February 16, 2012 EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS, Vol. 158, Pt. 2 2029 honorary doctorate of letters from Francis Mar- Shandon Presbyterian Church and a devotee and more than 4,500 Purple Hearts. The ion University. of the humor of Robert Benchley. 442nd is forever linked to the 36th Texas Divi- Phil began reporting sports results to the Phil was married for 47 years to Virginia sion, when it rescued the ‘‘lost battalion’’ in the Charlotte Observer in junior high school and ‘‘Ginny’’ Maxwell Grose. They had one daugh- Vosges Mountains of eastern France during went on to write for the Observer during high ter, Patricia, a son-in-law, John Williams, and the fall of 1944. Japanese American troops school and college. He joined the staff fulltime two grandsons, Harrison and David Williams. were also part of the advance Allied troops after graduating from Washington and Lee, Mr. Speaker, I ask that you and my col- that liberated the Dachau concentration camp. covering sports and general news. In 1963, leagues join me in celebrating the life of Phil When the war ended and the United States after a year in New York as a writer for Broad- G. Grose. He was an individual who helped declared victory, President Harry Truman, pre- casting Magazine, Phil came to Columbia join- shape history and preserve it for future gen- sented the 442nd Regimental Combat Team ing the sports staff of The State. He went on erations. In addition, he was a great friend, not with its seventh President Unit Citation on the to become business editor and governmental only to me, but to all who knew him. He will White House lawn and aptly observed: ‘‘You affairs editor before leaving his newspaper ca- be sorely missed, but his contributions will re- have fought not only the enemy, but prejudice reer to enter the political arena. main forever. and you have won.’’ In 1968, Phil became a speechwriter for f Along with the 442nd Regimental Combat Governor Robert McNair. It was a tumultuous Team, another cohort of Japanese-Americans time in South Carolina at the height of the civil A TRIBUTE TO THE NISEI served in the Military Intelligence Service rights movement. Phil was greatly affected by SOLDIERS OF WORLD WAR II (’’MIS’’), made up of approximately 6,000 Nisei the times, and, from his role behind the soldiers attached to combat units in the Pacific scenes, began pushing for South Carolina to HON. JIM COSTA Theater. These soldiers intercepted radio break the bonds of its Jim Crow past. He con- OF CALIFORNIA transmissions, translated enemy documents, tinued those efforts when he joined the staff of IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES interrogated enemy prisoners of war, volun- Governor McNair’s successor, John Carl Thursday, February 16, 2012 teered for reconnaissance and covert intel- West, as executive assistant for communica- ligence missions, and persuaded enemy com- tions and race relations. One of the first ac- Mr. COSTA. Mr. Speaker, I am joined by my batants to surrender. Eventually, some of tions he persuaded Governor West to take colleagues Mr. CARDOZA, Mr. DENHAM, Mr. these MIS soldiers went on to serve during the was to hire a young man named JAMES CLY- HONDA, Ms. MATSUI and Mr. SCHIFF, to pay post-war occupation of Japan, assisting with BURN to serve as the first African American tribute to the outstanding military service and the country’s transition to a democratic form of advisor to a sitting South Carolina governor. patriotism of the Japanese American men and government, and helping to maintain a stable The year was 1971, and since that time Phil women who served in the United States mili- relationship between Japan and the United and I were fast friends. tary during World War II. Over thirty-thousand States. Phil went on to hold other positions in state second-generation Americans of Japanese an- On October 5, 2010, the United States Con- government as deputy director of the Depart- cestry, also known as ‘‘Nisei’’ served in the gress unanimously passed Public Law 111– ment of Social Services and executive director various branches of the U.S. military while 254, the law conferring the Congressional of the State Reorganization Commission. He their families were living in barbed-wire en- Gold Medal, the nation’s highest civilian honor, was founder and executive director of the Ex- closed internment camps scattered throughout to members of the 100th Battalion, 442nd ecutive Institute that provided leadership train- remote regions of the country. Regimental Combat Team and Military Intel- ing for state government administrators, and