[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 1]
[House]
[Pages 1065-1066]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




     STAFF SERGEANT FIRST CLASS JOHN MARSHALL POST OFFICE BUILDING

  Mr. ISSA. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill 
(H.R. 289) to designate the facility of the United States Postal 
Service located at 8200 South Vermont Avenue in Los Angeles, 
California, as the ``Staff Sergeant First Class John Marshall Post 
Office Building,'' as amended.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                                H.R. 289

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

     SECTION 1. SERGEANT FIRST CLASS JOHN MARSHALL POST OFFICE 
                   BUILDING.

       (a) Designation.--The facility of the United States Postal 
     Service located at 8200 South Vermont Avenue in Los Angeles, 
     California, shall be known and designated as the ``Sergeant 
     First Class John Marshall 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 ``Sergeant First Class John Marshall Post 
     Office Building''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
California (Mr. Issa) and the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Waters) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from California (Mr. Issa).


                             General Leave

  Mr. ISSA. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may 
have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks 
and include extraneous material on H.R. 289, the bill under 
consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from California?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. ISSA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, this legislation commemorates the life and distinguished 
military service of Sergeant First Class John W. Marshall of Los 
Angeles, California. Sergeant Marshall was killed in action in Iraq on 
April 8, 2003, at age 50. He is survived by his loving wife, Denise, 
and his six children.
  Mr. Speaker, in addition to his participation in Operation Iraqi 
Freedom, Sergeant Marshall served in Germany, Korea, and the first 
Persian Gulf War during his Army career. Sergeant Marshall was 
posthumously awarded the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart.
  For the last few years, leading up to his death, Sergeant Marshall 
had been considering retiring from the Army he loved; but beyond taking 
a leave of absence for 4 years while he battled Hodgkin's lymphoma 
during the 1980s, Marshall faithfully served in the Army since he was 
18.
  Sergeant Marshall was buried at Arlington Cemetery on May 15, 2003, 
despite the fact that almost all of Sergeant Marshall's family lives on 
the other side of the country. Sergeant Marshall's wife and six 
children came to Arlington Cemetery for that burial of their father and 
beloved husband.
  On the issue of where to be buried, Denise said the kids were told 
how their dad died, and they voted their dad was a hero.
  Mr. Speaker, nothing in the world is truer than that. The House has 
not

[[Page 1066]]

passed a more warranted piece of legislation in this Congress or for 
many Congresses. How appropriate it is to recognize Sergeant Marshall's 
bravery in the first week since the historic Iraqi election on Sunday. 
Without a doubt, heroes like John Marshall made the Iraqi election 
possible.
  I know the scores of Iraqis who literally risked their lives to vote 
on Sunday are extremely grateful to Sergeant Marshall for giving his 
life for their freedom.
  I thank my distinguished colleague, the gentlewoman from California 
(Ms. Waters), for honoring Sergeant John Marshall through H.R. 289, and 
I personally think that there is absolutely no better way to name a 
post office than she has done here today.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

                              {time}  1515

  Ms. WATERS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my colleagues in the California 
delegation and the gentleman from California (Mr. Issa) in particular, 
and all of my other colleagues for cosponsoring H.R. 289. I would also 
like to thank the House leadership for allowing H.R. 289 to come to the 
House floor today.
  Mr. Speaker, I am indeed honored to offer this bill, which would 
rename a post office in California's 35th Congressional District after 
Sergeant John Marshall, who died at the age of 50 on April 8, 2003, 
during combat operations while fighting with the 2nd Brigade Combat 
Team of the United States Army's 3rd Infantry Division in Iraq. This 
legislation is just a small way to recognize and pay tribute to one of 
our fallen heroes.
  Mr. Speaker, whatever our views are of our policy in Iraq, it is 
always important for all of us to honor and show our respect for those 
in our military who are serving us so bravely and with such distinction 
in Iraq and all around the world.
  John Marshall spent much of his childhood in Los Angeles, graduating 
from George Washington High School. At the age of 18, Sergeant Marshall 
signed up for duty with the United States Army and served for nearly 30 
years, taking a leave of absence only after he was diagnosed with 
Hodgkin's lymphoma. He was a dedicated career member of our military, a 
shining example of all that is best about our country.
  Sergeant Marshall died when a rocket-propelled grenade hit his 
vehicle as his combat team fought its way to Baghdad. The brigade was 
eventually the first U.S. military unit to enter the Iraqi capital and 
hold the city center. But reaching Baghdad came at a significant loss 
to the unit: eight soldiers, including Sergeant Marshall, died. At the 
time of his death, Sergeant Marshall was the oldest service member to 
die in the Iraq war.
  Mr. Speaker, Sergeant Marshall was eligible for retirement in 2002, 
and many of his friends had urged him to do so. Yet, true to his 
character, Sergeant Marshall's sense of duty to his country and his 
loyalty to his soldiers caused him to continue his military service in 
Iraq. In explaining to his wife his decision to continue serving in 
Iraq, Sergeant Marshall said, and I quote, ``I trained these guys. I 
really need to be there.'' What a wonderful example of selflessness he 
established for all of us.
  Mr. Speaker, Sergeant Marshall leaves behind a wife, Denise, six 
children, both of his parents, eight brothers and sisters, and many 
friends and neighbors whom he touched throughout his life. I had the 
privilege of meeting Mrs. Marshall at Sergeant Marshall's memorial 
service in Los Angeles; and while I know that nothing we can do here 
today can fill the hole that was created with Sergeant Marshall's 
passing or remove the pain of the loss that the Marshall family and 
friends have suffered, it is vital we honor his sacrifice and service.
  Mr. Speaker, Sergeant Marshall fought bravely on behalf of our 
Nation, and the renaming of this post office is just a small gesture of 
thanks from a grateful Nation. The Sergeant John Marshall Post Office 
will be a source of great pride to the community and the residents of 
the 35th Congressional District.
  Mr. Speaker, our country will remain strong and free because our 
military is able to attract and retain the services of people of the 
quality and character of Sergeant Marshall. Our thoughts and prayers 
are with the Marshall family on the loss of this great and good man, 
and I would urge my colleagues to support this important bill.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. ISSA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume to 
also urge all of my colleagues to vote, because our vote, not our 
words, but our recognition of this unsung hero is what will bring 
others to understand his great contribution.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Aderholt). The question is on the motion 
offered by the gentleman from California (Mr. Issa) that the House 
suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 289, as amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
  The result of the vote was announced as above recorded.
  The title of the bill was amended so as to read: ``A bill to 
designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 
8200 South Vermont Avenue in Los Angeles, California, as the `Sergeant 
First Class John Marshall Post Office Building'.''.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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