7334 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD—HOUSE, Vol. 155, Pt. 6 March 16, 2009 b 1615 Peter’s commitment and dedication to his GENERAL LEAVE This selfless devotion to his com- country is a shining example of how our mili- Mr. LYNCH. Mr. Speaker, I ask unan- rades and his country exemplifies the tary men and women are the finest our nation imous consent that all Members may character of this tremendous young has to offer. His and his family’s sacrifice have 5 legislative days in which to re- man. should serve as a reminder to all that the free- vise and extend their remarks. Forgoing his acceptance to Truman dom we enjoy as Americans is not free but the The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the gen- State University, Specialist Navarro result of the tremendous bravery and selfless tleman from Massachusetts? enlisted in the Army right after his service of men and women willing put them- selves in harms way for freedom’s cause. There was no objection. graduation from Lafayette High School Mr. LYNCH. I yield myself such time Our nation will be forever indebted to Spe- in 2003. as I may consume. This young man believed in the mis- cialist Peter Navarro. Mr. Speaker, I ask that Mr. Speaker, as chairman of the sion, men, and country he served. Trag- my colleagues join me today in honoring House subcommittee with jurisdiction ically, on December 13, 2005, just 1 Peter. over the United States Postal Service, month before he was scheduled to end Vote ‘‘yes’’ on H.R. 1217. I am pleased to present for consider- his deployment, Specialist Navarro lost Mr. ISSA. I yield back the balance of ation H.R. 1284, a bill to designate the his life while on patrol in Iraq. my time. United States Postal Facility located Specialist Navarro has been awarded Mr. LYNCH. Again, Mr. Speaker, I’d at 103 West Main Street in McLain, the Good Conduct Medal, the Purple like to thank the gentleman from Mis- Mississippi, as the ‘‘Major Ed W. Free- Heart, and the Bronze Star for his serv- souri (Mr. AKIN) for authoring the man Post Office Building.’’ ice. Specialist Navarro’s father, a vet- measure at hand. I urge my colleagues Introduced by my friend, Representa- eran of the Navy, remembers his to support the passage of H.R. 1217. tive GENE TAYLOR, on March 3, 2009, strong-willed son with admiration: ‘‘He I yield back the balance of my time. and reported out of the Oversight and died because he was trying to make a The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Government Reform Committee on difference, and being a soldier was question is on the motion offered by March 10, 2009, by voice vote, H.R. 1284 what was making a difference in this the gentleman from Massachusetts enjoys the support of the entire Mis- time of life.’’ (Mr. LYNCH) that the House suspend sissippi House delegation. Like many young men and women in the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 1217. Born in Neely, Mississippi, on No- uniform today serving our country, The question was taken. vember 20, 1927, Major Ed W. Freeman Specialist Navarro in fact has made the The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the proudly served his country in the decision to go into harm’s way to help opinion of the Chair, two-thirds being as a fixed and ro- another people far away—people he in the affirmative, the ayes have it. tary wing aircraft pilot. On July 16, never met, people he knows nothing Mr. ISSA. Mr. Speaker, on that I de- 2001, President George W. Bush pre- about, and people who he only knows mand the yeas and nays. sented Major Freeman with the Medal he’s going because our country is there The yeas and nays were ordered. of Honor—the United States military’s and because we are trying to make a The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursu- highest commendation—in recognition difference. ant to clause 8 of rule XX and the of his brave actions during the Viet- I join with the majority today and Chair’s prior announcement, further nam War. with Congressman AKIN, who could not proceedings on this motion will be Major Freeman began his distin- be here, for passage of his bill, in say- postponed. guished military career at the age of 17, with 2 years of service in the United ing this is the right name in this town f for the right individual who gave so States Navy during World War II. He MAJOR ED W. FREEMAN POST completely to the American people, subsequently joined the United States OFFICE and I urge support. Army, serving in Germany for 4 years before being deployed to Korea. Mr. AKIN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in Mr. LYNCH. