[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 1]
[House]
[Pages 73-74]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                 SERGEANT MATTHEW L. INGRAM POST OFFICE

  Mr. LYNCH. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 4139) to designate the facility of the United States Postal 
Service located at 7464 Highway 503 in Hickory, Mississippi, as the 
``Sergeant Matthew L. Ingram Post Office''.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 4139

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

     SECTION 1. SERGEANT MATTHEW L. INGRAM POST OFFICE.

       (a) Designation.--The facility of the United States Postal 
     Service located at 7464 Highway 503 in Hickory, Mississippi, 
     shall be known and designated as the ``Sergeant Matthew L. 
     Ingram 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 ``Sergeant Matthew L. Ingram Post 
     Office''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Massachusetts (Mr. Lynch) and the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. 
Luetkemeyer) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Massachusetts.


                             General Leave

  Mr. LYNCH. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their 
remarks and add any extraneous materials.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Massachusetts?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. LYNCH. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  As chairman of the House subcommittee with jurisdiction over the 
United States Postal Service, I am pleased to present H.R. 4139 for 
consideration. This legislation will designate the United States Postal 
Service facility located at 7464 Highway 503 in Hickory, Mississippi, 
as the ``Sergeant Matthew L. Ingram Post Office.''
  H.R. 4139 was introduced by my colleague Representative Gregg Harper 
of Mississippi on November 19, 2009, and reported out of the Oversight 
and Government Reform Committee on December 10, 2009, by a voice vote. 
In addition, the legislation enjoys the support of the entire 
Mississippi House delegation.
  A native of Pearl, Mississippi, Sergeant Ingram was serving in 
support of Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan as a proud member 
of the 2nd Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 
4th Infantry Division out of Fort Carson, Colorado. Regrettably, 
Sergeant Ingram was killed in action in Kunar province, Afghanistan on 
August, 21, 2009, after an improvised explosive device detonated near 
his vehicle and his unit came under small arms fire from enemy forces. 
Sergeant Ingram was 25 years old at the time of his death.

[[Page 74]]

  Following his graduation from Newton County High School in Decatur, 
Mississippi, Sergeant Ingram enlisted in the United States Army in 2003 
to fulfill his lifelong goal of serving his country. One year later, 
Sergeant Ingram was deployed to Iraq and served two tours of duty, with 
distinction, in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom from 2004 to 2005 
and from 2006 to 2007. In recognition of his exemplary service, 
Sergeant Ingram received an Army Commendation Medal, an honor bestowed 
on soldiers who distinguish themselves through heroism, meritorious 
achievement, or meritorious service.
  On May 26, 2009, Sergeant Ingram began a tour of duty in Afghanistan 
in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and remained in service to his 
country until his passing on August 21 of last year.
  Madam Speaker, those that were fortunate enough to know Sergeant 
Matthew Ingram remember him as a loyal, hardworking, and positive young 
man whose dedication to serving his country was only surpassed by his 
devotion to his loving family. In the words of his loving father, 
James, Sergeant Matthew Ingram was a ``mighty good man.''
  As noted by his beloved wife, Holly, Sergeant Ingram was a soldier at 
heart, whose service in the United States Army afforded him the 
opportunity to do exactly what he loved to do. However, Sergeant Ingram 
always considered being a good dad to his daughter, Chloe, now over 1 
year old, as his most important mission in life. ``He loved his baby 
and would do anything for her,'' recalled Holly Ingram upon her 
husband's passing.
  Similarly, Sergeant Ingram's classmates and teachers at his alma 
mater, Newton County High School, remember their fallen friend as a 
dedicated and courageous young man.

                              {time}  1230

  As noted by Sergeant Ingram's former teacher, Sue Geter, I am very 
honored to have taught him. And the fact that he gave the ultimate 
price is something I am proud of, that I had an opportunity to teach 
him.
  Madam Speaker, the life of Sergeant Matthew L. Ingram stands as a 
testament to the courage and dedication of all our brave servicemen and 
women who have made the ultimate sacrifice in defense of our Nation. 
Let us pay tribute to the life and service of Sergeant Matthew L. 
Ingram through the passage of this legislation, H.R. 4139, to designate 
the Hickory, Mississippi, postal facility in his honor. I urge all of 
my colleagues to join us in supporting H.R. 4139.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. LUETKEMEYER. Madam Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume 
to my distinguished colleague, the gentleman from the State of 
Mississippi (Mr. Harper).
  Mr. HARPER. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 4139, a 
resolution to designate the facility of the United States Postal 
Service located in Hickory, Mississippi, as the ``Sergeant Matthew L. 
Ingram Post Office.''
  As a child, Matthew was thought of by his mother, Patricia, as the 
one giving the orders. She explains he would tell his older brother 
what to do. ``He's always been a leader, not a follower,'' explains 
Patricia. ``He did not want to be mediocre.'' As Matthew grew older, he 
saw many advantages to military service. For starters, he saw the Army 
as a way to serve the country that he loved, pay for his education, 
and, as his mother added, see the world.
  Ingram joined the Army in the summer of 2003, fulfilling his basic 
training requirements at Fort Benning, Georgia. Matthew served as a 
member of the 2nd Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat 
Team, 4th Infantry Division, based in Fort Carson, Colorado. Soon after 
basic training his brigade was reassigned to South Korea, where he 
spent 10 months prior to his first deployment to Iraq for a 1-year 
tour.
  Stationed in Colorado after returning from Iraq, Ingram would meet 
his future wife, Holly. Their 2006 marriage preceded his return for a 
second Iraq tour. However, this time he had been promoted to sergeant. 
In 2007, Sergeant Ingram returned to Colorado from theatre wearing an 
impressive military decoration. He wore one of the highest honors 
presented to soldiers who have been wounded while serving our country, 
the Purple Heart. As his mother would describe, ``That was his most 
prized possession.'' Sergeant Ingram's next call to duty was in 
Afghanistan in May of 2009, and for the first time he left not only a 
wife, whom he loved, but also a beautiful baby girl, Chloe. His 
departure would be the last time this brave young soldier would embrace 
his family that he loved so much.
  On August 20, 2009, Army Sergeant Matthew Ingram died from wounds 
suffered from an IED detonated near his vehicle during combat in 
Afghanistan. The blast occurred while his unit was under small-arms 
fire from enemy forces. At the time of his death, the fighting in 
Afghanistan was so brutal that Admiral Mike Mullen, the chairman of the 
Joint Chiefs of Staff, described the situation as ``serious and 
deteriorating.'' Although this would be his last mission, combat had 
become familiar to this brave, 25-year-old Purple Heart recipient.
  Naming this facility will present a constant reminder of the 
sacrifices Sergeant Ingram and other Mississippians have made through 
their service to our country. Matthew's love for his country and able 
leadership took him from Hickory, Mississippi, to Afghanistan, and his 
courage and sacrifice will never be forgotten. I urge you to support 
this resolution.
  Mr. LUETKEMEYER. Madam Speaker, I urge the Members to support the 
passage of H.R. 4139.
  I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of 
my time.
  Mr. LYNCH. Madam Speaker, I ask all Members on each side as well to 
support this resolution, which will designate the facility of the 
United States Postal Service located in Hickory, Mississippi, in honor 
of Matthew L. Ingram.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Lynch) that the House suspend the 
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 4139.
  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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