[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.
____________________