[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 150 (Monday, September 18, 2023)]
[House]
[Pages H4362-H4364]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 HIROSHI ``HERSHEY'' MIYAMURA VA CLINIC

  Mr. BOST. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (S. 475) to designate the clinic of the Department of Veterans 
Affairs in Gallup, New Mexico, as the Hiroshi ``Hershey'' Miyamura VA 
Clinic.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                                 S. 475

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

     SECTION 1. DESIGNATION OF HIROSHI ``HERSHEY'' MIYAMURA 
                   DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS CLINIC.

       (a) Findings.--Congress finds the following:
       (1) Hiroshi ``Hershey'' Miyamura was born on October 6, 
     1925, in Gallup, New Mexico.
       (2) A second generation Japanese American, Hershey Miyamura 
     first served in the

[[Page H4363]]

     United States Army near the end of World War II.
       (3) Hershey Miyamura served in the Army at a time when many 
     of his fellow Japanese Americans, and that includes his 
     future wife, were detained in internment camps in the United 
     States.
       (4) Hershey Miyamura served in the storied 442nd Infantry 
     Regiment, which was composed of soldiers with Japanese 
     ancestry and became one of the most decorated units in the 
     history of the United States military.
       (5) Following the start of the Korean War in 1950, the Army 
     recalled Hershey Miyamura, who had remained as a member of 
     the reserve components of the Army, back into active duty.
       (6) During an overnight firefight from April 24 to April 
     25, 1951, then-Corporal Miyamura covered the withdrawal of 
     his entire company from advancing enemy forces as a machine 
     gun squad leader.
       (7) The selfless actions by Hershey Miyamura that night 
     allowed all 16 of his men to withdraw safely before he was 
     severely wounded and captured as a prisoner of war.
       (8) Nearly 2\1/2\ years later, following his release and 
     return to the United States, President Eisenhower presented 
     Hershey Miyamura with the Congressional Medal of Honor in a 
     ceremony at the White House.
       (9) The lifelong dedication of Hershey Miyamura to the 
     United States never ceased. It continued long after his 
     decorated military service ended.
       (10) After he received his honorable discharge from the 
     Army, Hershey Miyamura opened a service station along Route 
     66 in his hometown of Gallup, New Mexico.
       (11) Hershey Miyamura remained active in his community 
     until his dying days, advocating for his fellow veterans and 
     inspiring young people with lectures on patriotism, faith, 
     and service.
       (b) Designation.--The clinic of the Department of Veterans 
     Affairs located at 2075 South NM Highway 602, Gallup, New 
     Mexico, shall after the date of the enactment of this Act be 
     known and designated as the ``Hiroshi `Hershey' Miyamura 
     Department of Veterans Affairs Clinic'' or the ``Hiroshi 
     `Hershey' Miyamura VA Clinic''.
       (c) References.--Any reference in any law, regulation, map, 
     document, paper, or other record of the United States to the 
     clinic referred to in subsection (b) shall be considered to 
     be a reference to the ``Hiroshi `Hershey' Miyamura VA 
     Clinic''.

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


                             General Leave

  Mr. BOST. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may 
have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks on 
S. 475.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Illinois?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. BOST. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of a bill designating the 
Department of Veterans Affairs clinic in Gallup, New Mexico, as the 
Hiroshi ``Hershey'' Miyamura VA Clinic.
  Hiroshi Miyamura was born in Gallup, New Mexico, the son of a 
Japanese immigrant. He received the nickname ``Hershey'' from his 
fourth grade teacher, who could not pronounce his first name correctly. 
I know how that happens.

