Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and pay tribute to the life of one of our nation's greatest, and most decorated, war heroes Marine Colonel Mitchell Paige. Colonel Paige passed away this past weekend on November 15, 2003 in his home in La Quinta, California. He is survived by his wife Marilyn, his six children, fifteen grandchildren and six greatgrandchildren. I want to extend my deepest condolences to Marilyn, who is a wonderful woman and whom I know Colonel Paige loved very deeply, as well as her entire family.

Colonel Paige served with distinction in the Marine Corps for nearly twenty-eight years with a career that spanned from the date of his enlistment on September 1, 1936 to his retirement on July 1, 1964. The numerous awards and medals bestowed upon Colonel Paige included the Medal of Honor, the Purple Heart, and the Presidential Unit Citation.

President Franklin D. Roosevelt bestowed the Medal of Honor, the highest award for valor given a member of the U.S. Armed Forces, on then Platoon Sergeant Paige for his heroic actions on October 26, 1942 during World War II's Battle of Guadalcanal. His career and service to our nation are so exemplary that the Commandant of the Marine Corps, Gen. Michael W. Hagee, added Colonel Paige's autobiography, ``A Marine Named Mitch,'' to the U.S. Marine Reading Program. His actions are so legendary that the Hasbro Toy Company used his likeness for their 1998 Medal of Honor GI Joe model.

Words cannot justly describe the valor and steadfastness to duty that were displayed by Colonel Paige during the Battle of Guadalcanal. To understand his heroism, one must first understand the importance of the airstrip that his Marine Platoon fought to control during the fall of 1942. During that fall, the Japanese Army was building an airstrip in the Solomon Islands from which they would be able to disrupt communication and supply lines between the United States, Australia and Great Britain. On August 7, 1942, in a surprise attack, the Marines landed and quickly seized control of the field. The Marines completed construction and put the field into operation. In the battles that followed, the two sides continued to struggle for control of the island.

On October 26, 1942, Platoon Sergeant Paige led his platoon of thirty-three men in defending the critical ridge from which the opposing forces planned to launch their final assault against the airfield. During the fighting, each and every member of Paige's platoon was wounded or killed. The only Marine able to fight, Paige moved up and down the line pulling the dead and wounded back into their foxholes. Sergeant Paige held the Japanese Army back by firing short bursts from each of the four water-cooled Browning machine guns that his platoon had been given to defend the critical ridge. His actions convinced the Japanese that the crest of the hill was well defended. In truth, it was, defended by a single Marine named Platoon Sergeant Mitchell Paige.

Sergeant Paige's heroism did not end there. In the morning mist, near the end of the fighting, Sergeant Paige grabbed one of the water-cooled Brownings, a job for which the weapon was never designed, and walked down the hill towards the location of the enemy who were preparing to outflank his position. Firing as he went, Sergeant Paige took out the remaining enemy forces on the ridge. Later, joined by a makeshift line consisting of communication personnel, riflemen, runners, cooks and messman, Sergeant Paige led a bayonet counterattack against the enemy. The counterattack was successful and the Japanese forces, having suffered staggering losses, receded all because a single Marine fought with valor and distinction on a small island a little over sixty-one years ago.

After the Battle of Guadalcanal, Colonel Paige continued to serve in the Marines for another twenty-two years. His service and love of country can best be summed up in his own words: ``I am proud to be a citizen of a nation whose objective is peace and goodwill for all mankind. A nation which has contributed so much for the benefit of peoples all over the world. A nation, under God, with liberty and justice for all. I am proud to be an American. I can never believe it is old fashioned to love our Flag and Country nor can I ever believe it is being square to stand in readiness behind our Flag to defend those ideals for which it stands against all enemies, foreign and domestic.''

America owes Colonel Paige a debt of gratitude. His actions, the actions of a single Marine, most certainly turned the tide in the Pacific Conflict during World War II. His actions saved countless lives of American servicemen and his actions quite literally won the War. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and pay tribute to the life of a man who lived with valor and honor, a man who loved his country and fought bravely defending her, a man who was a patriot and an American Hero, Marine Colonel Mitchell Paige.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 5 and the physicians that work tirelessly to care for the sick and injured.

I have witnessed first-hand the crux of the issue about which we debate today. My father worked as an ENT surgeon for 19 years in Southern California, both before and after California's MICRA law was enacted. He has also helped me to better understand the issues that those in private practice face and we both have an appreciation for the problems our doctors face. Living in Southern California my entire life has also allowed me to witness the changes that have taken place with regard to medical liability reform.

Numerous doctors from Southern California have contacted me about the benefit that they have seen from the liability laws that exist in our state and realize how much it has affected their ability to treat more patients effectively. Still, other states are witnessing a serious reduction in care, particularly in vital specialities including those that affect expectant mothers.

We face a vote today on an issue that centers on the ability of our doctors to practice the science that saves lives daily in our country. Currently physicians in many states face the reality of not being able to keep their practice running. Our problems cannot be solved by the trend of defensive medicine, as they can only lead to higher costs to the patient, the insurer, and the doctor. The ultimate price is paid when a defensive procedure costs not only money but the life of a patient.

It is unfortunate that many frame this debate in terms of political ideology. How can we continue to demoralize our doctors from working in the field that they love and providing care for those who are suffering? H.R. 5 is about tempering skyrocketing insurance premiums across the country. H.R. 5 is about providing real access to care and the continued ability for our health care system to run effectively in times of state and national budget deficits.

But, most importantly, Mr. Speaker, H.R. 5 is about allowing our doctors to help millions of people every year in the practice that they know better than any trial lawyer or bureaucrat in Washington, DC.

Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to support H.R. 5.