Colonel Ola Lee Mize Department of Veterans Affairs Clinic
Floor Speech
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Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5464) to name the Department of Veterans Affairs community-based outpatient clinic in Guntersville, Alabama, as the ``Colonel Ola Lee Mize Department of Veterans Affairs Clinic''.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows: H.R. 5464
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. NAME OF DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS COMMUNITY- BASED OUTPATIENT CLINIC, GUNTERSVILLE, ALABAMA.
The Department of Veterans Affairs community-based outpatient clinic located at 100 Judy Smith Drive, Guntersville, Alabama, shall after the date of the enactment of this Act be known and designated as the ``Colonel Ola Lee Mize Department of Veterans Affairs Clinic''. Any reference to such clinic in any law, regulation, map, document, paper, or other record of the United States shall be considered to be a reference to the Colonel Ola Lee Mize Department of Veterans Affairs Clinic.
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Mr. BOST. 5464.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 5464, a bill to name the Department of Veterans Affairs community-based outpatient clinic in Guntersville, Alabama, as the Colonel Ola Lee Mize Department of Veterans Affairs Clinic.
Ola Mize was born on August 28, 1931, in Albertville, Alabama. Although he was initially rejected by the U.S. Army for being underweight, after much persistence, he joined the Army in 1950 and was assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division.
When the Korean war broke out, rather than pursuing an education, Ola Mize decided to reenlist. On the night of June 10, 1953, Sergeant Mize's unit was defending an outpost, Outpost Harry, when they came under artillery fire. This fire was shortly followed by an assault by a battalion-sized force of Chinese troops, which quickly overran the Americans' position.
Sergeant Mize then took his rifle and began taking defensive action, killing around 40 enemy troops.
When nearly all the officers were casualties, he took the initiative to establish a defensive position. Sergeant Mize and his team went from bunker to bunker, firing at the enemy, confusing them into thinking Americans had a larger defense position than they actually did.
With all the chaos going on around him, he worked tirelessly to assist the wounded and put them into makeshift shelters away from enemy fire.
The next morning, Sergeant Mize led a counterattack, wiping out the remaining enemy.
For his action, Ola Mize was awarded the Medal of Honor by President Eisenhower on September 7, 1954. After receiving the Medal of Honor, he continued his service, being awarded the Silver Star for Valor and for his service in Vietnam.
Ola Mize retired from the Army as a colonel in 1981.
Stories of heroes like Colonel Mize should continue to be told to generations of Americans.
By naming the VA clinic in his honor, we will surely do just that. Colonel Mize's service to our country and his legacy will always be remembered, and I thank the gentleman from Alabama (Mr. Aderholt), the sponsor, as well as the entire Alabama delegation for leading this effort.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 5464, and I reserve the balance of my time.
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Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, at this time, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Alabama (Mr. Aderholt), the sponsor of this bill.
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Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, I encourage all of our Members to support this legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.
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