Wilson and Young Medal of Honor Va Clinic

Floor Speech

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Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 2334) to designate the Department of Veterans Affairs community-based outpatient clinic in Odessa, Texas, as the ``Wilson and Young Medal of Honor VA Clinic''.

The Clerk read the title of the bill.

The text of the bill is as follows: H.R. 2334

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. DESIGNATION OF WILSON AND YOUNG MEDAL OF HONOR VA CLINIC.

(a) Finding.--Congress finds that Private First Class Alfred ``Mac'' Wilson of the Marine Corps and Staff Sergeant Marvin ``Rex'' Young of the Army were both posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for their heroic actions in the Vietnam War.

(b) Designation.--The Department of Veterans Affairs community-based outpatient clinic in Odessa, Texas, shall after the date of the enactment of this Act be known and designated as the ``Wilson and Young Medal of Honor VA Clinic''.

(c) References.--Any reference in a law, map, regulation, document, paper, or other record of the United States to the facility referred to in subsection (b) shall be deemed to be a reference to the ``Wilson and Young Medal of Honor VA Clinic''.

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Mr. TAKANO. 2334.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the lives of Army Staff Sergeant Marvin ``Rex'' Young and Marine Corps Private First Class Alfred ``Mac'' Wilson. I thank my colleague from Texas (Mr. Conaway) for bringing this bill before us so that we all may be able to pay tribute to two of our Nation's heroes.

As soon as the law allowed, both men signed up to serve our country during the height of the Vietnam war. It was during this war that both Staff Sergeant Young and Private First Class Wilson would ultimately give their lives in defense of our country.

Private First Class Wilson was born on January 13, 1948, in Olney, Illinois. His family moved to Odessa, Texas, in 1950, where he attended local schools before graduating from Odessa Senior High School in 1967. He enlisted in the United States Marine Corps Reserve at Abilene, Texas, on November 1, 1967, and was discharged to enlist in the Marine Corps on January 14, 1968.

At the time of his death, Private First Class Wilson was a rifleman with Company M, 3rd Battalion, 9th Marines, 3rd Marine Division.

Staff Sergeant Young was born on May 11, 1947, in Alpine, Texas, the youngest of three children born to Roy Clinton and Marilyn Young.

He joined the Army from Odessa, Texas, in September 1966 and by August 21, 1968, was serving as a staff sergeant in Company C, 1st Battalion, 5th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division.

At two different points of the Vietnam war, these two brave men gave their lives to support the mission of their respective units and were both posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor.

For Private First Class Wilson, it was March 3, 1969, when the first platoon of Company M was ambushed by the North Vietnamese Army after returning from patrol. Intense automatic weapons fire and grenade attacks wounded the platoon's gunner and assistant gunner.

Acting as squad leader, Private Wilson put himself in between enemy fire and his men to retrieve the machine gun from the wounded marines so that his platoon could maintain a heavy volume of fire against the enemy.

When he reached the M-60 machine gun, a North Vietnamese soldier threw a grenade at him, landing between Private First Class Wilson and another marine. Private First Class Wilson first fired a burst from his M-16 rifle, killing the enemy, and then shouted to his companion and, unhesitatingly, threw himself on the grenade, absorbing the full force of the explosion with his body.

Because of his selfless act of valor, his platoon members were able to give maximum effort to aggressively and successfully defeat the enemy.

On August 21, 1968, a regimental sized force of the North Vietnamese Army attacked Staff Sergeant Young's platoon while on a reconnaissance mission. Staff Sergeant Young assumed command of the platoon after the acting platoon leader was killed, organizing and deploying his men to repel the enemy force.

While wave after wave of the enemy attacked, he courageously moved from position to position, encouraging and directing fire at the North Vietnamese Army while exposing himself to enemy bullets.

When Staff Sergeant Young noticed that parts of his squad were unable to retreat, he fought his way to them, despite sustaining a critical head injury, so they could safely withdraw. While fighting with the squad as it fought its way to the rear, Staff Sergeant Young was seriously wounded in the arm and his leg was badly shattered.

Without wanting to slow the retreat of his squad, he refused assistance and ordered their withdrawal while providing protective cover until the enemy engulfed his position.

These two heroes sacrificed their lives for their fellow servicemembers and our freedom.

Mr. Speaker, my colleagues and I, and a grateful Nation, owe a debt of gratitude to Private First Class Alfred ``Mac'' Wilson and Staff Sergeant Marvin ``Rex'' Young, and to their families and to their legacies.

I fully support the naming of the Department of Veterans Affairs community-based outpatient clinic in Odessa, Texas, as the ``Wilson and Young Medal of Honor VA Clinic'' so that we never forget their sacrifices.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on this bill and urge our Senate colleagues to take up this bill without delay, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. DAVID P. ROE of Tennessee.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 2334, a bill sponsored by Congressman Michael Conaway of Texas. This bill would name the Department of Veterans Affairs community-based outpatient clinic in Odessa, Texas, the ``Wilson and Young Medal of Honor VA Clinic,'' after two Texas veterans who received the Medal of Honor for their heroic actions in the Vietnam war.

Private First Class Alfred ``Mac'' Wilson was a marine killed in action March 3, 1969, when he threw himself on a grenade to save his platoon mate during an enemy ambush.

Staff Sergeant Marvin ``Rex'' Young was a soldier who was killed in action on August 21, 1968, when he was fatally wounded while rescuing several of his fellow soldiers who had been pinned down by enemy fire.