I On February 19, 1942 President Franklin D. ligence Service. President Obama signed the was one of his first recruits and graduated Roosevelt signed Executive Order No. 9066, law, and on November 2, 2011, Members of from the Executive Institute when I was serv- essentially allowing the forcible relocation and Congress presented these medals to a num- ing as South Carolina Human Affairs Commis- internment of Japanese Americans across the ber of Nisei veterans at Emancipation Hall in sioner. United States; citizens and non-citizens alike. Washington, DC. After retiring from state government, Phil be- As a result, more than 120,000 Americans of Approximately 500 Nisei soldiers from came a senior fellow at the University of South Japanese ancestry, mainly from parts of Merced, Madera, Fresno, Kings and Tulare Carolina’s Institute for Southern Studies, Washington, Oregon, California and Arizona, Counties served in the 100th Infantry Bat- where he wrote about subjects he knew well were detained for nearly three years without talion, 442nd Regimental Combat Team, Mili- and about which was very passionate—the charges or trials and without the basic civil lib- tary Intelligence Service, Counter Intelligence governorships of Robert McNair and John erties guaranteed to all Americans by the Con- Corps, Women’s Army Corp and other military West. ‘‘South Carolina at the Brink: Robert stitution. units, including: McNair and the Politics of Civil Rights’’ and Prior to that, on January 19, 1942, six S. Sgt. Kazuo Komoto of Sanger (MIS), the ‘‘Looking for Utopia: The Life and Times of weeks after the Imperial Japanese Navy’s at- first Nisei Purple Heart recipient of World War John C. West’’ offered great insights into tack on Pearl Harbor, Japanese Americans II; Sgt. Mac Nobuo Nagata of Sanger (MIS), these complicated men and the their contribu- were reclassified by the Selective Service as Legion of Merit recipient who led the 1st lin- tions to South Carolina’s rich history. He had enemy aliens, ineligible to be drafted. Subse- guist team to Southwest Pacific Command; S. recently begun work on a history of Francis quently, the U.S. Department of War chose to Sgt. Kazuo Otani of Visalia (442 RCT) and Marion University in Florence, South Carolina. activate the 100th Battalion, a racially-seg- PFC Joe Nishimoto of Caruthers (442 RCT), Phil and I had also been collaborating on my regated unit composed of Nisei volunteers recipients of the Medal of Honor and among memoir for several years. He was a member from Hawaii who passed loyalty tests to fight 24 Nisei soldiers from Central California killed of my inner circle who knew my experiences in the European Theater. This unit became in action. almost as well as I did myself. His personal in- known as the Purple Heart Battalion due to its PFC Jay Shiroyama of Laton (442 RCT), sights and his talent for writing were invalu- high casualty rate. With these Japanese- one of eight men from I Company that first able in helping me with this project. Americans setting the example, the War De- made contact with the 121 men of the 141st He was also very active in the community. partment established the 442nd Regimental Texas Regiment (Lost Battalion); PFC Tom Phil served on advisory boards of the USC Combat Team, a racially-segregated unit com- Uyeoka of Salinas (522nd Field Artillery Bat- School of Arts and Science, the Journalism posed of Nisei volunteers from confinement talion), settled in Fresno after the war, and School and School of Nursing, and on the sites. helped liberate Jews at the infamous Dachau board of visitors of Columbia College. He was The 442nd Regimental Combat Team, Concentration Camp; and S. Sgt. Mikio a president of Workshop Theater and worked which came to include the 100th Infantry Bat- Uchiyama of Fowler (MIS and CIC), an attor- in numerous Midlands United Way campaigns. talion, spearheaded numerous battles, fought ney during the war crimes trials in Japan, who He served four years as the South Carolina valiantly and courageously and is widely re- later became the first Asian-American judge in representative on the Southern Growth Poli- garded as the most decorated unit in Amer- Fresno County. cies Board and the Council on State Govern- ican history for its size and length of service, On February 19, 2012, the Central Cali- ments. He was a member of the Kosmos with seven Presidential Unit Citations, 21 Med- fornia District Council of the Japanese Amer- Club, a former board member of the Caesar’s als of Honor, 29 Distinguished Service ican Citizens League, the oldest and largest Head Community Center, a member of Crosses, 560 Silver Stars, 4,000 Bronze Stars Asian American civil rights organization in

