Army 1st Lt. John Kuulei Kauhaihao Post Office Building

Floor Speech

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Ms. TOKUDA. Mr. Speaker, I rise to speak in strong support of H.R. 8909.

In January of this year, The Wall That Heals, a replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial on The National Mall made its inaugural visit to the island of Hawaii. It was there in front of West Panel 18 that I met Shirley Kauhaihao, the widow and high school sweetheart of Army First Lieutenant John Kuulei Kauhaihao. She and her daughters were putting flowers and a lei in front of line 40 where his name is etched.

On September 5, 1969, at the age of 27, Lieutenant Kauhaihao, or Lieutenant K, as he was affectionately called, was leading his men on a reconnaissance in force operation in Tay Ninh province when his platoon came under enemy fire. With extraordinary courage, he launched over 30 hand grenades in 15 minutes at enemy bunkers while simultaneously drawing fire on himself, so that his men could sight enemy gunners.

Eventually, he ordered the withdrawal of his platoon and crawled over 100 meters of fire-swept terrain, dragging vital equipment and helping wounded soldiers to safety. While they moved to rejoin their company, Lieutenant K saw an enemy squad moving up on his platoon and quickly moved to engage. He was mortally wounded that day. It was the fourth birthday of his son, Charles.

For his bravery and sacrifice, Lieutenant K was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, our Nation's second highest combat award. His fearless and selfless actions at the cost of his life reflect great honor upon himself, his family, and the ``ahupua'a'' ``land division'' of Honaunau where he was born and where he lived.

Naming the post office in the community where generations of Lieutenant K's family lived and still live is more than just honoring and celebrating a fallen ``kama'aina'' ``local resident'' warrior who gave his life for our Nation.

It is a tribute to an entire generation of men and women who served in Vietnam and who came back to a country that took far too long to honor their service and that is still trying to make this right.

It is a reminder of the incredible sacrifices made by those who serve in uniform and the loved ones waiting at home--past, present, and future--to whom we are forever indebted and who allow us to live in freedom today.

That day in Hilo, standing next to Shirley as she pointed out Lieutenant K's name on the wall to me, I couldn't help but feel like he had finally come home.

Mr. Speaker, 55 years have passed since Lieutenant K's death, and his widow, children, and generations of their ``mo'opuna'' ``grandchildren'' have continued to live in service to their community, the island of Hawaii, and the State of Hawaii.

Passing H.R. 8909 to designate the United States Post Office in Captain Cook, Hawaii, as the Army First Lieutenant John Kuulei Kauhaihao Post Office is a tribute to him and the legacy of service that lives on through the lives he saved and through his ``family'' ``ohana.''

Every day when Shirley heads into town or goes to volunteer at the Greenwell Botanical Gardens, she passes by that post office. I hope seeing John's name each time she drives by will make her feel like he is a little closer to home and that he will never be forgotten.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the chair and ranking member of the committee for their work on this bill.

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