I 

118TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 5597 

To name the Department of Veterans Affairs community-based outpatient 

clinic in Bloomington, Illinois, as the ‘‘Andrew Jackson Smith Medal 

of Honor Department of Veterans Affairs Clinic’’. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

SEPTEMBER 20, 2023 

Mr. LAHOOD introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 

Committee on Veterans’ Affairs 

A BILL 

To name the Department of Veterans Affairs communitybased outpatient clinic in Bloomington, Illinois, as the 

‘‘Andrew Jackson Smith Medal of Honor Department 

of Veterans Affairs Clinic’’. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. FINDINGS. 

4 Congress makes the following findings: 

5 (1) Color Sergeant Andrew Jackson Smith of 

6 the 55th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment, formerly 

7 of the 41st Illinois Infantry Regiment, was postVerDate Sep 11 2014 02:08 Sep 23, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H5597.IH H5597

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•HR 5597 IH

1 humously awarded the Medal of Honor for his heroic 

2 actions in the Civil War. 

3 (2) His Medal of Honor citation reads ‘‘Cor4 poral Andrew Jackson Smith, of Clinton, Illinois, a 

5 member of the 55th Massachusetts Voluntary Infan6 try, distinguished himself on 30 November 1864 by 

7 saving his regimental colors, after the color bearer 

8 was killed during a bloody charge at the Battle of 

9 Honey Hill, South Carolina. In the late afternoon, 

10 as the 55th Regiment pursued enemy skirmishers 

11 and conducted a running fight, they ran into a 

12 swampy area backed by a rise where the Confederate 

13 Army awaited. The surrounding woods and thick un14 derbrush impeded infantry movement and artillery 

15 support. The 55th and 54th regiments formed col16 umns to advance to the enemy position in a flanking 

17 movement. As the Confederates repelled other units, 

18 the 55th and 54th regiments continued to move into 

19 flanking positions. Forced into a narrow gorge cross20 ing a swamp in the face of the enemy positions, the 

21 55th’s Color-Sergeant was killed by an exploding 

22 shell, and Corporal Smith took the Regimental Col23 ors from his hand and carried them through heavy 

24 grape and canister fire. Although half of the officers 

25 and a third of the enlisted men engaged in the fight 


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•HR 5597 IH

1 were killed or wounded, Corporal Smith continued to 

2 expose himself to the enemy fire by carrying the col3 ors throughout the battle. Through his actions, the 

4 Regimental Colors of the 55th Infantry Regiment 

5 were not lost to the enemy. Corporal Andrew Jack6 son Smith’s extraordinary valor in the face of deadly 

7 enemy fire is in keeping with the highest traditions 

8 of military service and reflect great credit upon him, 

9 the 55th Regiment, and the United States Army.’’. 

10 SEC. 2. NAME OF DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS 

11 COMMUNITY-BASED OUTPATIENT CLINIC, 

12 BLOOMINGTON, ILLINOIS. 

13 The Department of Veterans Affairs community14 based outpatient clinic located at 207 Hamilton Road, 

15 Bloomington, Illinois, shall after the date of enactment of 

16 this Act be known and designated as the ‘‘Andrew Jackson 

17 Smith Medal of Honor Department of Veterans Affairs 

18 Clinic’’. Any reference to such clinic in any law, regula19 tion, map, document, record, or other paper of the United 

20 States shall be considered to be a reference to the Andrew 

21 Jackson Smith Medal of Honor Department of Veterans 

22 Affairs Clinic. 

Æ 


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