To name the Department of Veterans Affairs community-based outpatient clinic in Guntersville, Alabama, as the "Colonel Ola Lee Mize Department of Veterans Affairs Clinic".

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise to express my support for H.R. 5464, a bill to designate the Department of Veterans Affairs community-based outpatient clinic in Guntersville, Alabama, as the Colonel Ola Lee Mize Department of Veterans Affairs Clinic.

Colonel Mize's story is one of heroism and perseverance. His actions saved lives and helped turn the tide of conflict. I am glad to support this bill to honor his service.

Like many servicemembers, Mr. Mize joined the Army seeking to support his family. He was the son of Alabama sharecroppers and had to leave school in the ninth grade. Despite initially being rejected due to his small stature, he persevered and was accepted.

After a peacetime tour of duty, Mr. Mize reenlisted when the Korean war began.

As a member of the Army's Company K, 15th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division, and now a sergeant, Mr. Mize was stationed to defend a strategic posting known as Outpost Harry. His actions in this posting are nothing short of heroic.

He bravely answered the call to help a medic rescue an injured soldier at a listening post and brought him back to safety.

Sergeant Mize then fought his way to assist an American machine gun nest that had been overrun. On his way, he was blown down three separate times by artillery and grenade blasts, but he returned to his astounded men alive.

Sergeant Mize brought down as many as 65 enemy soldiers and helped rescue the outpost for the American forces. Of 56 Americans involved in the Outpost Harry fighting, only 8 survived, but Sergeant Mize's actions helped ensure that number was as high as it was.

In a testament to his loyalty to his men, Sergeant Mize initially refused the Medal of Honor when he was told that he would be honored with it, saying it should go to mark their bravery instead.

When he did finally accept it from President Eisenhower in 1954, he accepted it on behalf of his men.

Despite demonstrating more than enough valor for one lifetime, Colonel Mize received a commission with the U.S. Special Forces and served four tours of duty, including three in Vietnam with the Army Green Berets.

In addition to his Medal of Honor, throughout his military career, he was awarded the Legion of Merit twice, the Silver Star, the Bronze Star five times, and the Purple Heart, among others.

After an assignment to the Special Forces School, he retired as a full colonel in 1981.

As a nation, we must remember Colonel Mize's sense of duty, loyalty to his men, and heroism. I can think of no better way to honor him.

Mr. Speaker, I support this important piece of legislation. I ask that my colleagues do the same, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I ask all of my colleagues to join me in passing H.R. 5464 to designate the Department of Veterans Affairs community-based outpatient clinic in Guntersville, Alabama, as the Colonel Ola Lee Mize Department of Veterans Affairs Clinic.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5464) to name the Department of Veterans Affairs community-based outpatient clinic in Guntersville, Alabama, as the ``Colonel Ola Lee Mize Department of Veterans Affairs Clinic''.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 5464, a bill to name the Department of Veterans Affairs community-based outpatient clinic in Guntersville, Alabama, as the Colonel Ola Lee Mize Department of Veterans Affairs Clinic.

Ola Mize was born on August 28, 1931, in Albertville, Alabama. Although he was initially rejected by the U.S. Army for being underweight, after much persistence, he joined the Army in 1950 and was assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division.

When the Korean war broke out, rather than pursuing an education, Ola Mize decided to reenlist. On the night of June 10, 1953, Sergeant Mize's unit was defending an outpost, Outpost Harry, when they came under artillery fire. This fire was shortly followed by an assault by a battalion-sized force of Chinese troops, which quickly overran the Americans' position.

Sergeant Mize then took his rifle and began taking defensive action, killing around 40 enemy troops.

When nearly all the officers were casualties, he took the initiative to establish a defensive position. Sergeant Mize and his team went from bunker to bunker, firing at the enemy, confusing them into thinking Americans had a larger defense position than they actually did.

With all the chaos going on around him, he worked tirelessly to assist the wounded and put them into makeshift shelters away from enemy fire.

The next morning, Sergeant Mize led a counterattack, wiping out the remaining enemy.

For his action, Ola Mize was awarded the Medal of Honor by President Eisenhower on September 7, 1954. After receiving the Medal of Honor, he continued his service, being awarded the Silver Star for Valor and for his service in Vietnam.

Ola Mize retired from the Army as a colonel in 1981.

Stories of heroes like Colonel Mize should continue to be told to generations of Americans.

By naming the VA clinic in his honor, we will surely do just that. Colonel Mize's service to our country and his legacy will always be remembered, and I thank the gentleman from Alabama (Mr. Aderholt), the sponsor, as well as the entire Alabama delegation for leading this effort.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 5464, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, at this time, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Alabama (Mr. Aderholt), the sponsor of this bill.

Mr. Speaker, I encourage all of our Members to support this legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this legislation, H.R. 5464, to rename the Guntersville, Alabama, community- based veterans outpatient clinic to the Colonel Ola Lee Mize Department of Veterans Affairs Clinic.

I was proud to introduce this bill in honor of Colonel Ola Lee Mize, a true American hero from Alabama's Fourth Congressional District, which I am honored to represent.

Ola Lee Mize was a native of Alabama's Fourth Congressional District. He was born and raised in Albertville, a town next to Guntersville, where this clinic is located.

In 1954, as it has been stated, Colonel Mize was awarded the Medal of Honor, which is the highest military honor, by President Dwight D. Eisenhower for his heroic actions in saving a wounded soldier and leading a successful military operation in defense of Outpost Harry, as it has been described by my colleagues.

According to reports, on that day, of the 56 Americans involved in the Outpost Harry battle, only 8 survived. Colonel Mize served his country with honor for more than 30 years in the United States Army.

Among his many other accomplishments were numerous additional deployments, including multiple tours in Vietnam as a Green Beret, rising to the rank of colonel and serving as commander of the Special Forces School at Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

In addition to the Medal of Honor, Colonel Mize's other military declarations include two Legion of Merits, the Silver Star, five Bronze Stars, and the Purple Heart.

Following his retirement from the Army in 1982, Colonel Mize spent his remaining years in Gadsden, Alabama, in neighboring Etowah County, until he passed away in 2014.

He is survived by his wife, Betty Mize, and a daughter, Teresa Peterson, and numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Like I said before, Colonel Mize was a true American hero, and the people of Alabama's Fourth Congressional District are proud to call him our own. We will not forget the legacy he left behind, and neither should any American. That is why renaming the veterans clinic in Guntersville will honor Colonel Mize's service and inspire future generations of Alabamians.

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleagues, Chairman Bost and Ranking Member Takano, for their work in bringing this legislation to the floor today.

Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to join me in supporting this legislation.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of H.R. 5464, which was received from the House and is at the desk.

I further ask that the bill be considered read a third time and passed and that the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table with no intervening action or debate.