U.S. Army Air Corps Major Thomas B. McGuire Post Office Building

Floor Speech

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Mr. GROTHMAN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 6810) to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 518 North Ridgewood Drive in Sebring, Florida, as the ``U.S. Army Air Corps Major Thomas B. McGuire Post Office Building''.

The Clerk read the title of the bill.

The text of the bill is as follows: H.R. 6810

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. U.S. ARMY AIR CORPS MAJOR THOMAS B. MCGUIRE POST OFFICE BUILDING.

(a) Designation.--The facility of the United States Postal Service located at 518 North Ridgewood Drive in Sebring, Florida, shall be known and designated as the ``U.S. Army Air Corps Major Thomas B. McGuire Post Office Building''.

(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 ``U.S. Army Air Corps Major Thomas B. McGuire Post Office Building''.

Mr. SCOTT FRANKLIN of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding.

Mr. Speaker, today, I rise in support of my bill, H.R. 6810, to rename a post office in Sebring, Florida, in honor of Major Thomas McGuire, a distinguished and decorated combat pilot killed in action during World War II.

McGuire graduated from Sebring High School in my district and attended the Georgia Institute of Technology. There, he studied aeronautical engineering, played in the marching band, and joined the ROTC Corps of Cadets.

Answering the call to serve his country, McGuire left Georgia Tech after his third year and entered the U.S. Army Air Corps Aviation Cadet program in 1941.

Major McGuire became a top-scoring combat pilot with a total of 38 enemy planes destroyed, an ace seven times over.

On January 7, 1945, McGuire led a group of four P-38 Lightnings on a fighter sweep in the central Philippines. In an attempt to save another pilot's life who was under attack, Major McGuire risked an extremely hazardous maneuver at low altitude. Tragically, he crashed and was reported missing in action.

In 1947, McGuire was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for his heroic actions to save his wingman's life. Two years later, Major McGuire was buried with full military honors at Arlington National Cemetery.

With gallant initiative, unselfish regard for his own personal safety, and heroic determination to destroy the enemy at all costs, Major McGuire set an aspiring example in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service.

Mr. Speaker, as a career naval aviator, he certainly inspires me.

We are losing more and more of our Greatest Generation veterans like Major McGuire every day. It is my sincere hope this bill helps immortalize this American hero's legacy and honors his remarkable life and sacrifice. I encourage all my colleagues to support this bill.

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Mr. GROTHMAN. Mr. Speaker, I encourage my House colleagues to support this bill honoring a great American hero. I am glad to be on the floor today to have the chance to hear about his exploits.

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