthday, arriving at Parris Island, South Carolina on March 
     8, 1966. He received further training at Camp Pendleton, 
     California before his assignment in Vietnam on August 20, 
     1966. On April 24, 1967, North Vietnam Army Forces ambushed 
     his platoon and wounded this young Marine. He died April 26, 
     1967, at 19 years of age.
       The Navy Cross was awarded, posthumously, to LCpl Darnell 
     for his extraordinary heroism and for exhibiting sound 
     judgement and calmness in the face of intense enemy fire.
       The personal sacrifice and brave actions of LCpl Dana 
     Darnell help preserve our nation's freedom for which we are 
     profoundly grateful. We wholeheartedly support the 
     recommendation that the VA Greenville CBOC be named in his 
     honor.
           Respectfully,
                                                       Larry Long,
                           Commander, DAV Dept. of South Carolina.
  Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to join me in 
supporting H.R. 5943, as amended, and I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 5943, as amended, a bill 
to designate the Department of Veterans Affairs community-based 
outpatient clinic in Greenville, South Carolina, as the Lance Corporal 
Dana Cornell Darnell VA Clinic.
  Lance Corporal Darnell was born in Greenville, South Carolina, and 
joined the United States Marine Corps on his 18th birthday. While he 
was deployed to the Republic of Vietnam in 1967, his unit was engaged 
in a mission against Vietcong and North Vietnamese forces in Quang Tri 
Province. His patrol was ambushed by enemy forces using heavy small 
arms and automatic weapons fire.
  In the chaos that ensued, his mortar gunner was knocked unconscious. 
Displaying courage in the face of extreme danger, Lance Corporal 
Darnell quickly retrieved the mortar.
  Despite being unable to set the mortar up properly, he continued to 
fire at the enemy. When he ran out of ammo,

[[Page H8607]]

he moved from man to man, collecting more ammo until the enemy guns 
fell silent.
  When Lance Corporal Darnell's unit was ordered to withdraw from the 
area, he dragged two marines to safety and refused to evacuate himself. 
He stayed back to tend to the wounded.
  Lance Corporal Darnell died 2 days later, on April 26, 1967, at the 
age of 19. He was awarded the Navy Cross for his selfless sacrifice and 
act of courage in combat.
  Lance Corporal Darnell's service to our Nation is truly worthy of 
honor. Semper Fidelis.
  Naming this VA facility after the Greenville native son and hero will 
serve as a reminder and an inspiration to all who seek care there. It 
will also ensure that his story of service is never forgotten.
  Mr. Speaker, I encourage all of my colleagues to support H.R. 5943, 
and I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I am 
prepared to close.
  Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from South 
Carolina (Mr. Timmons).
  Mr. TIMMONS. Mr. Speaker, I thank Ranking Member Bost and Chairman 
Takano for supporting this bill and bringing it to the floor today.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of our bill, H.R. 5943, to 
designate the outpatient clinic of the Department of Veterans Affairs 
in Greenville, South Carolina, as the Lance Corporal Dana Cornell 
Darnell Outpatient Clinic.
  A native of Greenville, South Carolina, Dana Cornell Darnell was a 
lance corporal in the United States Marine Corps during the Vietnam 
war. On April 24, 1967, his platoon was ambushed by North Vietnamese 
Army forces. He quickly worked to silence enemy fire. Even after being 
temporarily blinded, he refused to be evacuated and quickly began 
assisting in the care of the wounded.
  For his extraordinary heroism, Lance Corporal Dana Cornell Darnell 
was awarded the Navy Cross.
  Renaming the Greenville VA clinic in honor of Lance Corporal Darnell 
will ensure we never forget the courage, service, and sacrifice of our 
fellow South Carolinian.
  Mr. Speaker, I thank the entire South Carolina delegation for their 
support of this bill. We believe the Lance Corporal Dana Cornell 
Darnell Outpatient Clinic will serve countless veterans throughout the 
upstate and uphold our promise to those who gave our country their all.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 5943.
  Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, I encourage all of my colleagues to support 
this bill and honor the lance corporal by naming this facility after 
him.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I ask all of my colleagues to join me in 
passing H.R. 5943, 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. 5943, as amended.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds 
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
  Mr. GOOD of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and 
nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further 
proceedings on this motion will be postponed.

                          ____________________