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 community- 
based outpatient clinic in Bloomington, Illinois, as the 
‘‘Andrew Jackson Smith Medal of Honor Department 
of Veterans Affairs Clinic’’. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. FINDINGS. 
Congress makes the following findings: 
(1) Color Sergeant Andrew Jackson Smith of 
the 55th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment, formerly 
of the 41st Illinois Infantry Regiment, was post-
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humously awarded the Medal of Honor for his heroic 
actions in the Civil War. 
(2) His Medal of Honor citation reads ‘‘Cor-
poral Andrew Jackson Smith, of Clinton, Illinois, a 
member of the 55th Massachusetts Voluntary Infan-
try, distinguished himself on 30 November 1864 by 
saving his regimental colors, after the color bearer 
was killed during a bloody charge at the Battle of 
Honey Hill, South Carolina. In the late afternoon, 
as the 55th Regiment pursued enemy skirmishers 
and conducted a running fight, they ran into a 
swampy area backed by a rise where the Confederate 
Army awaited. The surrounding woods and thick un-
derbrush impeded infantry movement and artillery 
support. The 55th and 54th regiments formed col-
umns to advance to the enemy position in a flanking 
movement. As the Confederates repelled other units, 
the 55th and 54th regiments continued to move into 
flanking positions. Forced into a narrow gorge cross-
ing a swamp in the face of the enemy positions, the 
55th’s Color-Sergeant was killed by an exploding 
shell, and Corporal Smith took the Regimental Col-
ors from his hand and carried them through heavy 
grape and canister fire. Although half of the officers 
and a third of the enlisted men engaged in the fight 
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were killed or wounded, Corporal Smith continued to 
expose himself to the enemy fire by carrying the col-
ors throughout the battle. Through his actions, the 
Regimental Colors of the 55th Infantry Regiment 
were not lost to the enemy. Corporal Andrew Jack-
son Smith’s extraordinary valor in the face of deadly 
enemy fire is in keeping with the highest traditions 
of military service and reflect great credit upon him, 
the 55th Regiment, and the United States Army.’’. 
SEC. 2. NAME OF DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS 
COMMUNITY-BASED 
OUTPATIENT 
CLINIC, 
BLOOMINGTON, ILLINOIS. 
The Department of Veterans Affairs community- 
based outpatient clinic located at 207 Hamilton Road, 
Bloomington, Illinois, shall after the date of enactment of 
this Act be known and designated as the ‘‘Andrew Jackson 
Smith Medal of Honor Department of Veterans Affairs 
Clinic’’. Any reference to such clinic in any law, regula-
tion, map, document, record, or other paper of the United 
States shall be considered to be a reference to the Andrew 
Jackson Smith Medal of Honor Department of Veterans 
Affairs Clinic. 
Æ 
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