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill Notably, Major Freeman received his strong support of H.R. 1217, a bill I introduced well-familiar nickname of ‘‘Too Tall’’ to honor the life of Peter J. Navarro by desig- (H.R. 1284) to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service lo- after being told that he was too tall to nating the post office in Ballwin, Missouri, as serve as an Army pilot. However, he cated at 103 West Main Street in the ‘‘Specialist Peter J. Navarro Post Office quickly dispelled this notion by becom- McLain, Mississippi, as the ‘‘Major Ed Building.’’ A resident of Wildwood, Missouri, ing one of the Army’s finest helicopter W. Freeman Post Office’’. Specialist Peter J. Navarro was part of Com- pilots. pany A, 2nd Battalion, , The Clerk read the title of the bill. Major Freeman’s bravery, dedication, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Divi- The text of the bill is as follows: and flying skills were never more evi- sion. On December 13, 2005 Specialist H.R. 1284 dent than on November 14, 1965, during Navarro was one of four soldiers killed when Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Rep- the , at Landing Zone a roadside bomb detonated near their Humvee resentatives of the United States of America in X-Ray, in Vietnam. As noted in his during combat operations in Taji, Iraq. Congress assembled, citation, Major Free- A graduate of Lafayette High School, Peter SECTION 1. MAJOR ED W. FREEMAN POST OF- man ‘‘distinguished himself by numer- declined his acceptance at Truman State Uni- FICE. ous acts of conspicuous gallantry and versity so he could join the Army right after (a) DESIGNATION.—The facility of the extraordinary intrepidity’’ as a mem- graduation. United States Postal Service located at 103 West Main Street in McLain, Mississippi, ber of Company A, 229th Assault Heli- When Peter returned home for his younger shall be known and designated as the ‘‘Major copter Battalion, 1st Cavalry Division. brother’s funeral, he was faced with the unde- Ed W. Freeman Post Office’’. Specifically, as a flight leader and niable risks of serving his country. However, (b) REFERENCES.—Any reference in a law, second-in-command of a 16-helicopter he returned to Iraq telling friends and family, map, regulation, document, paper, or other lift unit, then-Captain Freeman sup- ‘‘They need me there.’’ record of the United States to the facility re- ported a heavily engaged American Peter was a dedicated soldier, willing to give ferred to in subsection (a) shall be deemed to battalion at the Landing Zone in the Ia the ultimate sacrifice to protect his county and be a reference to the ‘‘Major Ed W. Freeman Drang Valley by ‘‘flying his unarmed the men and women who reside there. As Post Office’’. helicopter through a gauntlet of enemy Peter’s father, Jose Navarro said, ‘‘He cared The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursu- fire, time after time, delivering criti- for the soldiers he worked with. He would do ant to the rule, the gentleman from cally needed ammunitions, water, and anything for his friends. And he told me he be- Massachusetts (Mr. LYNCH) and the medical supplies to the besieged bat- lieved in what the mission was.’’ gentleman from California (Mr. ISSA) talion.’’ As the father of two Marines, one of whom each will control 20 minutes. Additionally, Major Freeman flew 14 has served in Iraq; it is a privilege to stand The Chair recognizes the gentleman separate rescue missions which re- here today to honor one of our fallen soldiers. from Massachusetts. sulted in the lifesaving evacuation of

