[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 15]
[House]
[Pages 20634-20635]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                 CHUCK FORTENBERRY POST OFFICE BUILDING

  Mr. MARCHANT. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 6078) to designate the facility of the United States Postal 
Service located at 307 West Wheat Street in Woodville, Texas, as the 
``Chuck Fortenberry Post Office Building''.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                               H.R. 6078

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

     SECTION 1. CHUCK FORTENBERRY POST OFFICE BUILDING.

       (a) Designation.--The facility of the United States Postal 
     Service located at 307 West Wheat Street in Woodville, Texas, 
     shall be known and designated as the ``Chuck Fortenberry 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 ``Chuck Fortenberry Post Office 
     Building''.


[[Page 20635]]


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

                              {time}  2300


                             General Leave

  Mr. MARCHANT. Madam 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 the bill under 
consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Texas?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. MARCHANT. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Madam Speaker, H.R. 6078 as introduced by the gentleman from Texas 
(Mr. Brady) would designate the post office in Woodville, Texas, as the 
``Chuck Fortenberry Post Office.'
  Chief Warrant Officer Fortenberry was a 19\1/2\-year Army veteran who 
was serving with the 1st Battalion, 227th Aviation Regiment, 1st 
Cavalry Division, out of Fort Hood, Texas. During the course of his 
distinguished career, he also served in the 82nd Airborne Division, 
became an Army Ranger, and worked in Alaska before joining the warrant 
officer program to fly helicopters.
  Officer Fortenberry was killed on Easter Sunday, April 11, 2004, when 
his AH-64 Apache helicopter was shot down over Baghdad. On that Sunday, 
a convoy traveling through Baghdad en route to Fallujah came under 
enemy fire. Someone on the ground called for air support, and 
Fortenberry and his partner, Chief Warrant Officer Lawrence ``Shane'' 
Colton, responded within moments. The convoy was saved, but their 
helicopter was shot down. Officer Fortenberry and his crewman paid the 
ultimate price for their country and their comrades, and I hope all 
members will join me in supporting this bill to honor such bravery and 
sacrifice.
  Madam Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman 
from Texas (Mr. Brady).
  Mr. BRADY of Texas. Madam Speaker, I appreciate Congressman Marchant 
for his leadership on this issue.
  On Easter Sunday, 2004, Apache helicopter pilot, Army Chief Warrant 
Officer Wesley Lee Charles Fortenberry and his gunner answered a 
desperate call for help from a convoy of 29 Reservists trapped in an 
ambush with an estimated 300 Muslim extremists, pinned down in a mile-
long kill zone in Baghdad, literally down to their last rounds of 
ammunition.
  Pilot Chuck Fortenberry and his gunner fought to save the lives of 29 
soldiers, repeatedly silencing enemy guns and drawing fire to 
themselves. As one Reservist said, everywhere the Apache flew, the fire 
stopped. And when I heard the Apaches all I could think of was thank 
God, I am going to live.
  Well, an enemy rocket eventually silenced the 30 millimeter cannons 
and the life of Chuck Fortenberry. On that Easter Sunday, Chuck 
Fortenberry willingly gave his life to save the lives of many of his 
countrymen knowing he may never hold his loving wife again or see his 
three sons grow into men.
  He represents a new generation of hero, fighting for our security, 
and he is the latest in a long line of Tyler County veterans who 
answered the call to our Nation's defense. I want to make sure that 
future generations understand the freedoms they enjoy are paid for by 
the blood, sweat and tears of the families in Tyler County who raise 
their sons and their daughters to love and serve their country at any 
price.
  I am proud to author this legislation. I urge its support.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
may consume.
  Madam Speaker, H.R. 6078, legislation introduced by Representative 
Kevin Brady of Texas was unanimously reported by the Government Reform 
Committee on September 21, 2006.
  The bill designates the facility of the United States Postal Service 
located at 307 West Wheat Street in Woodville, Texas, as the ``Chuck 
Fortenberry Post Office Building.''
  Chief Warrant Officer Chuck Fortenberry and his gunner, Chief Warrant 
Officer Shane Colton were killed in action in Iraq on April 11, 2004, 
when they responded to an urgent call for help from an Army field 
convoy pinned down by enemy fire near Fallujah.
  Madam Speaker, two individuals who have given their life in such a 
manner as to demonstrate not only courage but also commitment, I can 
think no better way of honoring Mr. Fortenberry than to name this 
postal service in his honor in his hometown
  Mr. MORAN of Kansas. Madam Speaker, on Easter Sunday, 2004, Apache 
helicopter pilot Army Chief Warrant Officer 3 Wesley Charles 
Fortenberry and his gunner answered a desperate call for help from a 
convoy of 29 reservists trapped in an ambush with an estimated 300 
Muslim extremists--pinned down in a mile-long kill zone in Bagdad, down 
to their last rounds of ammunition.
  Pilot Chuck Fortenberry and his gunner fought to save the lives of 29 
soldiers, repeatedly silencing enemy guns and drawing fire to 
themselves. As one reservist said ``everywhere the Apache flew, the 
fire stopped. When I heard the Apaches, all I could think of was `Thank 
God', I am going to live.''
  To make sure that future generations understand the sacrifices that 
ensure their freedoms I am proud to announce I have introduced 
legislation to name the Woodville Post Office in honor of Chuck 
Fortenberry.
  This is a lasting tribute to an American hero. It is also a tribute 
to the people of Tyler County, whose sons and daughters have defended 
America's
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my 
time.
  Mr. MARCHANT. Madam Speaker, I urge all Members to support the 
passage of H.R. 6078, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Texas (Mr. Marchant) that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the bill, H.R. 6078.
  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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