[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 12]
[House]
[Pages 17150-17151]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




      CHARLES GEORGE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS MEDICAL CENTER

  Mr. HARE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill 
(H.R. 2546) to designate the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical 
Center in Asheville, North Carolina, as the ``Charles George Department 
of Veterans Affairs Medical Center''.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 2546

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

     SECTION 1. DESIGNATION OF CHARLES GEORGE DEPARTMENT OF 
                   VETERANS AFFAIRS MEDICAL CENTER.

       (a) Designation.--The Department of Veterans Affairs 
     Medical Center located at 1100 Tunnel Road, Asheville, North 
     Carolina, shall after the date of the enactment of this Act 
     be known and designated as the ``Charles George Department of 
     Veterans Affairs Medical Center''.
       (b) References.--Any reference in any law, regulation, map, 
     document, record, or other paper of the United States to the 
     medical center referred to in subsection (a) shall be 
     considered to be a reference to the Charles George Department 
     of Veterans Affairs Medical Center.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Illinois (Mr. Hare) and the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Ginny Brown-
Waite) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Illinois.
  Mr. HARE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  In its history, the Medal of Honor has been awarded only 3,463 times. 
3,458 of those were awarded for separate acts of heroism. I'm here 
today to tell you about one such act and the extraordinary individual 
who performed it. I am truly in awe of his courage and selflessness.
  His name was Charles George. He was a Private First Class in the 
United States Army. PFC George distinguished himself by going above and 
beyond the call of duty in action against the enemy on the night of 
November 30, 1952.
  He was a member of a raiding party committed to engage the enemy and 
capture a prisoner for interrogation. Subject to intense mortar and 
machine gun fire, and suffering several casualties throughout the 
advance, he fought valiantly, and upon reaching the crest of the hill, 
leaped into the trenches and engaged with the enemy in hand-to-hand 
combat.
  When friendly troops were ordered to move back upon completion of the 
assignment, he and 2 comrades remained to cover the withdrawal. While 
in the process of leaving the trenches, a hostile soldier hurled a 
grenade into their midst.
  PFC George shouted a warning to 1 comrade, pushed the other soldier 
out of danger, and with full knowledge of the consequences, 
unhesitatingly threw himself upon the grenade, absorbing the full blast 
of the explosion. Although seriously wounded in this display of valor, 
he refrained from any outcry which would divulge the position of his 
companions.
  The 2 soldiers evacuated him to the forward aid station and shortly 
thereafter he succumbed to his wounds.
  This brave young man epitomized courage and self sacrifice. To show 
our deep appreciation, and so that we never forget, H.R. 2546 would 
name the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Asheville, North Carolina, 
as the Charles George Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center.

                              {time}  1630

  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such 
time as I may consume.
  I rise in support of H.R. 2546, which would rename the Department of 
Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Asheville, North Carolina, the 
Charles George Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center.
  This legislation was introduced by my colleague from North Carolina, 
Representative Heath Shuler, and I appreciate his efforts to bring this 
bill to the floor for consideration so that we can pay tribute to yet 
another Medal of Honor recipient.
  This legislation honors a soldier who made the ultimate sacrifice for 
his comrades in arms and for his country. As a grateful Nation, it is 
fitting and right to offer tribute to him by giving his name to a 
facility that expresses our Nation's promise to those who served us in 
military uniform.
  Private First Class Charles George was a native of Cherokee, North 
Carolina, and a member of the Eastern Band of the Cherokee Nation. He 
served his country bravely in the U.S. Army and was posthumously 
awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions on the night of November 30, 
1952.
  On that night in Korea, Private First Class George was a member of a 
raiding party committed to engage the enemy and capture a prisoner for 
interrogation. During the execution of its mission, the group was 
subjected to intense enemy fire and suffered several casualties. PFC 
George fought valiantly and, upon reaching the crest of the hill, leapt 
into the trenches and closed with the enemy in hand-to-hand

[[Page 17151]]

combat. When friendly troops were ordered to pull back upon completion 
of the mission, he and two comrades provided cover for the withdrawal 
of troops. While they were leaving the trenches, a grenade was hurled 
into their midst. PFC George shouted a warning to his comrades, pushed 
one soldier out of the way, and threw himself on the grenade. Even 
though severely injured and certainly in agony, PFC George remained 
quiet so that his comrades' position would not be disclosed. His 
companions evacuated him to the first aid station, where he shortly 
succumbed to his wounds.
  Mr. Speaker, at this time I will submit the text of Private First 
Class George's Medal of Honor citation for the Record.

