Corporal Michael J. Crescenz Act of 2013

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (S. 229) to designate the medical center of the Department of Veterans Affairs located at 3900 Woodland Avenue in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, as the ``Corporal Michael J. Crescenz Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center''.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks on S. 229.

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

I rise in support of S. 229, which would name the VA Medical Center located at 3900 Woodland Avenue in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, as the Corporal Michael J. Crescenz Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center.

Corporal Crescenz was the only Philadelphia native to earn the Medal of Honor during the Vietnam war. His posthumous award of the Medal of Honor resulted from an act of heroism in the Republic of Vietnam on November 20, 1968.

Reading from Corporal Crescenz's Medal of Honor citation:

In the morning, his unit engaged a large, well-entrenched

force of the North Vietnamese Army whose initial burst of

fire pinned down the lead squad and killed the two point men,

halting the advance of Company A.

Immediately, Corporal Crescenz left the relative safety of

his own position, seized a nearby machinegun and, with

complete disregard for his own safety, charged 100 meters up

a slope toward the enemy's bunkers, which he effectively

silenced, killing two occupants in each.

Undaunted by the withering machinegun fire around him,

Corporal Crescenz courageously moved forward toward a third

bunker, which he also succeeded in silencing, killing two

more of the enemy and momentarily clearing the route of

advance for his comrades.

As a direct result of his heroic actions, his company was

able to maneuver freely with minimal danger and complete its

mission, defeating the enemy.

Corporal Crescenz's bravery and extraordinary heroism at

the cost of his life are in the highest traditions of

military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his

unit, and the United States Army.

Naming the Philadelphia VA Medical Center after this American hero is a tribute to his legacy and to all residents who served with our Nation during the Vietnam war.

It is my pleasure to support S. 229, and I am grateful for the leadership and support of Chairman Miller, Ranking Member Michaud, Senator Toomey, and the entire Pennsylvania delegation.

I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring this hero by supporting this bill.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Pennsylvania, Pat Meehan, my friend.

Mr. Speaker, at this time, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Pennsylvania, Michael Fitzpatrick, my friend, to speak on this issue.

Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers. I will close by saying I can't think of anything more appropriate than naming this VA medical center after this Medal of Honor winner. I am a Vietnam-era veteran, lost a lot of friends in the war in Vietnam. It is difficult for me to even talk about it. I can't think of anything more appropriate than naming this great medical center after this hero from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Once again, Mr. Speaker, I encourage all Members to support S. 229.

With that, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding.

We have come to this floor on any number of occasions honoring people, but I think this may be the noblest moment that I have risen on the floor, because, in this instance, it is not to name a stamp after Wilt Chamberlain from Philadelphia or the train station after Congressman Gray, but this is to acknowledge a young man who graduated from high school in 1966 and, within a year or so, joined, enlisted, and went off to war on behalf of his country in a faraway place.

He finished at Cardinal Dougherty High School. He played varsity baseball there. He played basketball in a summer league at Simons Recreation Center. He grew up in West Oak Lane in my district, on the 7400 block of Thouron Avenue.

But the Corporal Crescenz whom we honor today is someone who, even though he was only in country for just a mere few months, when this attack took place, he grabbed a machinegun and he went towards the fire. It has been recounted when President Nixon awarded him the Medal of Honor, he took out one machinegun nest, he took out another, he then took out a third. Then when a camouflaged artillery post opened up, he charged at it, and that is when he took this mortal round.

But this is a young man who really, I think, represents everything that is important about American ideals because he lived a life of service on behalf of his country. He took it on himself to

face challenge in a faraway place. He honors us even in his death, which was a long, long time ago, by giving us the honor to be able to rise and to acknowledge his courage.

Our city lost a lot of people in the Vietnam war. This is the only soldier to earn the Medal of Honor.

I want to thank Councilman David Oh, who is a member of the Republican Party on our city council--it is hard to be a Republican and get elected in Philadelphia--but who helped to raise this issue locally.

I want to thank all of the Pennsylvania Members. We introduced a bill, H.R. 454. Every single Member of the Pennsylvania delegation supported this.

I have visited the Philadelphia VA. I have talked to veterans there who are getting care, all of whom are proud to have served our country. I think that they will be proud that the name of the medical center will be named after this young corporal who didn't make it in the headlines but, today, he is at the very forefront of the work of the United States Congress as we honor his service and we honor his family by this naming bill.

Will the gentleman yield?

I missed the opportunity, and I should acknowledge the strong contribution of Congressman Bob Brady in this effort, along with yourself and Congressman Fitzpatrick. I neglected in my early remarks to do so, so if I could lay that on the Record. This would not have happened without Congressman Brady's support.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the Corporal Michael J. Crescenz Act of 2013, to rename the Philadelphia VA Medical Center in honor of Medal of Honor recipient and Philadelphia native Corporal Michael Crescenz.