VerDate Sep 11 2014 11:55 Mar 21, 2017 Jkt 019102 PO 00000 Frm 00011 Fmt 0689 Sfmt 9920 E:\BR12\E16FE2.000 E16FE2 rmajette on DSK2TPTVN1PROD with BOUND RECORD 2030 EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS, Vol. 158, Pt. 2 February 16, 2012 America, with the support of the Clovis Vet- RECOGNIZING HARRY A. BARTEE, operations to the underserved areas of erans Memorial District, Veterans of Foreign SR., FOR HIS DEDICATION TO Tchula, Lexington, and Goodman, Mississippi. Wars Sierra Nisei Post 8499, Nisei Farmers SERVICE AND HEALTH CARE Dr. Bartee served as a member of the Central League and Sun-Maid Growers of California, Sub-advisory committee of the Mississippi will host a Day of Remembrance observing HON. BENNIE G. THOMPSON Health Systems Agency and a contract physi- the 70th anniversary of Executive Order 9066, OF MISSISSIPPI cian with the Madison Yazoo Leake Family and honoring all Nisei veterans of World War IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Health Center in Yazoo City, Mississippi for II with a local ceremony for the presentation of Thursday, February 16, 2012 three years. the Congressional Gold Medal. Dr. Bartee served as an emergency room Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speak- physician throughout the state, from the Gulf Mr. Speaker, we ask our colleagues to join er, I rise today to honor a longtime Mississippi the Central California District Council of the Coast to North Mississippi including some resident, Vietnam veteran, civil rights activist, eastern and western cities. He served as the Japanese American Citizens League, to com- dedicated health care professional, and an memorate and pay tribute to all the Nisei sol- Medical Director for the Nurse Mid-Wifery Pro- overall outstanding public servant, Dr. Harry A. gram at Methodist Hospital of Middle Mis- diers of World War II, who not only fought fas- Bartee, Sr. Dr. Bartee has devoted his entire cism abroad but prejudice at home, and won. sissippi in Lexington. Pryor to his decision to life to public health in Mississippi. enter semi-retirement this past year, Dr. Dr. Bartee was born in Ocean Springs, Mis- Bartee remains an Emergency Room Physi- f sissippi, and moved frequently with his family cian in Canton, Mississippi. throughout the state until finally settling in HONORING MARYCREST MANOR Dr. Bartee and his wife Frances have four Canton, Mississippi, where they have re- SKILLED NURSING AND REHA- children and nine grandchildren. Frances is a mained for the last half century. His father was BILITATION CENTER retired public school teacher, his son Harry A. a Methodist Minister and his mother a school Bartee, Jr., is a physician, in Tennessee and teacher. Dr. Bartee attended Rogers High HON. THADDEUS G. McCOTTER School in Canton, where he was president of North Mississippi. His daughter Pamela is a his senior class and played on the school’s nurse anesthetist, while his younger daughters OF MICHIGAN football team. Anne and Candice, followed their mother’s IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES After high school, Dr. Bartee attended North footsteps in education. Dr. Bartee has always empathized with peo- Thursday, February 16, 2012 Carolina A&T College in Greensboro, North Carolina from 1961 to 1965, and served in the ple who were not privileged to have access to Mr. MCCOTTER. Mr. Speaker, today I rise ROTC. It was during this time he became part quality health care. He has served many poor to honor and acknowledge Marycrest Manor of one of the greatest student movements in and impecunious patients, who have always Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, this country for Civil Rights, the Greensboro, been more than three-fourths Medicaid/Medi- upon its 50th anniversary. Marycrest Manor North Carolina Sit-ins. There he met his wife, care recipients. His greatest consideration has stands in my hometown of Livonia, Michigan Frances, who at the time attended nearby always been with any aspect of inferior treat- and is the result of the compassionate dream Bennett College and together, they marched ment of patients based upon racial, cultural or rooted in the Polish-Catholic community of the and were arrested for their involvement in financial status. Even at the age of 68, he is 1940’s Detroit area and brought to fruition those demonstrations. At North Carolina A&T still practicing. through the efforts of the Franciscan Sisters of College, he received a Bachelors of Science Mr. Speaker, I