Robert S. Poydasheff Va Clinic
Floor Speech
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Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3475) to name the Department of Veterans Affairs community- based outpatient clinic in Columbus, Georgia, as the ``Robert S. Poydasheff VA Clinic''.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows: H.R. 3475
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. FINDINGS.
Congress makes the following findings:
(1) Former Columbus, Georgia, Mayor Robert S. Poydasheff died on September 24, 2020.
(2) He earned a B.A. in Political Science from the Citadel in 1954, a J.D. from Tulane University Law School in 1957, an M.A. in International Relations from Boston University's Graduate Program in Berlin, Germany, in 1967, and attended the Hague Academy of International Law in the Netherlands in preparation for a military and subsequent civilian career that focused on serving others.
(3) In 1955, he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Infantry Branch of the United States Army, and he was reassigned to the Judge Advocate General's Corps.
(4) He was a 1976 graduate of the United States Army War College and served a total of 24 years, retiring as a Colonel in 1979.
(5) He was decorated with the Legion of Merit with two Oak Leaf Clusters, the Bronze Star Medal, and Vietnam Ribbon with Four Battle Stars, and during his military career and because of his expert legal acumen he was assigned to work on the biggest cases of the time in which he served, but during this he never lost sight of what he considered his primary role, which was to take care of soldiers.
(6) Robert S. Poydasheff was appointed as legal counsel to the Secretary of the Army and served the needs of all soldiers by helping to shape Army policy.
(7) In 2012, the Army War College Foundation named Colonel Poydasheff an Outstanding Alumnus in recognition of his wide- ranging service to his community after his retirement from active duty.
(8) Colonel Poydasheff served on the Columbus, Georgia City Council from 1994 to 2002, helping all citizens of the community he had come to love while concurrently serving Fort Benning and his beloved soldiers.
(9) He was elected Mayor of Columbus, Georgia, in 2002, served a four-year term and maintained a focus on community- based programs as well as strengthening the relationship between the city and Fort Benning.
(10) During that time he made great contributions to the joint military and civilian communities of Columbus, Georgia, and Fort Benning, appointing first a fellow soldier and later the first African American to the City Manager position, while knowing that doing so would be at his own political peril.
(11) After his service as Mayor of Columbus, Georgia, Robert S. Poydasheff found continued success as a practicing lawyer helping countless citizens and soldiers living in the city he once led as well as advocating for many soldiers in the area.
(12) His continued interest in the betterment of the city as well as his contributions to the Veterans Action Committee has a continued impact to this day.
(13) He served as past president of the Chattahoochee Council Boy Scouts of America, past president of the Chattahoochee Valley Association of the United Sates Army, past president of the Columbus Symphony Orchestra, member of the Board of Directors of the Springer Opera Arts Association, past president of the Ann Elizabeth Shepherd Home, and member of the Kiwanis Club and Columbus Bar Association. SEC. 2. NAME OF DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS COMMUNITY- BASED OUTPATIENT CLINIC, COLUMBUS, GEORGIA. The Department of Veterans Affairs community-based outpatient clinic in Columbus, Georgia, shall after the date of the enactment of this Act be known and designated as the ``Robert S. Poydasheff VA Clinic''. Any reference to such clinic in any law, regulation, map, document, record, or other paper of the United States shall be considered to be a reference to the Robert S. Poydasheff VA Clinic.
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Mr. TAKANO. 3475.
Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the life of Colonel Robert S. Poydasheff, who passed away on September 24, 2020.
I thank my colleague, Representative Sanford Bishop from Georgia, for introducing this legislation so that we can pay tribute to a distinguished servicemember who advocated for veterans throughout his life.
Robert Poydasheff received his bachelor of arts in political science from The Citadel in 1954. In 1955, he was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the United States Army as an infantry officer. After completing his law education at Tulane University, Mr. Poydasheff continued his military career in the Judge Advocate General's Corps.
Mr. Poydasheff was appointed as legal counsel for the Secretary of the Army, helping to shape better policy for all Army soldiers. He graduated from the United States Army War College in 1976 and retired in 1979, achieving the rank of colonel.
During Colonel Poydasheff's 24 years of military service, he was awarded the Legion of Merit with two oak leaf clusters, the Bronze Star Medal, and a Vietnam Ribbon with four battle stars. He truly embodied the highest qualities of military distinction.
After retiring from the Army, Colonel Poydasheff was called to serve his community in Georgia. He served on the Columbus, Georgia, City Council from 1994 to 2002, concurrently serving the soldiers at Fort Benning. He went on to be elected as the mayor of Columbus in 2002. In 2012, Colonel Poydasheff was honored by the Army War College Foundation as an outstanding alumnus.
H.R. 3475 has letters of support from The American Legion, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, and the Disabled American Veterans.
Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record those letters of support. The American Legion, Department of Georgia, Stockbridge, GA, April 7, 2021. Hon. Mark Takano, Chairman, Hon. Mike Bost, Ranking Member, House Committee on Veterans Affairs, Washington, DC.
Dear Mr. Chairman and Mr. Ranking Member: This letter is to serve as written support from the American Legion, Department of Georgia for the legislation to be introduced which will name the new Veterans Administration Clinic in Columbus, Georgia as the ``Robert S. Poydasheff Veterans Clinic.''
It is befitting to bestow this honor on Robert Poydasheff, who passed away September 2020, and who served as City Council (1994-2002) and subsequently as Mayor of Columbus (2003-2007). Throughout his mayorship, he was a strong advocate for veterans in the Columbus community. He, too, was a veteran who served in the US Army 24 years before retiring as a Colonel. His military service began as an Infantry Officer with a combat tour in Vietnam. He later transferred to the Judge Advocate General Corps where he worked in various positions for the Secretary of the Army. Mayor Poydasheff embodied the Army values of loyalty, duty, respect, and selfless service to fellow veterans and to this country.
It is with honor that the American Legion, Department of Georgia, supports this effort to name the Columbus Veterans Clinic after Robert S. Poydasheff, a very distinguished member of the community.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me or the Adjutant, Department of Georgia, Zeste C. Debro.
For God and Country . . . Sincerely, Eddie Asberry, Jr., Commander, Department of Georgia. ____ Veterans of Foreign Wars, Department of Georgia, Macon, GA, March 3, 2021. Mark Takano, Chairman, House Committee on Veterans' Affairs, Washington, DC. Hon. Mike Bost, House Committee on Veterans' Affairs, Washington DC.
Dear Chairman Takano and Ranking Member Bost: Please accept this letter as a demonstration of the total support of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Department of Georgia, in recognition of changing the name of the Veterans Administration Clinic in Columbus, Georgia to ``The Robert S. Poydasheff Veterans Clinic.''
Robert Poydasheff served in the United States Army for twenty-four years. He began his military service as an Infantry Officer, where he served one combat tour in Vietnam, before transferring to the Judge Advocate General Corps where he worked in a number of positions for the Secretary of the Army. After retiring from the Army at the rank of Colonel he served as a City Counselor from 1994 to 2002 and Mayor of Columbus Georgia from 2003 to 2007 all the while strongly advocating on behalf of Veterans in the Columbus community until his passing last September.
Colonel Poydasheff was the embodiment of Army values of loyalty, duty, respect and selfless service to his fellow Veterans and his Country. The Veterans of Foreign Wars of Georgia would like to honor his amazing legacy with our full support and encourage the committee to support legislation renaming the Columbus Veterans Clinic after this distinguished member of our State. Sincerely, Joel L. Willis, Jr., State Commander, VFW Department of Georgia. ____ March 30, 2021. Mark Takano, Chairman, House Committee on Veterans' Affairs, Washington, DC. Hon. Mike Bost, House Committee on Veterans' Affairs, Washington, DC.
Dear Chairman Takano and Ranking Member Bost: Please accept this letter as demonstrating the total support of the Georgia Department of the Disabled American Veterans, in recognition of the ongoing initiative to rename the new Veterans' Administration Clinic in Columbus, Georgia to the Robert S. Poydasheff Veterans' Clinic, in memory of United States Army colonel (retired) and mayor of Columbus, Robert S. Poydasheff.
Mayor Poydasheff's model of selflessness in the areas of military service and civic responsibility should be a shining example for all Americans to follow.
Robert Poydasheff, who passed away last September, served as Mayor of Columbus from 2003 to 2007. He had previously been a City Counselor from 1994 to 2002. Throughout Mayor Poydasheff's career, he strongly advocated on behalf of veterans in the Columbus community because he was a veteran himself, having served in the United States Army for twenty- four years before retiring at the rank of colonel. He began his military service as an Infantry Officer, where he served one combat tour in Vietnam, before transferring to the Judge Advocate General Corps where he worked in several positions for the Secretary of the Army.
Mayor Poydasheff embodied the Army values of loyalty, duty, respect and selfless service to his fellow veterans and his country. We would like to honor his outstanding legacy. To that end, we offer our support, and encourage the committee to support legislation remaining the Columbus facility as the Robert S. Poydasheff Veterans Clinic. Sincerely, Carolyn V. Small,
Commander, Disabled American Veterans, Department of Georgia.
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Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I enthusiastically support the naming of the Columbus, Georgia, VA Community Clinic in Robert S. Poydasheff's honor.
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Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I am prepared to close.
Mr. Speaker, I ask all of my colleagues to join me in passing H.R. 3475, and I yield back the balance of my time.
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