Mr. Speaker, I am grateful that we are able to bring this long overdue honor to a great Philadelphian and a worthy American hero. I have been working to accomplish this renaming since I first drafted legislation in 2012, and I am thankful that my colleagues Congressman Fattah and Senator Toomey, as well as the rest of the Pennsylvania delegation, have joined me in this important endeavor.

Mr. Speaker, Corporal Michael J. Crescenz is the only Philadelphia- born recipient of the Medal of Honor, our nation's highest military honor, from the Vietnam War. Born on January 14, 1949 to Mary Ann and Charles Crescenz, Michael grew up in the West Oak Lane neighborhood of Philadelphia and went on to graduate from Cardinal Dougherty High School Class of 1966. He enlisted in the US Army in September 1968, the same month that his older brother Charles was discharged from active duty.

According to his Medal of Honor citation, 19-year old Cpl. Crescenz's platoon came under attack on November 20, 1968, in Vietnam's Hiep Duc Valley. Rather than remain in the relative safety of his position, Cpl. Crescenz seized a nearby machine gun,

charged toward the enemy's position, and silenced two bunkers. He then courageously advanced toward a third bunker, which he also silenced, clearing a route for his comrades. Shortly thereafter, gunfire emerged from a fourth, unseen bunker, and in order to protect his fellow soldiers, Cpl. Crescenz advanced on the position, firing with his machine gun. He was mortally wounded when he was just 5 meters away from the camouflaged bunker. His selfless actions allowed his company to maneuver freely to complete its mission, ultimately defeating the enemy.

President Nixon posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor to Cpl. Crescenz in April, 1970 for his gallantry and intrepidity in action. Now, 46 years after his heroic stand, we again humbly recognize the sacrifice of Cpl. Crescenz, along with the sacrifice of all those who paid the ultimate price in Vietnam and in all wars in defense of our nation.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman.

I also am very pleased to join with my colleagues in both the House and the Senate in advancing legislation which will, we hope, appear on the President's desk to honor the service and sacrifice, the very significant sacrifice, of Corporal Michael Crescenz, whom, as we have heard many times here today, was Philadelphia's sole Medal of Honor winner during the Vietnam war.

I want to also thank my friend, Mr. Fattah, for his work in getting the bill to the floor here today.

Corporal Crescenz received a Medal of Honor for his actions on November 20, 1968, in Vietnam's Hiep Duc Valley. His citation states-- and I know the citation was already quoted here today, but I think it bears repeating, at least in part--that Corporal Crescenz gave his life when he ``left the relative safety of his own position, seized a nearby machinegun and, with complete disregard for his safety, charged 100 meters up a slope toward the enemy's bunkers, which he effectively silenced. As a direct result of his heroic actions, his company was able to maneuver freely with minimal danger and to complete its mission, defeating the enemy.''

By moving to rename the Philadelphia Veterans Affairs Medical Center the Corporal Michael J. Crescenz Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, we immortalize the legacy of Corporal Crescenz and remember his sacrifice in the defense of our freedom.

Mr. Speaker, the Philadelphia region has a long and proud tradition of selfless sacrifice to our Nation dating back to the Revolution. Generations of military members have called our area home, and they continue to serve today. We must continue to recognize those who sacrifice and those who gave their lives at the altar of freedom.

Corporal Crescenz continues to have many friends, led by Joe Griffies and his friends at the Welcome Home Veterans radio program, who have never forgotten Michael Crescenz and have fought tirelessly as well for this legislation.

Mr. Fattah's Corporal Michael J. Crescenz's Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center legislation reminds us all that the contributions of our Nation's veterans should never be forgotten.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding.

I also thank my colleague from Philadelphia, the distinguished gentleman, who has been a strong supporter of this important bill. I rise in strong support of S. 229, which is the Corporal Michael J. Crescenz Act of 2013.

As has been identified, the legislation would rename the Woodland Avenue Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Philadelphia after Corporal Crescenz. As has been identified, he is Philadelphia's only Medal of Honor recipient from the Vietnam era from Cardinal Dougherty High School, which had contributed more young men who gave their lives in the service of their country during the Vietnam war than any high school in the Nation, so this is quite a distinction.

I visited, as have my colleagues, numerous times the veterans medical center, making sure that it ensures the veterans receive the care they deserve.

But I think one of the things that is important about this kind of a recognition is not only that it has been earned with valor, but the veterans who walk in and out of there each day, many of them Vietnam veterans themselves, want to hear the story about Corporal Crescenz. His name will be enshrined, people will know about it, and his heroism will live and continue to live.

I yield to the gentleman from Pennsylvania.

Mr. Speaker, reclaiming my time, I also want to express my appreciation. I think it is one of the endearing factors. While we from time to time may have strong disagreements about issues, we actually have had many more that we have been able to work together on. This is one that I am proud to support.

I will conclude by saying that this was undoubtedly an act in which he not only acted selflessly for himself, but he saved his fellow warfighters from harm.

I would like to commend those who have worked tirelessly on renaming this facility, and I hope that my colleagues will support this measure.