[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 9]
[House]
[Pages 13326-13327]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




            STAFF SERGEANT OMER ``O.T.'' HAWKINS POST OFFICE

  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and 
pass the bill (H.R. 2078) to designate the facility of the United 
States Postal Service located at 14536 State Route 136 in Cherry Fork, 
Ohio, as the ``Staff Sergeant Omer `O.T.' Hawkins Post Office''.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 2078

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

     SECTION 1. STAFF SERGEANT OMER T. ``O.T.'' HAWKINS POST 
                   OFFICE.

       (a) Designation.--The facility of the United States Postal 
     Service located at 14536 State Route 136 in Cherry Fork, 
     Ohio, shall be known and designated as the ``Staff Sergeant 
     Omer T. `O.T.' Hawkins 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 Omer T. `O.T.' Hawkins 
     Post Office''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Illinois (Mr. Davis) and the gentlewoman from North Carolina (Ms. Foxx) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Illinois.


                             General Leave

  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. 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 Illinois?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
might consume.
  As a member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government 
Reform, I'm pleased to join my colleague in the consideration of H.R. 
2078, which names the postal facility in Cherry Fork, Ohio, after Omer 
T. ``O.T.'' Hawkins.
  H.R. 2078 was introduced by Representative Jean Schmidt on April 30, 
2007, and was reported from the Oversight Committee on May 1, 2007, by 
voice vote. This measure, which has been cosponsored by 16 Members, has 
the support of the entire Ohio congressional delegation.
  Staff Sergeant Omer T., better known as ``O.T.,'' Hawkins, died on 
Thursday, October 14, 2004, in Ar Ramadi, Iraq, when his convoy was hit 
by a roadside bomb. He was assigned to the 44th Engineer Battalion 
based in Camp Howze, Korea. His Army colleagues have described him as 
``a tremendous warrior coupled with compassion'' and said that ``his 
skill as a superb non-commissioned officer who could influence any 
soldier defined his life and the principles he defended.''
  Staff Sergeant Hawkins graduated from North Adams High School on a 
Friday in 1991, and that following Monday he enlisted in the Army. Miss 
Cherry Frederick, his sister, said, and I quote, ``The only thing that 
he ever wanted to do was go into the military.'' Family and friends 
will forever remember Staff Sergeant Hawkins' dedication and service to 
his country.
  Mr. Speaker, I commend my colleague, Representative Schmidt from 
Ohio, for introducing this legislation. I urge swift passage of this 
bill.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise this afternoon to pay tribute to a remarkable 
soldier and another true American hero. On October 14, 2004, SSGT Omer 
``O.T.'' Hawkins from Cherry Fork, Ohio, gave his life in service to 
our Nation. He was killed when his convoy hit a roadside bomb outside 
Ar Ramadi, Iraq. O.T. was only 31 years old.
  Born on November 29, 1972, O.T. always knew that he wanted to join 
the Army. When he was only 10 years old, O.T. wrote a letter to the 
Army asking if he could sign up despite his being so young. At North 
Adams High School, O.T. showed his leadership while participating in 
many school activities. He was a member of the Academic Team, played 
baseball and was voted ``Most Likely to Succeed'' by his senior class.
  After high school he could have pursued just about any career, yet 
the military remained his number one love and lifelong goal. Only 2 
days after his high school graduation, and 8 years after he wrote that 
priceless letter to the Army expressing his desire to join, he reported 
to basic training.
  O.T. was not only following his personal dream, he was following in 
the footsteps of his father who served proudly as an engineer in the 
Marine Corps.
  Once in the Army, O.T. quickly developed a leadership style armed 
with an arsenal of wit and knowledge, a perfect combination that was 
recognized by his comrades and superiors. Having served on tours of 
duty in Afghanistan, Bosnia, Egypt, Kosovo and Somalia, O.T. was a 
deeply respected and beloved leader. His colleagues have described him, 
as ``a stunning leader and a great man,'' and said that ``his aura 
always gave great hope to his soldiers.''
  O.T. loved this country more than anything else and was proud to 
serve in the protection of its citizens. Friends and family will 
forever remember O.T.'s dedication to the cause of freedom and his 
commitment to bringing that cherished freedom to people around the 
world where he served.
  It is with gratitude for his bravery and sacrifice and for the 
sacrifice of those who loved him that I ask all Members to join me in 
naming the Cherry Fork, Ohio, postal facility in his honor.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, I yield as much time as she may consume to my 
distinguished colleague from the State of Ohio (Mrs. Schmidt).

                              {time}  1545

  Mrs. SCHMIDT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 2078, 
legislation to name the United States Postal Facility in Cherry Fork, 
Ohio, as the ``Staff Sergeant Omer T. `O.T.' Hawkins Post Office.'' I 
would urge my colleagues to support this legislation to honor an 
American hero who made the ultimate sacrifice for our Nation.
  Born on November 29, 1972, O.T. always knew he wanted to be a 
soldier; and at the age of 10 he actually wrote the Army requesting 
that he become a member of the Army. In high school, he was a member of 
the academic team and was voted ``Most Likely to Succeed.'' Instead of 
going to college or taking another career path, just shortly after 
graduation he joined the Army.
  In the Army, O.T. quickly developed a leadership style armed with an 
arsenal of wit and knowledge that was admired by all who served with 
him. His deployments took him across the globe, including Desert Storm, 
Somalia, Haiti, Egypt twice, Bosnia, and Kosovo. His colleagues 
described him as a tremendous soldier, someone who loved his country.
  U.S. Army SSGT Omer O.T. Hawkins died on Thursday, October 14, 2004, 
in Ar Ramadi, Iraq, when his convoy was hit by a roadside bomb. His 
letter as an innocent young boy illustrates the lifelong desire O.T. 
had to serve his country and why I am humbled to sponsor this bill 
honoring him.
  He believed in what he did, and his last message was:

       ``I will continue to fight when others falter and grow 
     weary of their duty. I firmly believe in the Constitution. In 
     fact, I believe it applies to all humanity, not just 
     America.''

  I would like to share a poem written by O.T.'s nephew Joshua for his 
funeral:

       ``A soldier isn't judged by how good his aim is or how many 
     bullets he's used. He isn't judged by how many lives he's 
     taken or how many ribbons decorate his uniform. He won't be 
     judged by how many wars he's fought or enemies he's made.

[[Page 13327]]

       ``A soldier is judged by how many flags hang for him and 
     how many yellow ribbons decorate cars for him.
       ``I know my Uncle O.T. is above us smiling because he knows 
     that in 20 years people won't remember how many medals he 
     received but how hard he fought for his country.''

  Please help ensure that future generations of SSGT O.T. Hawkins' 
family, friends, and neighbors in Cherry Fork, Ohio, never forget how 
hard he fought for his country.
  Please support H.R. 2078.
  Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Just to close, let me just indicate there are heroes and heroes all 
around us. Many of them are indeed giants who give of themselves in 
such a way that others pay little note to. And so when we take the time 
to name a Federal installation after a soldier who gave his or her 
life, in essence we are taking some of the dirt from around, taking the 
person out of the hole, and elevating them to the status of giant that 
they really are and have been.
  So I commend my colleague from Ohio for introducing this legislation, 
and I urge its passage.
  Mr. Speaker, 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. Davis) that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the bill, H.R. 2078.
  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.

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