[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 19]
[House]
[Pages 26997-26998]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




           MAJOR HENRY A. COMMISKEY, SR. POST OFFICE BUILDING

  Mr. TURNER of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass 
the bill (H.R. 2438) to designate the facility of the United States 
Postal Service located at 115 West Pine Street in Hattiesburg, 
Mississippi, as the ``Major Henry A. Commiskey, Sr. Post Office 
Building''.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                               H.R. 2438

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

     SECTION 1. MAJOR HENRY A. COMMISKEY, SR. POST OFFICE 
                   BUILDING.

       (a) Designation.--The facility of the United States Postal 
     Service located at 115 West Pine Street in Hattiesburg, 
     Mississippi, shall be known and designated as the ``Major 
     Henry A. Commiskey, Sr. Post Office Building''.
       (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 Major Henry A. Commiskey, Sr. Post Office 
     Building.

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


                             General Leave

  Mr. TURNER of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all 
Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend 
their remarks on H.R. 2438.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Ohio?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. TURNER of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the Committee on Government Reform, I am 
pleased that the House is considering H.R. 2438. This post office 
designation bill, introduced by the gentleman from Mississippi (Mr. 
Taylor), honors the service of Major Henry A. Commiskey, Sr.
  Major Commiskey earned the Medal of Honor and a Purple Heart for his 
service to our Nation in the U.S. Marine Corps. Born on January 10, 
1927, in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, he enlisted in the Marines at age 
17. He ultimately served in the Pacific Theater during World War II. 
Major Commiskey earned the Purple Heart for his valor during the 
invasion of Iwo Jima in 1945.
  After World War II ended, he returned safely home and continued to 
serve in the Marine Corps. He advanced to the rank of staff sergeant 
and became a drill instructor at Parris Island, South Carolina. When 
war broke out in Korea, he was shipped overseas again. For his 
tremendous efforts during the conflict in Korea, he earned the Medal of 
Honor.
  Mr. Speaker, we owe so much to members of our Armed Forces who have 
fought for democracy and freedom throughout our Nation's history. Major 
Commiskey deserves all our thanks and praise, and this legislation is a 
way for the Members of this House to honor his brave legacy.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge support for H.R. 2438 that names a post office 
after the late Major Henry A. Commiskey, Sr.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 2438, legislation naming a 
postal facility located at 115 West Pine Street in Hattiesburg, 
Mississippi, after Major Henry A. Commiskey, Sr. H.R. 2438, introduced 
by the gentleman from Mississippi (Mr. Taylor) on June 11, 2003, was 
unanimously approved by our committee on July 10, 2003. The measure has 
met the Committee on Government Reform policy and has the support and 
cosponsorship of the entire Mississippi State congressional delegation.
  Mr. Speaker, Henry A. Commiskey was born in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, 
in 1927. He enlisted in the Marine Corps at age 17 during World War II 
and participated in the 1945 invasion of Iwo Jima, where he earned the 
Purple Heart. He remained in the corps after the war, rose to the rank 
of staff sergeant to become a drill instructor at Parris Island, and 
then graduated from Officer Candidate School in 1949.
  Henry volunteered for combat service at the outbreak of the Korean 
War and was presented the distinguished Medal of Honor by President 
Truman in 1951 for leading a charge up Hill 85 in North Korea and 
killing seven enemy soldiers in hand-to-hand combat on September 20, 
1950.
  Henry A. Commiskey obtained the rank of major before retiring from 
the corps.
  Last year, the Hattiesburg City Council and the Board of Supervisors 
for Forrest County, Mississippi, passed official resolutions requesting 
the assistance of the gentleman from Mississippi (Mr. Taylor) in 
renaming the city's downtown post office after the late Major Henry A. 
Commiskey, Sr., a long-time resident of the community and Medal of 
Honor recipient from the Korean War.

                              {time}  1430

  I want to thank the gentleman from Virginia (Chairman Davis) and the 
gentleman from California (Ranking Member Waxman) and the House 
majority and minority leadership for moving this bill to the floor so 
expeditiously. I also commend my colleague, the gentleman from 
Mississippi (Mr. Taylor) for seeking to honor the tremendous sacrifice 
of Major Commiskey.
  Mr. Speaker, I know that the gentleman from Mississippi (Mr. Taylor) 
has been trying to get here, but he has been traveling from Mississippi 
and has not made it yet. He wanted to be here to speak in favor of this 
legislation. Unfortunately, he did not make it. So I will insert his 
statement in the Record at the appropriate place, and I urge swift 
passage of this bill.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my 
time.

[[Page 26998]]


  Mr. TURNER of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Hefley). The question is on the motion 
offered by the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Turner) that the House suspend 
the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 2438.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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