To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 200 North Texas Avenue in Odessa, Texas, as the "Corporal Alfred Mac Wilson Post Office".

Thank you, Ms. Foxx, for the ability to speak on behalf of Corporal Wilson.

Mr. Speaker, I stand here today again to ask the Members of this body to honor the life and memory of one of America's fallen heroes. Marine Corporal Alfred ``Mac'' Wilson of Odessa, Texas, served during the Vietnam War and gave his life so that his brothers might live.

For his extraordinary and selfless acts of bravery, Mac, as his friends and family called him, was posthumously awarded our Nation's highest decoration, the Medal of Honor. Mac died on May 3, 1969, but his legacy endures to this day. His fellow Odessans have asked that we commemorate his sacrifice by designating a post office in his honor. In this way, Mac and his story will always remain a part of the community that he loved. As a fellow Odessan, it is my great honor to play a small part in these efforts.

Mac was born in Olney, Illinois, on January 13, 1948, to Edna and Fred Wilson. The family moved to Odessa, Texas, where Mac attended Odessa High School, where he ran track and played football before he graduated in 1967.

Mac enlisted in the Marine Corps in Abilene, Texas, in the fall of 1967, on the ``buddy plan'' with his high school friends Johnny Wright, Tom Chapman, and Jimmy Whisenhunt. After completing recruit training at San Diego, and Camp Pendleton, California, then Private First Class Wilson deployed to Vietnam on July 21, 1968, as an infantry rifleman with Company M, 3rd Battalion, 9th Marines, 3rd Marine Division.

I imagine that March 3, 1969, unfolded like most every other day in Vietnam. There were posts to stand, missions to undertake, supplies to deliver, and jungles to march through. For Mac, I am certain that earning the Medal of Honor was the furthest thought from his mind as his platoon embarked on that day's reconnaissance mission. Yet, his heroics turned the rout of his platoon by North Vietnamese forces into a victory. His uncommon valor saved the life of his fellow marines; and for those men, March 3, 1969, turned out to be a dramatically different day than it otherwise could have been.

Mac's Medal of Honor citation details his dramatic and selfless actions, and I'd like to read those into the Record. On March 3, 1969, while returning from a reconnaissance-in-force mission in the vicinity of Fire Support Base Cunningham in Quang Tri Province, the 1st Platoon of Company M came under intense automatic weapons fire and grenade attack from a well-concealed North Vietnamese force, pinning down the entire center column of the platoon.

Rapidly assessing the situation, Private First Class Wilson, acting as Squad Leader, skillfully maneuvered his squad to form a base of fire and act as a blocking point while the point squad moved to outflank the enemy. During the ensuing fire fight, both his machine gunner and assistant machine gunner were seriously wounded and unable to operate their weapon.

Realizing the importance of recovering the M-60 machine gun and maintaining a heavy volume of fire against the hostile force, Private First Class Wilson, with complete disregard for his own safety, followed by another marine, fearlessly dashed across the fire-swept terrain to recover the weapon.

As they reached the machine gun, a North Vietnamese soldier threw a grenade at the marines. Reacting instantly, Private First Class Wilson fired a burst from his M-16 rifle, killing the enemy soldier. Observing the grenade fall between himself and the other marine, First Class Wilson, fully realizing the inevitable result of his actions, shouted to his companion and unhesitatingly threw himself on the grenade, absorbing the full force of the explosion with his own body.

His heroic actions inspired his platoon members to maximum effort as they aggressively attacked and defeated the enemy. Private First Class Wilson's indomitable courage, inspiring valor, and selfless devotion to duty upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.

Mac was escorted home by Sergeant Jerry Pruitt, United States Marine Corps, of Odessa, Texas. He is buried in Sunset Memorial Gardens in Odessa, Texas, not far from another Medal of Honor recipient, Army Staff Sergeant Marvin ``Rex'' Young.

The Medal of Honor was presented to his family by Vice President Spiro T. Agnew on April 20, 1970, at the White House. Mac is survived by his sister, Sue Wilson, and by her children, Lloyd Whitehead, Vickie Whitehead, Debbie Frasier, Angie Aleman, Robert Wilson Aleman; and Mac's aunt and uncle, Warren Kininmonth and Kay Kininmonth. Mac's mom, Edna O'Neal Wilson, died 3 months after his death, and his father, Fred Wilson, died in 1969.

Soon after his death, Mac was posthumously promoted to the rank of Corporal to recognize the exceptional potential that he possessed. In addition to the Medal of Honor, Mac earned numerous other awards and decorations: a Purple Heart with Gold Star, the Marine Corps Combat Action Ribbon, a Presidential Unit Citation, an Army Presidential Unit Citation, a Navy Unit Commendation, Meritorious Unit Commendation, the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal, the Vietnam Merit Medal, the Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm, and the Vietnam Meritorious Unit Citation ribbon bar, the Vietnam Campaign Medal, and a Rifle Sharpshooter Badge.