ask that our colleagues join St. Joseph. degree in Biology and joined Omega Psi Phi me in honoring the life and legacy of Dr. Harry St. Mary’s Home, the initial 25 bed facility, Fraternity, Inc. A. Bartee, Sr., a global citizen and champion was located at 215 West Grand Boulevard in After graduating from college, Dr. Bartee in the health care profession. Detroit. Recognizing the need for more space, was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in f the United States Air Force. While waiting to the Franciscan Sisters looked to Livonia and COMMEMORATING THE MANY AC- enter active duty, Dr. Bartee returned to Can- petitioned Cardinal Edward Mooney for assist- COMPLISHMENTS OF MS. ALICE ton, Mississippi, with his wife of two weeks. ance in their charitable endeavor. Cardinal TREGAY Mooney purchased and donated 10 acres of While showing her around his native city one land on what is now Middlebelt Road just evening, he entered an establishment which north of Five Mile Road. had at one time been a popular spot for black HON. JANICE D. SCHAKOWSKY Sadly, Cardinal Mooney passed away in entertainment, and was attacked by an on- OF ILLINOIS 1958. His successor, Archbishop John slaught of white supremacists. They pro- IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Dearden selected the name Marycrest Manor. ceeded to beat him beyond recognition, sub- Thursday, February 16, 2012 Celebrated during the Feast of the Holy Name sequently requiring him to have surgery at the same hospital where he later received his Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, I rise of Mary, the state of the art 55 bed facility was today to recognize the enormous impact and dedicated on September 12, 1962. After being medical degree. After that experience, he received orders to the many accomplishments of my dear friend, granted licensure as an extended care facility, report to Mather Air Force Base in Sac- Alice Tregay. Alice has spent almost five dec- Marycrest Manor is now one of the most rec- ramento, California. He spent the next five ades pouring her heart and soul into pro- ognized in the State of Michigan. years as a navigator with the KC–135 Refuel- moting social change. Over these years, her Seeking to meet the needs of the commu- ing Squadron, part of the Strategic Air Com- activism has taken on many different forms: nities they serve, Marycrest Manor recently mand (SAC) during the Vietnam Conflict. He she has advocated on behalf of the disadvan- extended their ministry by opening a 60 unit received an honorable discharge after having taged, registered thousands of new voters, facility specifically designed for self-sufficient obtained the rank of Captain, and the Air managed high profile political campaigns, and senior citizens who seek a secure faith-based Medal for Meritorious Achievement Award more. As a result of her actions, citizens of Illi- lifestyle. Plans are being made to open an as- while participating in aerial flight. nois and those across the country are better sisted living facility, thus making Marycrest In 1971, he decided to further his studies off. Manor a continuum of care campus. and entered the University of Mississippi, as a Ms. Tregay’s first leap into activism came in Mr. Speaker, for 50 years Marycrest Manor graduate student in Microbiology. After one 1964, when she joined the protest against Chi- has stood as a tribute to the benevolent work year he was admitted to the Medical School, cago Public Schools Superintendent Willis and of the Franciscan Sisters of St. Joseph. As the where he served as president of Student Na- his infamous ‘‘Willis Wagons.’’ These wagons facility celebrates this enormous milestone, it tional Medical Association. He completed his perpetuated segregation, and the community personifies a legacy of excellence, ingenuity residency in Family Medicine and became the was energized in opposition. Marching along- and the empathetic spirit of the Franciscan director of Madison-Yazoo-Leake (MYL) Fam- side well-known figures such as Al Raby and Sisters and the Livonia community. Today, I ily Health Center in Canton, Mississippi in Dick Gregory, Alice learned just how much of ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating 1979. an impact ordinary people could have. In the Marycrest Manor and recognizing their years After later establishing a private practice in end, not only were the Willis Wagons shut of loyal service to our community and country. Canton, Mississippi, Dr. Bartee expanded his down, but Superintendent Willis himself was

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