Both of these men received posthumously the Medal of Honor, our country's highest tribute, for their actions.

Even these many years after their deaths, their memories live on as examples of true courage, selflessness, and love of country. I commend Congressman Conaway for introducing this bill in their honor.

This bill is supported by the entire Texas delegation, in both the House and the Senate, as well as by several veterans' service organizations throughout Texas.

Mr. Speaker, this is something very near and dear and personal to me. I am a Vietnam-era veteran myself. I remember, all too often, seeing these American heroes who never got to see their families, their children, or their grandchildren because of the sacrifice that they gave for this country: their life, the greatest sacrifice they could.

And we stand here in this great country, free, because of what these men did. And I hope that people in Odessa, Texas, take as much pride as I do. Tennessee and Texas have a great connection, as the Speaker knows, and I take great pride, in Tennessee, in having the privilege today to be on this floor debating this bill and bestowing this honor on these two heroes.

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Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record letters from The American Legion, Department of Texas; from the DAV, Disabled American Veterans, Department of Texas; and the VFW, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, in support of Mr. Conaway's bill to name the clinic in Texas after these gentlemen. The American Legion, Department of Texas, Austin, TX, May 30, 2019. Chairman Mark Takano, House Committee on Veterans' Affairs, Washington, DC. Ranking Member Phil Roe, House Committee on Veterans' Affairs, Washington, DC.

Dear Chairman Takano and Ranking Member Roe: On the behalf of The American Legion, Department of Texas, I am honored to extend my support to the efforts of U.S. Representative K. Michael Conaway and the Members of Congress from Texas to rename the Department of Veterans Affairs outpatient clinic in Odessa, Texas to the ``Wilson and Young Medal of Honor VA Clinic''.

As Medal of Honor recipients raised in Odessa, it is fitting that Alfred ``Mac'' Wilson and Marvin ``Rex'' Young be memorialized by naming a facility that serves their brothers and sisters in arms in their time of need. It is a testament to their bravery and self-sacrifice. May it also be a reminder for us all to live up to their examples. ``For God and Country'', Lloyd Buckmaster, State Commander. Attest: William West, State Adjutant. ____ DAV, Department of Texas, Lufkin, TX, April 24, 2019. Chairman Mark Takano, House Committee on Veterans' Affairs, Washington, DC. Ranking Member Phil Roe, House Committee on Veterans' Affairs, Washington, DC.

Dear Chairman Takano and Ranking Member Roe: On the behalf of the Disabled American Veterans, Department of Texas, I am honored to extend my support to the efforts of U.S. Representative K. Michael Conaway and the Members of Congress from Texas to rename the Department of Veterans Affairs outpatient clinic in Odessa, Texas to the ``Wilson and Young Medal of Honor VA Clinic''.

As Medal of honor recipients raised in Odessa, it is fitting that Allied ``Mac'' Wilson and Marvin ``Rex'' Young be memorialized by naming a facility that serves their brothers and sisters in arms in their time of need. It is a testament to their bravery and self-sacrifice. May it also be a reminder for us all to live up to their examples. Sincerely, Teresa Johniken, Adjutant/Treasurer. ____ Veterns of Foreign Wars, Austin, TX, June 5, 2019. Chairman Mark Takano, House Committee on Veterans' Affairs, Washington, DC. Ranking Member Phil Roe, House Committee on Veterans' Affairs, Washington, DC.

Dear Chairman Takano and Ranking Member Roe: On the behalf of the Texas Veterans of Foreign Wars, I am honored to extend my support to the efforts of U.S. Representative K. Michael Conaway and the Members of Congress from Texas to rename the Department of Veterans Affairs Outpatient Clinic in Odessa, Texas to the ``Wilson and Young Medal of Honor VA Clinic''.

As Medal of Honor recipients raised in Odessa, it is fitting that Alfred ``Mac'' Wilson and Marvin ``Rex'' Young be memorialized by naming a facility that serves their brothers and sisters in arms in their time of need. It is a testament to their bravery and self-sacrifice. May it also be a reminder for us all to live up to their examples. Sincerely, Ingeborg A. Conley, State Commander. Attest: Dan West, State Adjutant/Quartermaster.

Mr. DAVID P. ROE of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, it is my privilege to yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Conaway), my good friend from Texas' 11th District, the former chairman of the Agriculture Committee and now ranking member, who also serves on the Intelligence Committee, to honor these two great heroes.

Let me say how much I appreciate this legislation from the gentleman from Texas. Reading through the medal citations, it was certainly very moving. I found myself even finding my voice very halting as I read through it with my staff. I see that the gentleman still, today, remembers his friend with great memories. He was a great ballplayer.

It is always poignant to take note of young servicemembers who give their lives for our country, and we certainly want to join together, on a bipartisan basis, as a Nation, to express our gratitude.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in passing H.R.

Mr. DAVID P. ROE of Tennessee.

I will associate myself with the remarks of the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Conaway). I know he misses his friend.

It is a true privilege to be here today to be able to honor this clinic in Odessa, Texas.

I encourage all Members to support H.R. 2334, and I yield back the balance of my time.

I urge all of my colleagues to join me in passing H.R. 2334, honoring Staff Sergeant Marvin ``Rex'' Young and Private First Class Alfred ``Mac'' Wilson, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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