The great British Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli once said that, ``The legacy of heroes is the memory of a great name and the inheritance of a great example.'' With this legislation, the people of Odessa will always remember the legacy of Alfred Mac Wilson and his noble and heroic efforts without hesitation to serve his country and defend the lives of the men he served with.

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to my distinguished colleague and my classmate from the State of Texas (Mr. Conaway).

Mr. Conaway and Mr. Davis, my colleagues, have spoken very eloquently about the bravery and sacrifice of Corporal Wilson, so I will submit my remarks for the Record, but I urge all Members to support the passage of H.R. 6437.

Mr. Speaker, today I am here to recognize the bravery of Corporal Alfred ``Mac'' Wilson for his heroism in Vietnam by naming the Post Office located at 200 North Texas Avenue in Odessa, Texas in his honor.

Shortly after Corporal Wilson's birth on January 13, 1948, he and his family moved from Olney, Illinois to Odessa, Texas. At Odessa Senior High, he was very involved in athletics and was on the football and track teams. A well rounded young man, he also enjoyed shooting, hunting, fishing, and tennis.

After graduating from high school and demonstrating a sense of patriotism and duty to country, Corporal Wilson first joined the Marine Corps Reserve and subsequently, enlisted in the Regular Marine Corps. Upon acceptance into the Corps, Corporal Wilson reported to duty in Abilene, Texas with three friends under the Buddy Plan, which placed friends in the same training platoon. Corporal Wilson and his buddies then underwent their recruit training in California. On July 21, 1968, he was deployed as a Private First Class to Vietnam.

In Vietnam, while returning from a reconnaissance mission on March 3, 1969, he and his squad were attacked by a concealed enemy force. While facing fire to retrieve a machine gun from an injured gunner, an enemy grenade was thrown between Corporal Wilson and a fellow Marine. At that moment, Corporal Wilson signaled a warning to his comrade and bravely proceeded to throw himself on the grenade, thus sacrificing his own life. His sacrifice ultimately enabled his unit to continue the fight and successfully defeat the enemy.

Corporal Wilson's courage under fire was recognized posthumously when he was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor in addition to his posthumous promotion to Corporal. Corporal Wilson's devastated family proudly accepted the Medal of Honor presented by Vice President Spiro T. Agnew on April 20, 1970 at a White House ceremony.

We can never show adequate appreciation in honoring the brave men and women who give their lives in service to our country. However, naming the post office in his honor is a fitting and meaningful tribute to a proud Marine who served selflessly on behalf of his town and nation.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not present.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 6437) to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 200 North Texas Avenue in Odessa, Texas, as the ``Corporal Alfred Mac Wilson Post Office''.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, as a Member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, I am pleased to join my colleagues in consideration of H.R. 6437, which names the postal facility in Odessa, Texas, after a fallen hero, Corporal Alfred ``Mac'' Wilson.

Our colleague, Representative Mike Conaway of Texas's 11th Congressional District, introduced H.R. 6437 on July 8. The bill is cosponsored by the entire Texas congressional delegation. H.R. 6437 was reported from the Oversight Committee on July 16, 2008, by a voice vote.

Born in 1948 in Olney, Illinois, Alfred ``Mac'' Wilson moved to Odessa, Texas, with his family in 1950. After graduating from Odessa Senior High School in 1967, he enlisted with the United States Marine Corps Reserve. In 1968, Mr. Wilson joined the regular Marine Corps, where he went through recruit training and obtained the rank of Private First Class. After his training was completed, he was deployed to the Republic of Vietnam in July, 1968, and his assigned duty was a rifleman.

On March 3, 1969, while serving with M Company, 3rd Battalion, 9th Marines, 3rd Marine Division, Private First Class Wilson heroically and unhesitatingly threw himself onto an enemy grenade, absorbing the full force of the explosion and saving his fellow marines. It was for this conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his own life above and beyond the call of duty that Alfred ``Mac'' Wilson was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor on April 20, 1970.

Corporal Wilson was extraordinarily dedicated to this Nation, earning numerous other accolades, including the

Purple Heart with a Gold Star, the Marine Corps Combat Action Ribbon, and the Presidential Unit Citation. In honor of his noble sacrifice, Mr. Speaker, let us pay tribute to the life of Corporal Wilson and pass H.R. 6437, which designates the North Texas Avenue post office in Odessa, Texas, after this outstanding American soldier.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I would continue to reserve.

Mr. Speaker, I urge passage of this legislation, and yield back the balance of my time.