VerDate Mar 15 2010 13:50 Jun 30, 2011 Jkt 079102 PO 00000 Frm 00007 Fmt 0688 Sfmt 0634 E:\BR09\H16MR9.000 H16MR9 wwoods2 on DSK1DXX6B1PROD with BOUND RECORD March 16, 2009 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD—HOUSE, Vol. 155, Pt. 6 7335 an estimated 30 seriously wounded sol- After winning his wings, Major Free- Captain Ed W. Freeman, United States diers. Major Freeman’s Medal of Honor man began to fly fixed-wing aircraft Army, distinguished himself by numerous citation goes on to note that his ‘‘self- and later switched to helicopters. In acts of conspicuous gallantry and extraor- less acts of great valor, extraordinary 1965, he was sent to Vietnam and served dinary intrepidity on 14 November 1965 while serving with Company A, 229th Assault Heli- perseverance, and intrepidity were far in Company A, 229th Assault Heli- copter Battalion, 1st Cavalry Division (Air- above and beyond the call of duty or copter Battalion, of the famous 1st Cal- mobile). As a flight leader and second in mission and set a superb example of vary Division. command of a 16-helicopter lift unit, he sup- leadership and courage for all of his On November 14, 1965, Major Free- ported a heavily engaged American infantry peers.’’ man’s helicopters carried a battalion battalion at Landing Zone X-Ray in the Ia Major Freeman’s heroic acts in the Ia into battle in the Ia Drang Valley, Drang Valley, Republic of Vietnam. The unit Drang Valley were subsequently im- which became the first major con- was almost out of ammunition after taking mortalized in the Mel Gibson film We frontation between large U.S. forces some of the heaviest casualties of the war, Were Soldiers. fighting off a relentless attack from a highly and North Vietnamese regulars. For motivated, heavily armed enemy force. When While he retired from the military in that, he received a number of com- 1967 and moved to with his be- the infantry commander closed the heli- mendations for his willingness to fly copter landing zone due to intense direct loved wife, Barbara, and sons, Mike and into the face of this heavy combat enemy fire, Captain Freeman risked his own Doug, Major Freeman did not give up while dealing with casualties, going in life by flying his unarmed helicopter through flying—as he went to work for the De- and out and running low on supplies a gauntlet of enemy fire time after time, de- partment of the Interior’s Office of Air- and fuel. livering critically needed ammunition, water craft Services. Upon his official retire- Major Freeman volunteered to fly and medical supplies to the besieged bat- talion. His flights had a direct impact on the ment in 1991, Major Freeman had into the battle area, risking his own logged more than 25,000 hours of flying battle’s outcome by providing the engaged life, delivering critically needed ammu- units with timely supplies of ammunition time. nition, water, and medical supplies to a Regrettably, Major Freeman passed critical to their survival, without which they battalion on the ground. would almost surely have gone down, with away in August of last year at the age In all, Major Freeman carried out 14 much greater loss of life. After medical evac- of 80. separate rescue missions. For these ac- uation helicopters refused to fly into the Mr. Speaker, let us honor Major tions, Major Freeman was awarded the area due to intense enemy fire, Captain Free- Freeman and his service to our country Congressional Medal of Honor on July man flew 14 separate rescue missions, pro- through the passage of this legislation. viding life-saving evacuation of an estimated 16, 2001, by President George W. Bush. I urge my colleagues to join me in 30 seriously wounded soldiers—some of whom passing H.R. 1284, and dedicating the A few months later, Major Freeman would not have survived had he not acted. McLain Post Office after this distin- visited the White House again for the All flights were made into a small emer- guished veteran. premier of , a 2002 fea- gency landing zone within 100 to 200 meters I reserve the balance of our time. ture film that depicted his role in the of the defensive perimeter where heavily Mr. ISSA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself battle that day. committed units were perilously holding off such time as I may consume. We will miss ‘‘Too Tall.’’ We will the attacking elements. Captain Freeman’s selfless acts of great valor, extraordinary Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support miss his generation. Mr. Freeman died in Boise, Idaho, on perseverance and intrepidity were far above of H.R. 1284, to designate the facility of and beyond the call of duty or mission and the United States postal service lo- August 20, 2008, from complications of set a superb example of leadership and cour- cated at 103 West Main Street in Parkinson’s disease, and is survived by age for all of his peers. Captain Freeman’s McLain, Mississippi, as the ‘‘Major Ed his wife of 54 years, Barbara Freeman, extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty W. Freeman Post Office.’’ and his sons, Mike and Doug. are in keeping with the highest traditions of Major Freeman perhaps balances the Mr. Speaker, naming a post office military service and reflect great credit three initiatives here today—a young after a man who gave and gave and upon himself, his unit and the United States soldier; an inspirational young man gave to his country the way Major Army. who died far too young of cancer; and, Freeman did is little enough to do. Mr. ISSA. Mr. Speaker, in closing, I thirdly, a man who lived a full and Today, recognizing his life and con- would urge the passage of H.R. 1284, complete life but who gave and gave tribution, too, is little enough to do for recognizing a Medal of Honor winner, a and gave. one of the last of America’s finest gen- great American, one who has lived a Major Freeman was born on Novem- erations. long life and contributed a great deal ber 20, 1927, in Mississippi. Before grad- With that, I reserve the balance of to our country. Again, I urge support uating from high school, as many of his my time. for H.R. 1284. generation, often called America’s fin- Mr. LYNCH. Mr. Speaker, at this I yield back the balance of my time. est generation, young Freeman en- time I yield 5 minutes to the lead spon- listed in the Navy, and served 2 years sor of this resolution, the gentleman Mr. LYNCH. Mr. Speaker, again, I simply want to thank Mr. TAYLOR of before returning home to Mississippi, from Mississippi (Mr. TAYLOR). graduating from high school, and de- Mr. TAYLOR. I want to thank the Mississippi and, again, I want to urge ciding to return to the military; this gentlemen from Massachusetts and all Members to support H.R. 1284. time, to the Army. California for their very timely consid- The SPEAKER pro tempore. The During the , Ed Freeman eration of this. I want to thank all the question is on the motion offered by rose to the rank of master sergeant in members of the Mississippi House dele- the gentleman from Massachusetts an Army engineer unit, and did his bat- gation for cosponsoring it. (Mr. LYNCH) that the House suspend tles in many places, including the bat- Gentlemen, there really isn’t any- the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 1284. tle immortalized as Pork Chop Hill, thing that remains to be said. I think The question was taken. and was then awarded a Battlefield you all did a phenomenal job of hon- The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the Commission. oring Ed Freeman’s life. The only thing opinion of the Chair, two-thirds being As was earlier mentioned, Major I would ask is that his Medal of Honor in the affirmative, the ayes have it. Freeman was too tall to be initially al- citation be included in the CONGRES- lowed to be a pilot. At 6′4″, he was cer- Mr. LYNCH. Mr. Speaker, on that I SIONAL RECORD. demand the yeas and nays. tainly a big target for the infantry, I Thank you for the timely consider- might say, too. But with his persever- ation. The yeas and nays were ordered. ance, he eventually attended flight MEDAL OF HONOR CITATION, CAPTAIN ED W. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursu- school until the regulation changed in FREEMAN, UNITED STATES ARMY ant to clause 8 of rule XX and the 1955. But he kept that nickname, ‘‘Too For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity Chair’s prior announcement, further Tall’’ Freeman. He carried it through at the risk of his life above and beyond the proceedings on this motion will be the rest of his military career. call of duty: postponed.

VerDate Mar 15 2010 13:50 Jun 30, 2011 Jkt 079102 PO 00000 Frm 00008 Fmt 0688 Sfmt 0634 E:\BR09\H16MR9.000 H16MR9 wwoods2 on DSK1DXX6B1PROD with BOUND RECORD 7336 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD—HOUSE, Vol. 155, Pt. 6 March 16, 2009 RECESS Cooper Johnson, Sam Olver Walden Weiner Wolf Costa Jones Ortiz Wasserman Westmoreland Woolsey The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursu- Costello Kagen Pallone Schultz Wexler Wu ant to clause 12(a) of rule I, the Chair Courtney Kanjorski Pastor (AZ) Waters Whitfield Yarmuth declares the House in recess until ap- Crenshaw Kaptur Paul Watson Wilson (OH) Young (AK) Crowley Kildee Paulsen Watt Wilson (SC) Young (FL) proximately 6:30 p.m. today. Cuellar Kilpatrick (MI) Payne Waxman Wittman Accordingly (at 4 o’clock and 28 min- Culberson Kilroy Perlmutter NOT VOTING—47 utes p.m.), the House stood in recess Cummings Kind Perriello Dahlkemper King (IA) Peters Boren Hall (NY) Radanovich until approximately 6:30 p.m. Davis (AL) King (NY) Peterson Boucher Hinchey Rogers (KY) Davis (CA) Kingston Petri f Boustany Johnson (IL) Rohrabacher Davis (IL) Kirkpatrick (AZ) Pingree (ME) Brown, Corrine Jordan (OH) Roskam b 1830 Davis (KY) Kissell Pitts Cao Kennedy Sa´ nchez, Linda Davis (TN) Klein (FL) Platts Conyers Kirk T. Deal (GA) Kline (MN) Poe (TX) Delahunt Lucas Shea-Porter AFTER RECESS DeFazio Kosmas Polis (CO) Doyle Luetkemeyer Shimkus The recess having expired, the House DeGette Kratovil Pomeroy Dreier McCaul Smith (WA) DeLauro Kucinich Posey Emerson Miller, Gary Speier was called to order by the Speaker pro Dent Lamborn Price (GA) Flake Moran (VA) Stark tempore (Mr. CARSON of Indiana) at 6 Diaz-Balart, L. Lance Price (NC) Gallegly Myrick Thompson (PA) o’clock and 30 minutes p.m. Diaz-Balart, M. Langevin Rahall Gingrey (GA) Olson Turner Dicks Larsen (WA) Rangel Gohmert Pascrell Walz f Dingell Larson (CT) Rehberg Grijalva Pence Wamp Doggett Latham Reichert Gutierrez Putnam Welch ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE SPEAKER Donnelly (IN) LaTourette Reyes PRO TEMPORE Driehaus Latta Richardson b 1856 Duncan Lee (CA) Rodriguez The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursu- Edwards (MD) Lee (NY) Roe (TN) So (two-thirds being in the affirma- ant to clause 8 of rule XX, proceedings Edwards (TX) Levin Rogers (AL) tive) the rules were suspended and the Ehlers Lewis (CA) Rogers (MI) will resume on motions to suspend the Ellison Lewis (GA) Rooney bill was passed. rules previously postponed. Votes will Ellsworth Linder Ros-Lehtinen The result of the vote was announced be taken in the following order: Engel Lipinski Ross as above recorded. Eshoo LoBiondo Rothman (NJ) A motion to reconsider was laid on H.R. 987, H.R. 1217, and H.R. 1284, in Etheridge Loebsack Roybal-Allard each case by the yeas and nays. Fallin Lofgren, Zoe Royce the table. Farr Lowey Ruppersberger The first electronic vote will be con- f ducted as a 15-minute vote. Remaining Fattah Luja´ n Rush Filner Lummis Ryan (OH) electronic votes will be conducted as 5- Fleming Lungren, Daniel Ryan (WI) SPECIALIST PETER J. NAVARRO minute votes. Forbes E. Salazar POST OFFICE BUILDING Fortenberry Lynch Sanchez, Loretta f Foster Mack Sarbanes The SPEAKER pro tempore. The un- Foxx Maffei Scalise finished business