WASHINGTON, D.C. – A bill to rename the Department of Veterans Affairs community-based outpatient clinic in Hinesville, Georgia, as the "John Gibson, Dan James, William Sapp, and Frankie Smiley VA Clinic,” championed by Rep. Earl L. “Buddy” Carter (R-GA) and supported by every member of the Georgia Congressional Delegation, passed the House today.
H.R. 593 honors four Liberty County heroes who courageously paid the ultimate sacrifice in the Vietnam War and is the result of a community-led push to give these veterans the recognition they deserve.
Rep. Carter gave the following remarks, as prepared for delivery, on the House floor advocating for the bill’s passage:
“I have the honor and privilege of representing the First Congressional District of Georgia. We have much to be proud of in the First Congressional District of Georgia. We have a strong military presence in our district. We’re home to Hunter Army Airfield, to King’s Bay Naval Base, and to Ft. Stewart.
“Ft. Stewart is located in Hinesville, Georgia, in Liberty County. Whenever I travel to Ft. Stewart, whenever I travel to Liberty County, I know that they know what they’re talking about when they talk about military affairs. I would submit to you that the community of Hinesville, GA supports their military as much if not more than any community in America.
“But, I’ve got to be quite honest with you. Last fall, I was called to a meeting with some community leaders in Liberty County and they told me they wanted to name a VA clinic in Hinesville after four veterans who gave the ultimate sacrifice during the Vietnam War.
“When I went into that meeting, I was skeptical. ‘We can’t do this, we can’t rename a VA clinic anyway, much less after four individuals.’
“I have to tell you, when I left that meeting, not only was I convinced, but I was committed to making this happen.
“You heard the bios that Chairman Bost just read of these young men, all in their twenties, all of them with their life ahead of them, all of them gave the ultimate sacrifice.
“Think of what they could have experienced in their life - children, graduations, family memories – but they gave their lives. All four of them gave their lives so that we can enjoy the freedoms that we enjoy in this country.
“I sat through that meeting that day, and I listened to the families. I listened to the friends tell the stories of their loved ones. I was convinced this needs to happen.
“[E]ach of them made an incredible sacrifice on behalf of their country and on behalf of their community.
“They serve as righteous examples of patriotism and selflessness that are deserving of being memorialized permanently by naming the Hinesville Clinic after them.
“This effort is supported by the families and by the community. We believe that all four deserve to be memorialized for their extraordinary sacrifice and their valor.
“I want to thank the community members in Liberty County and Hinesville and the local elected officials who brought this idea to our attention.
“Secondly, I would like to thank the Disabled Veterans of America Southeast Georgia Chapter, The American Legion, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, and the Georgia State Department of Veterans Affairs for their support as well.
“Last but not least, I would like to thank the entire Georgia Delegation, Republican and Democrat, the House Committee on Veterans Affairs, and all the staff involved for their diligent work in getting this bill to the floor.
“I urge my colleagues to support this bill and I look forward to working with my friends in the Senate to bring this piece of legislation to passage and signed into law.
“Mr. Speaker, last weekend we celebrated Veterans Day. These four weren’t with us to celebrate Veterans Day, but what they did gave us the opportunity to celebrate Veterans Day. Let’s at least do this for the family, for the memory of these four heroes who gave the ultimate sacrifice.
Read the full bill text here.
BACKGROUND
John Gibson was born on September 12, 1946, in Riceboro, Georgia. He joined the United States Marine Corps, rising to the rank of Private First Class. Mr. Gibson arrived in Vietnam on October 12, 1967, with the 1st Marine Division, and was killed by small arms fire during the Tet Offensive on February 7, 1968. He was only twenty-one years old.
Dan James was born on March 20, 1948, in Riceboro, Georgia. He was drafted into the United States Army and shipped off to Vietnam in September of 1968. While with his unit in the 25th Infantry Division, he was killed by small arms fire on December 29, 1968. He was only twenty years old.
William Sapp was born on March 12, 1943, in Hinesville, Georgia. He was drafted into the United States Army and shipped off to Vietnam in November of 1967. While in country with his unit the 4th Infantry Division, he was killed by multiple fragmentation wounds on June 7, 1968. He was only twenty-five years old.
Frankie Lee Smiley was born on May 18, 1944, in Liberty County, GA. He joined the United States Marine Corps and rose to the rank of Lance Corporal. He arrived in Vietnam in January 1968 with the 1st Marine Division and was killed by small arms fire on August 25th, 1968. He was only twenty-four years old.
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