Date: 2007-06-25
Speaker: GINNY BROWN-WAITE (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Flor

ida. Mr. Speaker. I certainly thank you and Chairman FILNER for bringing these four suspensions to the floor today. These bills pay tribute to the extraordinary valor and fidelity displayed under fire by three soldiers and one Marine by naming VA facilities in their honor. In earning the Medal of Honor. Charles George. Ernest Childers. Oscar Johnson and Raymond Murphy were bestowed this Nations highest award for valor in combat. Generally presented to its recipients by the President of theUnited States of America in the name of Congress. the medal is often called the Congressional Medal of Honor. At a time when corrosive influences in our society concern many Americans. the intrepid selfsacrifice of these men. two of whom were Native Americans. endures untarnished. It is. therefore. entirely fitting that we name. in their honor. four Department of Veterans Affairs facilities that represent the fulfillment of this Nations obligation to those who serve us and who. through their sacrifices. ensure our continued liberties. The bill before us today. H.R. 366. was introduced by Congressman JOHN- SULLIVAN. and would honor Ernest Childers. a Native American and Army veteran who was awarded the Medal of Honor for his valor in combat in Italy during World War I. I appreciate the initiative and hard work of my colleague from Oklahoma that he took in bringing this bill to the House. A Native American of the Creek Nation from Oklahoma. Ernest Childers enlisted in the Oklahoma National Guard in .1937 to earn extra money while attending the Indian school in North Central Oklahoma. Childers deployed from Fort Sill. Oklahoma to Africa to fight the Axis in World War H. Second Lieutenant Childers. a member of the 45th Infantry Division. was cited for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty in action September 22. 1943 at Oliveto. Italy. Having already suffered a broken foot. he singlehandedly captured enemy gun positions after ordering his eight troops to cover him with fire. Displaying exceptional leadership. initiative. calmness under fire and conspicuous gallantry. Lieutenant Childers served as an inspiration to his men. Mr. Speaker. I askthat the complete text of Lieutenant Childers citation award be included in the RECORD. The President of the United States in the name of the Congress takes pleasures in presenting the Medal of Honor to Ernest Childers. Rank and organization: Second Lieutenant. U.S. Army. 45th Infantry Division. Place and date: At Oliveto. Italy. 22 September 1943. Entered service at: Tulsa. Okla. Birth: Broken Arrow. Okla. G.O. No.: 30. 8 April Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at risk of life above and beyond the call of duty in action on 22 September 1943. at Oliveto. Italy. -Although 2d Lt. Childers previously had just suffered a fractured instep he. with 8 enlisted men. advanced up a hill toward enemy machinegun nests. The group advanced to a rock wall overlooking a cornfield and 2d Lt. Childers ordered a base of fire laid across the field so that he could advance. When he was fired upon by 2 enemy snipers from a nearby house he killed both of them. He moved behind the machinegun nests and killed all occupants of the nearer. one. He continued toward the second one and threw rocks into it. When the 2 occupants of the nest raised up. he shot 1. The other was killed by 1 of the 8 enlisted men. 2d Lt. Childers continued his advance toward a house farther up the hill. and singlehanded. captured an enemy mortar observer. The exceptional leadership. initiative. calmness tinder fire. and conspicuous gallantry displayed by 2d Lt. Childers were an inspiration to his men. Mr. Speaker. Ernest Childers continued to serve his Nation after the war. He taught jungle training in Panama. and winter training in Alaska before retiring in 1965 as a Lieutenant Colonel. A brief stint with the Job Corps program in Washington ended after he suffered a heart attack. Upon returning to Oklahoma. he spoke with students about the emotional cost of war. Most recently. Lieutenant Colonel Childers Wrote an inspirational message to the Nation against racism to discourage attacks against Arab Americans after our Nation was attacked on S)ptember - 11. 2001. Childers wrote. "Even though. as a Native American. I have darker skin than some Americans. that doesnt mean Im any less patriotic. Even during those times in our history when Native Americans were persecuted and discriminated against. we still volunteered for military service." He said. "Remember. Native Americans didnt even receive the vote until World War I. yet we served in military action because. When all is said and done. we are loyal and patriotic Americans." Ernest Childers died on March 17. 2005. His legacy of valor and courage for future generations of American lives on and it is supremely appropriate that we recognize his legacy by naming this VA facility after him. Mr. Speaker. I reserve the balance of my time.