                              {time}  1645

  He joined the U.S. Army during the final days of World War II, served 
as a machine gunner in the storied 442nd Infantry Regiment. Following 
the war, he remained in the Army Reserve.
  At the onset of the Korean war, ``Hershey'' was recalled to Active 
Duty and, once again, sent to the front lines. He earned the Medal of 
Honor for his actions during a firefight that occurred overnight from 
April 24 to April 25, 1951.
  Overwhelmed by the enemy forces, Corporal Miyamura covered the safe 
withdrawal of his entire company, despite being wounded himself. 
Unfortunately, he was captured immediately after his heroic actions. He 
was held as a prisoner of war for 28 months and released on August 20, 
1953, a month after the end of the Korean war.
  In October of that year, President Eisenhower presented the Medal of 
Honor to Staff Sergeant Miyamura.
  After his honorable discharged, he returned to his community in 
Gallup, New Mexico, where he became an automobile mechanic and service 
station owner. More importantly, he remained active supporting his 
fellow veterans and inspiring young people with his patriotism and 
continued service.
  Hiroshi Miyamura is an inspiring American hero. He was born to 
immigrants, rose to the call of a Nation, put himself before others in 
combat, and served as a valuable member of society afterwards.
  This bill ensures his sacrifice and legacy will always be remembered.
  Madam Speaker, I thank the sponsor of this bill, Senator Heinrich, as 
well as the entire New Mexico delegation, for recognizing this American 
hero. I urge all my colleagues to support S. 475.
  Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. TAKANO. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Madam Speaker, I rise to express my support for S. 475, a bill to 
designate the clinic of the Department of Veterans Affairs in Gallup, 
New Mexico, as the Hiroshi ``Hershey'' Miyamura VA Clinic.
  This bill honors a great American from the Greatest Generation. I 
thank Senator Heinrich for sponsoring this bill and Representative 
Leger Fernandez for offering the House companion.
  Born in Gallup, New Mexico, the son of immigrants, Mr. Miyamura 
joined the Army in 1944. He was assigned to the now-storied 442nd 
Regimental Combat Team, although he arrived too late in Europe to see 
much action. However, his military service did not end with World War 
II.
  He enlisted in the Army Reserves after the war and was called into 
Active Duty with the outbreak of the Korean war. He became a squad 
leader in the 3rd Infantry Division.
  On the night of April 24, 1951, Corporal Miyamura's unit of machine 
gunners and riflemen came under attack. He killed 10 enemy soldiers 
with his bayonet. He then blasted away with his machine gun, a rifle, 
and grenades and wielded his bayonet again to allow his men to retreat.
  He killed more than 50 of the enemy before his ammunition was 
depleted and he was severely wounded. He was captured and held for 28 
months as a prisoner of war until he was released in 1953 after the 
armistice.
  For his conduct, then-Corporal Miyamura was awarded the Congressional 
Medal of Honor for his conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity. He was 
awarded the medal in secret in 1951 while he was a POW, but it was 
finally presented in public in 1953.
  Achieving the rank of staff sergeant, Mr. Miyamura returned to New 
Mexico. His dedication and patriotism continued after he returned from 
South Korea to share his experiences in the war.
  He also served as an integral part of the lives of veterans and 
others in his community. Mr. Miyamura once said:

       Until I saw that flag--the Star-Spangled Banner waving in 
     the breeze--did I know. I've learned what it represents. That 
     alone is what makes you feel so humble. So many of these 
     fellas who deserve it never came home to any recognition. 
     There are so many Americans who don't know what the medal 
     represents or what any soldier or servicewoman or -man does 
     for this country, and I believe one of these days--I hope one 
     of these days--they will learn of the sacrifices that a lot 
     of the men and women have made for this country.