                            *George, Charles

       Rank and organization: Private First Class, U.S. Army, 
     Company C, 179th Infantry Regiment, 45th Infantry Division. 
     Place and date: Near Songnae-dong, Korea, 30 November 1952. 
     Entered service at: Whittier, N.C. Born: 23 August 1932, 
     Cherokee, N.C. G.O. NO.: 19, 18 March 1954. Citation: PFC 
     George, a member of Company C, distinguished himself by 
     conspicuous gallantry and outstanding courage above and 
     beyond the call of duty in action against the enemy on the 
     night of 30 November 1952. He was a member of a raiding party 
     committed to engage the enemy and capture a prisoner for 
     interrogation. Forging up the rugged slope of the key terrain 
     feature, the group was subjected to intense mortar and 
     machine gun fire and suffered several casualties. Throughout 
     the advance, he fought valiantly and, upon reaching the crest 
     of the hill, leaped into the trenches and closed with the 
     enemy in hand-to-hand combat. When friendly troops were 
     ordered to move back upon completion of the assignment, he 
     and 2 comrades remained to cover the withdrawal. While in the 
     process of leaving the trenches a hostile soldier hurled a 
     grenade into their midst. PFC George shouted a warning to 1 
     comrade, pushed the other soldier out of danger, and, with 
     full knowledge of the consequences, unhesitatingly threw 
     himself upon the grenade, absorbing the full blast of the 
     explosion. Although seriously wounded in this display of 
     valor, he refrained from any outcry which would divulge the 
     position of his companions. The 2 soldiers evacuated him to 
     the forward aid station and shortly thereafter he succumbed 
     to his wound. PFC George's indomitable courage, consummate 
     devotion to duty, and willing self-sacrifice reflect the 
     highest credit upon himself and uphold the finest traditions 
     of the military service.

  Mr. Speaker, Private First Class Charles George's incomparable 
heroism exemplifies the courage, self-sacrifice, and patriotism that 
are woven throughout the fabric of our Armed Forces. His consuming 
regard for his comrades exemplifies the very strong bond of those who 
served in the military feel for one another. PFC George made the 
ultimate sacrifice for us, and it befits that signal act that we name 
the Asheville North Carolina VA Medical Center in his honor.
  I urge my colleagues to support this excellent legislation, 
introduced by Mr. Shuler, so that we can name the facility in honor of 
a very, very brave man who helped our country and certainly the country 
of South Korea during the Korean War.
  Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back 
the balance of my time.
  Mr. HARE. Mr. Speaker, I join my colleague in urging all of my 
colleagues to unanimously support H.R. 2546.
  Mr. SHULER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to request that a great honor 
be bestowed on an equally great soldier. I am referring to PFC Charles 
George, a son of western North Carolina who bravely sacrificed himself 
for his fellow soldiers and for his country. Private First Class George 
came from Cherokee, NC. He was a proud member of the Eastern Band of 
Cherokee Indians and an exemplary soldier in the U.S. Army.
  On the night of November 30, 1952, George's company was operating 
near the South Korean village of Songnae-dong. While charging an enemy 
camp, Private First Class George dodged mortar and machine-gun fire, 
jumped into the enemy's trenches, and engaged in hand-to-hand combat. 
When the American soldiers were ordered to retreat, Private First Class 
George remained behind to ensure the safety of his withdrawing 
companions. The enemy then launched a grenade into his company, at 
which point Private First Class George dove upon the explosive, 
absorbing the blast and saving his comrades. He died soon after while 
being evacuated by his fellow soldiers.
  Private First Class George was awarded the Congressional Medal of 
Honor and is the only member of the Eastern Band of the Cherokee 
Indians to be given this mark of distinction. Now, Mr. Speaker, I ask 
that we bestow another honor upon Private First Class George by placing 
his name on the Asheville VA Medical Center. This center has a 112-bed 
acute care facility and a 120-bed extended care facility that serves 
veterans in western North Carolina and sections of Georgia, South 
Carolina, and Tennessee. It provides quality and comprehensive primary, 
tertiary, and long-term health care to those who have valiantly 
sacrificed for our country.
  Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank Chairman Filner for his leadership 
on this issue, as well as the American Legion and the Eastern Band of 
Cherokee Indians for their diligent efforts to ensure that PFC George 
is given the honor he deserves. I ask that my colleagues support me in 
renaming the Asheville VA Medical Center the Charles George VA Medical 
Center.
  Mr. HARE. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and 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. Hare) that the House suspend the rules and 
pass the bill, H.R. 2546.
  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. HARE. 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 and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this question will 
be postponed.

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