To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 1421 Veterans Memorial Drive in Abbeville, Louisiana, as the "Sergeant Richard Franklin Abshire Post Office Building".

I thank my friend from Texas for yielding time to me, and I thank the committee for bringing this resolution to the House floor today.

Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 3412, to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 1421 Veterans Memorial Drive in Abbeville, Louisiana, as the Sergeant Richard Franklin Abshire Post Office Building, and I want to thank the Oversight and Government Reform Committee for bringing this bill to the floor.

Today, it is really an honor for me to stand here today to celebrate the life of United States Marine Corps Sergeant Richard F. Abshire, an extraordinary hero of the Vietnam War. A native of Abbeville, Louisiana, in my district, the heart of Cajun country, Sergeant Abshire graduated from Abbeville High School in 1962 and then attended the University of Southwestern Louisiana in Lafayette, my hometown.

Serving in Vietnam from December 1967 until May 1968, a young Sergeant Abshire had given over 3 years of service to his country in the Marine Corps. On May 2, 1968, while serving in Quang Tri Province in the Republic of Vietnam, Sergeant Abshire led a coordinated attack against an entrenched North Vietnamese force in the village of Dinh To.

Under heavy small arms and automatic weapon fire, Sergeant Abshire displayed extraordinary valor and leadership in leading his men to safety, sacrificing himself in the process.

Upon entrance to the village of Dinh To, Sergeant Abshire's men began sustaining heavy losses from the better positioned North Vietnamese troops. Acting quickly, the sergeant directed his men to establish a defensive perimeter, aiming a heavy volume of fire into the enemy emplacements. Then realizing the enemy was preparing a counterattack, Sergeant Abshire quickly obtained a number of hand grenades from his fellow marines. Navigating the fiery open terrain while selflessly exposing himself to enemy fire, Abshire threw several grenades toward the enemy, disrupting their attack. Returning to his men, Sergeant Abshire moved from position to position, shouting encouragement and directing fire.

Upon realizing they were dangerously low on ammunition, Abshire directed his men to fall back while he resolutely provided cover fire until they could reach safety. After expending the last of his ammunition, Sergeant Abshire was mortally wounded by a burst of enemy fire, laying down his life for his fellow marines and his country.

Sergeant Abshire's actions are an inspiration to the marines he fought beside and the country he fought for. Because of his heroic actions, he was posthumously awarded the Navy Cross for his bravery in a combat zone. Shortly after Sergeant Abshire's death, his mother received the Navy Cross for gallantry on his behalf in Lafayette, Louisiana, from Brigadier General Walter S. McIlhenny.

Today I join the town of Abbeville in honoring this fallen hero with the dedication of their post office to the name of Sergeant Richard Franklin Abshire for his extraordinary valor in battle. As we honor Sergeant Abshire today, we must also recognize our present-day heroes serving around the globe, those who have fallen and those who continue to fight for our freedoms. We thank you as well as the families of all of our Armed Forces.

I ask my colleagues to support this bill.

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3412) to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 1421 Veterans Memorial Drive in Abbeville, Louisiana, as the ``Sergeant Richard Franklin Abshire Post Office Building''.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the bill under consideration.

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

Madam Speaker, H.R. 3412, introduced by the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Boustany), would designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 1421 Veterans Memorial Drive in Abbeville, Louisiana, as the Sergeant Richard Franklin Abshire Post Office Building. This bill was introduced on November 14, 2011, and was reported from the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform on February 7.

Sergeant Richard Franklin Abshire was born on October 20, 1944, in Louisiana and served in the United States Marine Corps. Sergeant Abshire was awarded the Navy Cross for extraordinary heroism while serving as a platoon sergeant with Company G, Second Battalion, Fourth Marines, Ninth Marine Amphibious Brigade, in connection with operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam on May 2, 1968.

Sergeant Abshire's unit and a sister company launched a coordinated attack against a well entrenched North Vietnamese Army force occupying the village of Dinh To, Quang Tri Province. By his superb leadership, courageous fighting and selfless devotion to duty, Sergeant Abshire inspired all who observed him and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country. Sergeant Abshire died on May 2, 1968.

Madam Speaker, Sergeant Richard Franklin Abshire is a very worthy designee of this postal facility naming. I urge all Members to join me in support of this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to my neighbor from the east, from the great State of Louisiana (Mr. Boustany).

Madam Speaker, I join with the gentleman from Louisiana and the gentleman from Missouri in urging all of my colleagues and House Members to support the passage of H.R. 3412, renaming and creating the Sergeant Richard Franklin Abshire Post Office.

I yield back the balance of my time.

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

As a member of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, I'm pleased to join my colleagues in

consideration of H.R. 3412, to designate the facility of the U.S. Postal Service located at 1421 Veterans Memorial Drive in Abbeville, Louisiana, as the Sergeant Richard Franklin Abshire Post Office Building.

As was mentioned, Sergeant Richard Abshire served as the platoon sergeant with Company G, Second Battalion, Fourth Marines, Ninth Marines Amphibious Brigade, during the Vietnam War.

As was also mentioned, he was in a heavy firefight. Upon entering the village, Sergeant Abshire and his unit came under heavy enemy fire. The heavy small arms and automatic weapons fire halted the company, and Sergeant Abshire was directed to establish a defensive position with advantageous firing positions.

As the hostilities increased, it became apparent that the Vietnamese were preparing to launch a counterattack. Sergeant Abshire exposed himself to enemy fire to deploy the grenades that temporarily disoriented the enemy.

Returning to his unit, Sergeant Abshire moved along the line, shouting words of encouragement, and directing his unit's fire. The sergeant then provided covering fire as his unit pulled back. After expending his remaining ammunition, he attempted to rejoin his unit when he was mortally wounded in the head by a burst of enemy fire. Sergeant Abshire was posthumously awarded the Navy Cross for his heroic actions leading his unit and ensuring their return to safety.

Madam Speaker, if anyone deserves a postal facility named after them, it is Sergeant Abshire.

I urge the passage of the bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I have no further speakers. I urge passage of H.R. 3412, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam 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.

I ask unanimous consent that the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee be discharged from the following postal- naming bills en bloc, and the Senate proceed to their consideration en bloc: H.R. 1369 through H.R. 3276, H.R. 3412, H.R. 3501 and H.R. 3772.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the bills be read a third time and passed en bloc; the motions to reconsider be laid upon the table en bloc, with no intervening action or debate; and any related statements be printed in the Record.