  Madam Speaker, let this legislation be an opportunity to let our 
fellow Americans know about the service and sacrifice that came before.
  Madam Speaker, I support this important piece of legislation, and I 
ask my colleagues to do the same.
  Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. BOST. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. TAKANO. Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from 
New Mexico (Ms. Leger Fernandez), my very good friend who serves on the 
House Rules Committee and House Committee on Natural Resources.
  Ms. LEGER FERNANDEZ. Madam Speaker, I thank Mr. Takano and the chair 
for allowing me to speak today in support of S. 475, which Senator 
Heinrich and I introduced. It would designate the Veterans Affairs 
clinic in Gallup, New Mexico, as the Hiroshi ``Hershey'' Miyamura VA 
Clinic.
  Corporal Hiroshi, or ``Hershey'' as those in New Mexico called him 
early on, was born in 1925 to Japanese immigrants in Gallup, New 
Mexico. Beautiful Gallup, New Mexico, is in my district and it is 
surrounded by beautiful

[[Page H4364]]

mountains, mesas, the Navajo Nation, the Zuni Pueblo, and others. It is 
a tremendously, achingly beautiful place, but from Gallup, he answered 
the call to serve not just once, but twice in his life--first in World 
War II and then in the Korean war.
  He wanted to fight for his country in World War II but was ineligible 
because of his ancestry until 1945. He then served in the 442nd 
Infantry Regiment, a unit entirely composed of Japanese Americans 
because we must remember that at the time that he was answering the 
call to service, we were suffering in the United States a period of 
hatred and xenophobia toward Japanese Americans, which makes his answer 
to the call of service even more extraordinary and for which we are 
even more grateful.

  In 1951, Corporal Miyamura held off enemy soldiers that threatened 
his machine gun squad. He faced them in hand-to-hand combat. He single-
handedly held the line giving his squad time to reach safety. Corporal 
Miyamura would spend the next 28 months as a prisoner of war.
  Corporal Miyamura was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for 
his service, only learning of his achievement upon his release in 1953. 
I thank Mr. Takano for sharing those most moving words, Madam Speaker, 
that he spoke upon receiving that medal. He was the second to last 
living Korean war Medal of Honor recipient. Now, his passing in 
November 2022 reminds us of the sacrifices our veterans make to defend 
our beautiful Nation.
  The Gallup community is extremely proud to have been Corporal 
Miyamura's home where he returned. The Veterans Affairs Clinic in 
Gallup provides essential care to veterans and their dependents. It is 
one of our rural CBOCs that provides essential care, so our veterans 
don't have to spend 2 to 3 hours on the road to get the care that we 
have promised our veterans.
  I have visited that clinic. I visited with the veterans in Gallup, 
and they have asked me about the status of this designation. I am going 
to be really happy when we pass this, hopefully this week, to tell them 
we have done it.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The time of the gentlewoman has expired.
  Mr. TAKANO. Madam Speaker, I yield an additional 30 seconds to the 
gentlewoman from New Mexico.
  Ms. LEGER FERNANDEZ. We will name this clinic after him so that he 
can keep watch over his brothers and sisters in arms as their guardian 
angel. We will remember him, Gallup will miss him, a Nation will miss 
him, but most of all, we will continue to honor him.
  Madam Speaker, I hope my colleagues will join me in honoring Corporal 
Miyamura and vote for Senate bill 475.
  Mr. TAKANO. Madam Speaker, I ask all my colleagues to join me in 
passing S. 475, a bill to designate the clinic of the Department of 
Veterans Affairs in Gallup, New Mexico, as the Hiroshi ``Hershey'' 
Miyamura VA Clinic.
  Let me just add that I had three great uncles who served in the 
442nd, a storied Regimental Combat Team. It is always a poignant story 
about their service, and I thank the chairman for offering his support 
in the commemoration of their service to our country.
  Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. BOST. Madam Speaker, I, once again, encourage Members to support 
this legislation. This is truly a piece of legislation that helps the 
community know and understand how a gallant hero served this Nation. A 
Congressional Medal of Honor is the highest award. It is not given 
lightly. For a person who truly did face a time when persecution 
happened to his people but still served this Nation, it is a true honor 
that we need to bestow on him.
  Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Bost) that the House suspend the rules and 
pass the bill, S. 475.
  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. BOST. Madam 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.

                          ____________________