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DEMOCRATIC PRESS RELEASE
June 25, 2007
House of Representatives Votes to Name Four VA Facilities after Medal of
Honor Recipients
Washington, D.C. – Today Bob Filner, Chairman of the House Committee on
Veterans’ Affairs, announced that the House approved a package of bills
that honors great Americans by naming VA facilities after them. Chairman
Filner (D-CA) thanked his colleagues for supporting legislation to honor
four great veterans, their families, their communities and all those
that have had the privilege to know and work with these heroes.
1. H.R. 366 – to designate the Department of Veterans Affairs Outpatient
Clinic in Tulsa, Oklahoma, as the ‘Ernest Childers Department of
Veterans Outpatient Clinic.’
2. H.R. 2546 – to designate the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical
Center in Asheville, North Carolina, as the ‘Charles George Department
of Veterans Affairs Medical Center.’
3. H.R. 2602 – to name the Department of Veterans Affairs medical
facility in Iron Mountain, Michigan, as the ‘Oscar G. Johnson Department
of Veterans Affairs Medical Facility.’
4. S. 229 – to redesignate a Federal building in Albuquerque, New
Mexico, as the ‘Raymond G. Murphy Department of Veterans Affairs Medical
Center.’
“Naming VA facilities after veteran heroes is a fitting tribute to
preserve the memories of these brave servicemembers,” said Chairman
Filner. “Our grateful nation joins these communities in honoring the
memories and saluting the bravery of these Medal of Honor recipients.
This country has a proud legacy of appreciation and commitment to the
men and women who have worn the uniform in defense of this country and I
thank my colleagues for their support in honoring these heroes.”
Attached is information on these Medal of Honor recipients.
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H.R. 366 honors Ernest Childers. Ernest Childers holds the distinction
of being the first Native American to receive the Congressional Medal of
Honor for his heroic action in 1943 at the battle of Oliveto, Italy,
when he charged German machine gun nests against machine gun fire.
Although suffering a broken foot in the assault, Childers ordered
covering fire and advanced up a hill, single-handedly killing two
snipers, silencing two machine gun nests and capturing an enemy mortar
observer. His courageous action helped American troops win the battle
and save the lives of American soldiers. Childers was also awarded the
Purple Heart and the Bronze Star for his actions. Until his death on
March 17, 2005, Childers was Oklahoma's last Congressional Medal of
Honor recipient still living in the State.
H.R. 2546 honors Charles George. Pfc. George, a member of Company C,
distinguished himself by conspicuous gallantry and outstanding courage
above and beyond the call of duty in action against the enemy on the
night of 30 November 1952. He was a member of a raiding party committed
to engage the enemy and capture a prisoner for interrogation. Forging up
the rugged slope of the key terrain feature, the group was subjected to
intense mortar and machine gun fire and suffered several casualties.
Throughout the advance, he fought valiantly and, upon reaching the crest
of the hill, leaped into the trenches and closed with the enemy in
hand-to-hand combat. When friendly troops were ordered to move back upon
completion of the assignment, he and 2 comrades remained to cover the
withdrawal. While in the process of leaving the trenches, a hostile
soldier hurled a grenade into their midst. Pfc. George shouted a warning
to one comrade, pushed the other soldier out of danger, and, with full
knowledge of the consequences, unhesitatingly threw himself upon the
grenade, absorbing the full blast of the explosion. Although seriously
wounded in this display of valor, he refrained from any outcry which
would divulge the position of his companions. The 2 soldiers evacuated
him to the forward aid station and shortly thereafter he succumbed to
his wound. Pfc. George's indomitable courage, consummate devotion to
duty, and willing self-sacrifice reflect the highest credit upon himself
and uphold the finest traditions of the military service.
H.R. 2602 honors Oscar G. Johnson. He practically single-handed
protected the left flank of his company's position in the offensive to
break the German's gothic line. Company B was the extreme left assault
unit of the corps. The advance was stopped by heavy fire from Monticelli
Ridge, and the company took cover behind an embankment. Sgt. Johnson, a
mortar gunner, having expended his ammunition, assumed the duties of a
rifleman. As leader of a squad of seven men, he was ordered to establish
a combat post 50 yards to the left of the company to cover its exposed
flank. Repeated enemy counterattacks, supported by artillery, mortar,
and machinegun fire from the high ground to his front, had by the
afternoon of 16 September killed or wounded all his men. Collecting
weapons and ammunition from his fallen comrades, in the face of hostile
fire, he held his exposed position and inflicted heavy casualties upon
the enemy, who several times came close enough to throw hand grenades.
On the night of 16 September, the enemy launched his heaviest attack on
Company B, putting his greatest pressure against the lone defender of
the left flank. In spite of mortar fire which crashed about him and
machinegun bullets which whipped the crest of his shallow trench, Sgt.
Johnson stood erect and repulsed the attack with grenades and small arms
fire. He remained awake and on the alert throughout the night,
frustrating all attempts at infiltration. On 17 September, 25 German
soldiers surrendered to him. Two men, sent to reinforce him that
afternoon, were caught in a devastating mortar and artillery barrage.
With no thought of his own safety, Sgt. Johnson rushed to the shell hole
where they lay half buried and seriously wounded, covered their position
by his fire, and assisted a Medical Corpsman in rendering aid. That
night he secured their removal to the rear and remained on watch until
his company was relieved. Five companies of a German paratroop regiment
had been repeatedly committed to the attack on Company B without
success. Twenty dead Germans were found in front of his position. By his
heroic stand and utter disregard for personal safety, Sgt. Johnson was
in a large measure responsible for defeating the enemy's attempts to
turn the exposed left flank.
S. 229 honors Raymond G. Murphy for conspicuous gallantry and
intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty as
a platoon commander of Company A. Although painfully wounded while
leading his evacuation platoon in support of assault units attacking a
hostile force occupying commanding ground, 2d Lt. Murphy steadfastly
refused medical aid and continued to lead his men up a hill through a
withering barrage of hostile mortar and small-arms fire. Undeterred by
the increasing intense enemy fire, he immediately located casualties as
they fell and made several trips up and down the fire-swept hill to
direct evacuation teams to the wounded, personally carrying many of the
stricken marines to safety. When reinforcements were needed by the
assaulting elements, 2d Lt. Murphy employed part of his unit as support
and, during the ensuing battle, personally killed two of the enemy with
his pistol. With all the wounded evacuated and the assaulting units
beginning to disengage, he remained behind with a carbine to cover the
movement of friendly forces off the hill and, though suffering intense
pain from his previous wounds, seized an automatic rifle to provide more
firepower when the enemy reappeared in the trenches. After reaching the
base of the hill, he organized a search party and again ascended the
slope for a final check on missing marines, locating and carrying the
bodies of a machine gun crew back down the hill. Wounded a second time
while conducting the entire force to the line of departure through a
continuing barrage of enemy small-arms, artillery, and mortar fire, he
again refused medical assistance until assured that every one of his
men, including all casualties, had preceded him to the main lines. His
resolute and inspiring leadership, exceptional fortitude, and great
personal valor reflect the highest credit upon 2d Lt. Murphy and enhance
the finest traditions of the U.S. Naval Service.
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Larry Scott
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