Lance Corporal Dana Cornell Darnell Outpatient Clinic

Floor Speech

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5943) to designate the outpatient clinic of the Department of Veterans Affairs in Greenville, South Carolina, as the ``Lance Corporal Dana Cornell Darnell Outpatient Clinic,'' as amended.

The Clerk read the title of the bill.

The text of the bill is as follows: H.R. 5943

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. DESIGNATION OF LANCE CORPORAL DANA CORNELL DARNELL VA CLINIC.

(a) Designation.--The outpatient clinic of the Department of Veterans Affairs in Greenville, South Carolina, shall after the date of the enactment of this Act be known and designated as the ``Lance Corporal Dana Cornell Darnell VA Clinic''.

(b) References.--Any reference in a law, map, regulation, document, paper, or other record of the United States to the facility referred to in subsection (a) shall be deemed to be a reference to the ``Lance Corporal Dana Cornell Darnell VA Clinic''.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. TAKANO. 5943, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this bill, H.R. 5943, as amended, which will appropriately honor the memory of Lance Corporal Dana C. Darnell as one of the more than 58,000 names etched on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial just down the street on The National Mall.

Like so many of those who served our great Nation, Lance Corporal Darnell's life was tragically cut short. In April 1967, his Marine platoon was ambushed by enemy forces in the Quang Tri Province in north-central Vietnam.

Lance Corporal Darnell, at just 19 years old, displayed remarkable bravery and selflessness in the face of adversity. When his platoon's mortar gunner was knocked unconscious, Lance Corporal Darnell quickly retrieved the weapon and began firing it into the enemy's position.

After exhausting his ammunition, he moved from man to man, collecting additional mortar rounds to help silence the attack. In doing so, Lance Corporal Darnell undoubtedly saved the lives of others in his platoon.

Even after being temporarily blinded by enemy fire, Lance Corporal Darnell refused to be evacuated. Instead, he quickly began caring for his wounded comrades. Two days later, Lance Corporal Darnell was killed in action.

For his extraordinary heroism, Lance Corporal Darnell was posthumously awarded the Navy Cross by President Johnson. The Greenville, South Carolina, native also received a Purple Heart and National Defense, Vietnam Service, and Vietnam Campaign Medals for his meritorious service.

I thank my colleague, Representative Timmons, for introducing this bill, which will designate the Department of Veterans Affairs outpatient clinic in Greenville, South Carolina, the Lance Corporal Dana Cornell Darnell Outpatient Clinic.

This bill has letters of support from The American Legion, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, and Disabled American Veterans. Mr. Speaker, I include these letters in the Record. [From the American Legion]

Whereas, The American Legion is always preserving the memories in incidents in all wars and to the men, women and families sacrifice to the country of The United States of America will never be forgotten; and

Whereas, The American Legion has paid homage to the courage and commitments from the United States military and the values they have brought to our great nation; and

Whereas, the United States is a grateful nation for the ultimate sacrifice of 58,220 United States Service members during the war with the North Vietnamese from 1955-1975; and

Whereas, one of those conflicts was the battle of Quang Tri Provence the northern provincial capital of The republic of South Vietnam involving Company B, First Battalion, 9th Marines, Third Marine Division, Fleet Marine Force April 24, 1967; and

Whereas, Greenville South Carolina's very own United States Marine Lance Corporal Dana Cornell was engaged in a search and destroy operation against the Viet Cong and the North Vietnamese ambushed Cornell as they entered a field; and

Whereas, using heavy small arms Lance Corporal Dana Cornell was knocked unconscious while seeking cover and still managed to face extraordinary calmness in the face of enemy fire, Cornell retrieved the mortar, and was unable to set it up properly, due to the urgency of the situation, holding it between his legs and steadying it from his hands, began firing into enemy positions; and

Whereas, Cornell exhausted all of his ammunition and moved from man to man collecting mortars until the enemy fire was silenced and his platoon began to withdraw from the clearing Darnell, was dragging two wounded Marines from the clearing when he was temporary blinded; and

Whereas, Darnell showed exceptional courage staying in the field tending to the wounded. By his outstanding courage, exceptional fortitude, and valiant fighting spirit he served to inspire all who observed him and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service; and

Whereas, It has pleased almighty God, the Great Commander to summon his immortal and beloved comrade at arms Lance Corporal Dana Cornell while paying the ultimate sacrifice of his life at age 19 so that others could be free April 26, 1967; and be it finally

Resolved, That South Carolinas Largest Veterans organization the American Legion, Department of South Carolina Executive Committee at a specially called meeting assembled on this day in November 10, 2022 that it supports designating the outpatient clinic of the Department of Veterans Affairs in Greenville, South Carolina, as the ``Lance Corporal Dana Cornell Darnell Outpatient Clinic''. James Kvam,

Chairman, Internal Affairs. James Jarvis,

South Carolina Department Commander. ____ Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States, Department of South Carolina, November 4, 2022. Hon. Mark Takano, Veterans Affairs Committee, Washington, DC.

Chairman Takano: On behalf of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Department of South Carolina, it is my honor and privilege to pledge our support for HR 5943 naming the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) outpatient clinic in Greenville, SC after Lance Corporal Dana Cornell Darnell.

Lance Corporal Darnell's service and sacrifice for our nation is truly worthy of this honor. The heroic deeds of this South Carolina native during action in Vietnam reflects great credit upon this organization, and all of America's combat veterans . . . past, present, and future.

This measure would bring about a fitting tribute to Lance Corporal Darnell in his native Greenville. We stand in solidarity with South Carolina's veterans' community and our elected representatives in support of this bill. Yours in Comradeship, Ed Stefanak, Jr., State Commander, VFW Department of South Carolina.

Attested: Kevin L. Joy, State Adjutant, VFW Department of South Carolina. ____ DAV, Department of South Carolina, West Columbia, SC, November 3, 2022. Subject: Support for Bill, Naming Greenville CBOC Congressman William Timmons (SC-04), Attn: Jessica Ridley.

The DAV Department of South Carolina, fully support Congressman William Timmons' Bill that would name the VA Greenville Community-Based Outpatient Clinic (CBOC) for a Vietnam Marine who was killed in 1967 at Khe Sanh during an action for which he received the Navy Cross.

We are honored to write this letter of recommendation for LCpl Dana Cornell Darnell, United States Marine Corps.

LCpl Darnell was born in Greenville, South Carolina on February 5, 1948. He joined the U.S. Marines on his 18th birthday, arriving at Parris Island, South Carolina on March 8, 1966. He received further training at Camp Pendleton, California before his assignment in Vietnam on August 20, 1966. On April 24, 1967, North Vietnam Army Forces ambushed his platoon and wounded this young Marine. He died April 26, 1967, at 19 years of age.

The Navy Cross was awarded, posthumously, to LCpl Darnell for his extraordinary heroism and for exhibiting sound judgement and calmness in the face of intense enemy fire.

The personal sacrifice and brave actions of LCpl Dana Darnell help preserve our nation's freedom for which we are profoundly grateful. We wholeheartedly support the recommendation that the VA Greenville CBOC be named in his honor. Respectfully, Larry Long, Commander, DAV Dept. of South Carolina.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I am prepared to close.
BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I ask all of my colleagues to join me in passing H.R. 5943, as amended, and I yield back the balance of my time.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Source