To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 6083 Highway 36 West in Rose Bud, Arkansas, as the "Nicky 'Nick' Daniel Bacon Post Office".

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of my bill, H.R. 3870, to designate the U.S. Post Office located at 6083 Highway 36 West in Rose Bud, Arkansas, as the Nicky ``Nick'' Daniel Bacon Post Office.

Nick Bacon is one of Arkansas' finest sons, and he dedicated his life to serving our country. Mr. Bacon was born in Caraway, Arkansas, on November 25, 1945. In 1963, at the age of 17, he forged his mother's signature so he could enlist in the Army. He went on to serve two tours in Vietnam.

On August 26, 1968, while serving as a squad leader with the First Platoon, Company B, in an operation west of Tam Ky, Mr. Bacon and his unit came under fire. He destroyed an enemy position with hand grenades, but his platoon leader was wounded in open ground. Without hesitating, he assumed command and led the platoon in destroying still more enemy emplacements.

When the third platoon leader was wounded, Mr. Bacon took command of that platoon as well, leading both platoons against the remaining enemy positions. During evacuation of the wounded, he climbed up on the deck of a nearby tank, and from that vantage point, he directed fire into enemy positions, all while exposed to enemy fire himself.

He personally is credited with destroying an anti-tank weapon and moving the platoons forward so they could eliminate the enemy positions and rescue soldiers trapped at the front. For his actions on that day, Mr. Bacon received the Medal of Honor, which was presented to him by President Richard Nixon during a ceremony at the White House in 1969.

Mr. Bacon also earned multiple awards for his accomplishments, including the Distinguished Service Cross, the Legion of Merit, two Bronze Stars, and a Purple Heart.

After retiring from active duty, he continued his service to America. He served as the director of the Arkansas Department of Veterans Affairs from 1993 until his retirement in 2005. During that time, Mr. Bacon was essential to the development of the Arkansas State Veterans Cemetery, and the Arkansas State Veterans Cemetery Beautification Foundation. He also helped establish the Arkansas Veterans' Coalition.

Additionally, in 2004, Mr. Bacon was appointed by then-Speaker of the House, Denny Hastert, to the Veterans' Disability Benefits Commission, an independent, 13-member panel responsible for studying the military system of compensating veterans for their injuries. The commission was charged with ensuring that the compensation system was equitable and fair.

Mr. Bacon passed away on July 17, 2010, after a long battle with cancer. He was the last living Medal of Honor recipient from the State of Arkansas, and he is survived by his wife, Tamera, and children and grandchildren.

Mr. Bacon spent his final years as a resident of Rose Bud, Arkansas, and we can honor his heroism, bravery, and service by installing a permanent marker of his contribution to Arkansas and America. His example is one all Americans and Arkansans can admire, and I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this bill to honor his legacy.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3870) to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 6083 Highway 36 West in Rose Bud, Arkansas, as the ``Nicky `Nick' Daniel Bacon Post Office''.

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

General Leave

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

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 3870, introduced by the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Griffin), would designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 6083 Highway 36 West in Rose Bud, Arkansas, as the Nicky ``Nick'' Daniel Bacon Post Office. The bill is cosponsored by the entire Arkansas State delegation and was favorably reported by the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform on February 7.

Mr. Speaker, First Sergeant Nick Bacon was known for his heroism while he served in the Army during the Vietnam War. During his second tour in Vietnam in 1968, Bacon assumed command of his company when his platoon leader was wounded in open ground. He led his platoon to successfully defeat the enemy gun crew.

When another platoon moved to Sergeant Bacon's location, its leader was also wounded. Without hesitation, Sergeant Bacon took charge of the additional platoon and continued the fight.

He is a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration, the Medal of Honor, as well as numerous other distinctions.

Mr. Speaker, I am truly grateful for the brave and heroic service of first Sergeant Nick Bacon and for all of those who serve and defend our Nation every day.

I urge my colleagues to join me in strong support of this bill.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield as much time as he may consume to my distinguished colleague from the State of Arkansas (Mr. Griffin), the sponsor of this legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I urge all Members to support the passage of H.R. 3870, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee be discharged from the following postal naming bills en bloc and that the Senate proceed to their consideration en bloc: H.R. 3477, H.R. 3870, H.R. 3912, H.R. 5738, H.R. 5837, H.R. 5954, S. 3630, and S. 3662.

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 that any related statements be printed in the Record.