[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 17]
[House]
[Pages 23570-23571]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                STAFF SERGEANT DAVID L. NORD POST OFFICE

  Mr. WELCH of Vermont. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and 
pass the bill (H.R. 3106) to designate the facility of the United 
States Postal Service located at 805 Main Street in Ferdinand, Indiana, 
as the ``Staff Sergeant David L. Nord Post Office''.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 3106

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

     SECTION 1. STAFF SERGEANT DAVID L. NORD POST OFFICE.

       (a) Designation.--The facility of the United States Postal 
     Service located at 805 Main Street in Ferdinand, Indiana, 
     shall be known and designated as the ``Staff Sergeant David 
     L. Nord Post Office''.
       (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 ``Staff Sergeant David L. Nord Post 
     Office''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Vermont (Mr. Welch) and the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Westmoreland) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Vermont.


                             General Leave

  Mr. WELCH of Vermont. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all 
Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their 
remarks.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Vermont?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. WELCH of Vermont. Madam Speaker, as a member of the House 
Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, I'm pleased to join my 
colleagues in the consideration of H.R. 3106. This names a postal 
facility in Ferdinand, Indiana after David L. Nord.
  H.R. 3106, introduced by Representative Baron Hill on July 19, 2007, 
was reported from the Oversight Committee on August 1, 2007, by voice 
vote. This measure, cosponsored by eight Members, has the support of 
the entire Indiana congressional delegation.
  Madam Speaker, Staff Sergeant David Nord was killed on June 23, 1969, 
in Bing Long, South Vietnam. He was assigned to 11th Armored Cavalry 
Regiment at Camp Blackhorse, Vietnam as a scout section leader.
  Staff Sergeant Nord was awarded the Bronze Star, along with several 
other awards for his bravery and sacrifice to his country.
  Madam Speaker, I commend my colleague, Representative Baron Hill, for 
introducing this legislation, and urge the swift passage of this bill.
  Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. WESTMORELAND. Madam Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may 
consume.
  Madam Speaker, I rise this afternoon, again, to pay tribute to 
another remarkable soldier and another true American hero. At the age 
of only 21, Staff Sergeant David Nord from Ferdinand, Indiana became a 
genuine war hero. On June 23, 1969, he was killed in Vietnam War action 
while serving with the U.S. Army.
  Staff Sergeant Nord was born and raised in Ferdinand, Indiana, 
sharing his younger years with his one brother and three sisters. After 
graduating in 1967 from St. Ferdinand High School, he worked in the 
Ferdinand furniture factory.
  Staff Sergeant Nord was drafted into the Army where he was assigned 
to the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment at Camp Blackhorse, Vietnam. With 
his positive attitude and hard work he rose quickly through the ranks 
and served as a scout section leader. After serving several months, 
Staff Sergeant Nord was granted a 21-day home leave, and it was during 
that time that he married Louann, his long-time girlfriend. Sadly, only 
three weeks after returning to the battlefield, he and most of his crew 
were killed when a grenade hit the tank that he was commanding. He left 
behind his family, his new wife and a baby, David Lee II, who he never 
got to meet. Staff Sergeant Nord was also the first member of the 
Ferdinand Post 124 of the American Legion to be killed in action. He 
showed outstanding bravery, courageous leadership and heroism which 
earned him nine medals that were awarded to his family, his wife and 
his son after his death. The awarded medals were the Bronze Star, the 
Purple Heart, the Vietnamese Campaign Ribbon, the Good Conduct Ribbon, 
the Combat Infantry Badge, National Defense Service Ribbon, the Vietnam 
Service Medal, the Expert Badge with Rifle Bar and the Sharp Shooter 
Badge with Rifle Bar.
  It is for those reasons that we name this post office for Staff 
Sergeant David Nord in his hometown of Ferdinand, Indiana. And, Madam 
Speaker, I hope that all of our colleagues will vote for this 
unanimously.
  Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. WELCH of Vermont. Madam Speaker, I yield to my colleague from 
Indiana, Representative Baron Hill, such time as he may consume.
  Mr. HILL. Madam Speaker, H.R. 3106 would rename the post office in 
Ferdinand, Indiana after David Nord, the only Vietnam veteran from 
Ferdinand who was killed in action in the Vietnam War. This idea first 
came to my attention because of the hard work of David's family and his 
friends. They called me. This bill represents what we, as Members of 
our Congress, are here for, and that is to represent our constituents 
back home. I'd like to thank and recognize a few people who have been 
influential in getting this accomplished. First I would like to 
recognize David Nord's brother Dan and the rest of the family David 
left behind, including his son, David Nord II. Dan has been very active 
in making sure his brother's life is remembered and honored.
  Like Dan, Frank Begle, a fellow soldier of David Nord's in Vietnam, 
has been a driving force in getting the Ferdinand post office renamed 
to honor David Nord.
  Also Kathy Tretter, the editor and co-publisher of the local paper in 
Ferdinand, population of about 800 or 900 people. The Ferdinand News 
contacted my staff about this effort after working on stories about 
David's life.
  I would also like to thank my colleagues in the Indiana delegation 
for all cosponsoring this bill.
  Let me take a moment to touch on why the post office in downtown 
Ferdinand should be renamed to honor David Nord. David Nord is the only 
Ferdinand native who was killed in Vietnam. He was drafted into the 
Army, and in talking to his younger brother Dan, David was not very 
excited about having to go to Vietnam. But he did his duty to his 
country, and for that we give him thanks.
  David rose quickly through the Army ranks because of his hard work 
and skill. And when he returned home briefly in 1969, he came home to 
marry his long-time girlfriend. Unfortunately, and tragically, shortly 
thereafter, David returned to Vietnam and was killed on Monday, June 
23, 1969, when a tank he was commanding had to stop because the rubber 
tracker which propelled the vehicle forward slipped from its drive 
wheels and David was hit by a grenade. He died instantly, as well as 
most of his crew.
  David's son was born just a few months after his death, and David, I 
know right now, is trying to get to a television screen to see his 
father being honored here this afternoon.
  A friend from Ferdinand who was stationed in the same unit as David 
tells stories about how David used to give starving Vietnamese women 
and children his Army rations. That was the kind of guy that he was.
  David left behind his parents, his wife, his younger brother and a 
son he never met.

[[Page 23571]]

  Staff Sergeant David Nord was honored with the Bronze Star Medal, the 
Purple Heart, the Vietnamese Campaign Good Conduct Ribbon, Combat 
Infantry Badge, National Defense Service Ribbon, Vietnam Service Medal, 
Expert Badge with Rifle Bar, and Sharpshooter Badge with Rifle Bar.
  His family still lives in Ferdinand, Indiana, as well as his son 
David Nord, Jr. Clearly, David deserves this recognition, and it's an 
honor for me to introduce this resolution. And I urge all of my 
colleagues to support this very important bill for David Nord and his 
family and for the city and town of Ferdinand, Indiana.
  Mr. WESTMORELAND. Madam Speaker, I have no further speakers. I yield 
back the balance of my time.
  Mr. WELCH of Vermont. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman from 
Indiana, and yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Vermont (Mr. Welch) that the House suspend the rules and 
pass the bill, H.R. 3106.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

                          ____________________