is the vote on the mo- JOHN SCOTT CHALLIS, JR. POST Frank (MA) Maloney Schakowsky tion to suspend the rules and pass the OFFICE Franks (AZ) Manzullo Schauer Frelinghuysen Marchant Schiff bill, H.R. 1217, on which the yeas and The SPEAKER pro tempore. The un- Fudge Markey (CO) Schmidt nays were ordered. finished business is the vote on the mo- Garrett (NJ) Markey (MA) Schock The Clerk read the title of the bill. Gerlach Marshall Schrader The SPEAKER pro tempore. The tion to suspend the rules and pass the Giffords Massa Schwartz bill, H.R. 987, on which the yeas and Gonzalez Matheson Scott (GA) question is on the motion offered by nays were ordered. Goodlatte Matsui Scott (VA) the gentleman from Massachusetts The Clerk read the title of the bill. Gordon (TN) McCarthy (CA) Sensenbrenner (Mr. LYNCH) that the House suspend Granger McCarthy (NY) Serrano The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Graves McClintock Sessions the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 1217. question is on the motion offered by Grayson McCollum Sestak This will be a 5-minute vote. the gentleman from Massachusetts Green, Al McCotter Shadegg The vote was taken by electronic de- Green, Gene McDermott Sherman vice, and there were—yeas 384, nays 0, (Mr. LYNCH) that the House suspend Griffith McGovern Shuler the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 987. Guthrie McHenry Shuster not voting 47, as follows: The vote was taken by electronic de- Hall (TX) McHugh Simpson [Roll No. 126] vice, and there were—yeas 384, nays 0, Halvorson McIntyre Sires Hare McKeon Skelton YEAS—384 not voting 47, as follows: Harman McMahon Slaughter Abercrombie Blunt Carson (IN) [Roll No. 125] Harper McMorris Smith (NE) Ackerman Boccieri Carter Hastings (FL) Rodgers Smith (NJ) Aderholt Boehner Cassidy YEAS—384 Hastings (WA) McNerney Smith (TX) Adler (NJ) Bonner Castle Abercrombie Bishop (GA) Camp Heinrich Meek (FL) Snyder Akin Bono Mack Castor (FL) Ackerman Bishop (NY) Campbell Heller Meeks (NY) Souder Alexander Boozman Chaffetz Aderholt Bishop (UT) Cantor Hensarling Melancon Space Altmire Boswell Chandler Adler (NJ) Blackburn Capito Herger Mica Spratt Andrews Boyd Childers Akin Blumenauer Capps Herseth Sandlin Michaud Stearns Arcuri Brady (PA) Clarke Alexander Blunt Capuano Higgins Miller (FL) Stupak Austria Brady (TX) Clay Altmire Boccieri Cardoza Hill Miller (MI) Sullivan Baca Braley (IA) Cleaver Andrews Boehner Carnahan Himes Miller (NC) Sutton Bachmann Bright Clyburn Arcuri Bonner Carney Hinojosa Miller, George Tanner Bachus Broun (GA) Coble Austria Bono Mack Carson (IN) Hirono Minnick Tauscher Baird Brown (SC) Coffman (CO) Baca Boozman Carter Hodes Mitchell Taylor Baldwin Brown-Waite, Cohen Bachmann Boswell Cassidy Hoekstra Mollohan Teague Barrett (SC) Ginny Cole Bachus Boyd Castle Holden Moore (KS) Terry Barrow Buchanan Conaway Baird Brady (PA) Castor (FL) Holt Moore (WI) Thompson (CA) Bartlett Burgess Connolly (VA) Baldwin Brady (TX) Chaffetz Honda Moran (KS) Thompson (MS) Barton (TX) Burton (IN) Conyers Barrett (SC) Braley (IA) Chandler Hoyer Murphy (CT) Thornberry Bean Butterfield Cooper Barrow Bright Childers Hunter Murphy, Patrick Tiahrt Becerra Buyer Costa Bartlett Broun (GA) Clarke Inglis Murphy, Tim Tiberi Berkley Calvert Costello Barton (TX) Brown (SC) Clay Inslee Murtha Tierney Berman Camp Courtney Bean Brown-Waite, Cleaver Israel Nadler (NY) Titus Berry Campbell Crenshaw Becerra Ginny Clyburn Issa Napolitano Tonko Biggert Cantor Crowley Berkley Buchanan Coble Jackson (IL) Neal (MA) Towns Bilbray Capito Cuellar Berman Burgess Coffman (CO) Jackson-Lee Neugebauer Tsongas Bishop (GA) Capps Culberson Berry Burton (IN) Cohen (TX) Nunes Upton Bishop (NY) Capuano Cummings Biggert Butterfield Cole Jenkins Nye Van Hollen Bishop (UT) Cardoza Dahlkemper Bilbray Buyer Conaway Johnson (GA) Oberstar Vela´ zquez Blackburn Carnahan Davis (AL) Bilirakis Calvert Connolly (VA) Johnson, E. B. Obey Visclosky Blumenauer Carney Davis (CA)

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