To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 3800 SW. 185th Avenue in Beaverton, Oregon, as the "Major Arthur Chin Post Office Building".

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman.

Mr. Speaker, the history of America is the history of ordinary individuals who rise to extraordinary challenges and who volunteer their service in times of dire need. I rise today to recognize one such American, Major Arthur Chin.

Arthur Chin was born in Portland, Oregon in 1913. As a young man, he helped form a flying club, the Chinese Aero Club, a group of Chinese Americans who trained to fly fighter aircraft. He grew very concerned about Japan's invasion of China's northeastern provinces in 1931, and he volunteered to serve in the Chinese Air Force in 1932. Although he was safe at home in Oregon and did not need to do this, he saw the threat of fascist invasion and

the need to face it down, and he volunteered himself to face this challenge, not only to China, but to the world.

After receiving advanced fighter training, Major Chin was ultimately assigned to the 28th Fighter Squadron, and he saw his first aerial combat in 1937, four years before America entered the war. Soon he was credited with having shot down his first enemy aircraft of the war. Though he and his comrades were almost always outnumbered, Chin and his fellow aviators fought valiantly, and by mid-1939 he had downed five enemy aircraft, making him one of the first American fighter aces of the Second World War.

But Arthur Chin's heroism was not without personal sacrifice. He was shot down three times, and on December 27, 1939, he was badly burned when his Gloster Gladiator took enemy fire and exploded. Chin spent the next years of his life enduring a painful recovery in hospitals in China, India and the United States.

After America entered the war, he returned to service in 1944 as a major in the United States Army Air Force. Major Chin spent the remainder of the war flying desperately needed supplies from India to China over the Himalayas, the air route now known as ``the hump.'' For his extraordinary service, Arthur Chin received numerous medals and awards, including the Distinguished Flying Cross.

After the war, he returned to his native Portland where he raised a family and worked for the postal service in Beaverton. Arthur Chin passed away in September of 1997, and following his death he was honored as one of the first inductees into the American Combat Airmen's Hall of Fame.

Mr. Speaker, it is altogether fitting that we should recognize Major Arthur Chin, both a former postal worker and a genuine war hero, with a post office named in his honor. It is an appropriate memorial to an individual who courageously answered the call of duty, whether at home or abroad, and who returned home to continue serving his country as a postal worker. I strongly urge my colleagues to support this bill.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5220) to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 3800 SW. 185th Avenue in Beaverton, Oregon, as the ``Major Arthur Chin Post Office Building''.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks on this bill.

Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to yield such time as he may consume to the author of this legislation, the gentleman from Oregon (Mr. Wu).

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

As a member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, I join my colleagues in consideration of H.R. 5220, which renames the postal facility in Beaverton, Oregon after the legendary Major Arthur Chin.

The measure being considered was first introduced by Congressman David Wu of the State of Oregon on January 29, 2008, and is cosponsored by all members of the Oregon congressional delegation. The measure was referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and on February 26, 2008, our committee approved the bill by voice vote.

H.R. 5220 allows us to pay homage to the service of Major Arthur Chin, whose tale of heroism and dedication should be known by every American. Born in the city of Portland, Oregon, which lies in the congressional district of my dear friend, Representative David Wu, on October 23, 1913, Arthur Chin is best known for his service as a member of the Guangdong Provincial Air Force which was the first and original group of American volunteer combat aviators to fight in World War II.

An American-born citizen of Chinese descent, Major Chin is deemed America's first World War II ace, and in appreciation for his valiant service he has been awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. This is in addition to having received the Five Star Medal, Six Star Medal, the Awe-Inspiring Medal 3rd Grade, and the list goes on.

Major Chin's public service didn't cease with the end of the war. After being honorably discharged from the military in 1945, Major Chin returned to private life in his hometown of Portland, Oregon. It appears that Major Chin actually worked at the Beaverton Post Office before retiring in 1980. Major Chin passed away on September 3, 1997 in Portland, only a month before his October 4 Hall of Fame of the American Airpower Heritage Museum induction ceremony.

Mr. Speaker, given Major Chin's illustrious background, I agree that it is only befitting that we pass H.R. 5220 and name the U.S. postal facility on 185th Avenue in Beaverton, Oregon after this great American citizen.

yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I will submit the majority of my remarks for the Record.

I would just like to say that after reading about this gentleman, Mr. Chin, I think it is a great honor for him to receive having his name put on this post office. But he earned it. He really earned it. When you read about his exploits, as my colleague just mentioned, you can see why people like this deserve recognition.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the memory of a great American, Arthur Chin, who passed away in 1997 at the age of 85.

Angered by the Japanese invasion of China's northeastern provinces, Mr. Chin sailed to China along with other Chinese-American flyers to volunteer for the Chinese Air Force in 1932. After enlisting in the Chinese Air Force, Mr. Chin fought in many aerial battles against the more experienced Japanese.

Mr. Chin excelled in his military career and rose through the ranks to become a major in 1939. By this time, he had been shot down and wounded three times, and was severely burned when his Gloster Gladiator was hit by enemy fire at 3,000 feet and exploded.

Amazingly, he survived but he spent five years recovering in hospitals all over the world. Despite the extensive healing process, Mr. Chin valiantly flew again.

He transported supplies from India to China over the Himalayas until the end of the war.

After the war, Mr. Chin briefly flew for China National Airways Corporation in China until the Communists took over in 1949.

Upon returning to the United States, Mr. Chin settled back in his hometown of Portland, Oregon where he took a job with the United States Postal Service.

Because of his outstanding military service, he was awarded numerous medals, including the prestigious Distinguished Flying Cross. Soon after his death, Mr. Chin was also honored as one of the first American aviators inducted into the American Combat Airmen's Hall of Fame.

In recognition of his years of selfless public service to his State and country, I believe it is fitting to name a post office in Beaverton, Oregon, in Mr. Chin's honor.

I yield back the balance of my time.