[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 94 (Tuesday, June 17, 2014)]
[House]
[Pages H5381-H5383]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
PFC FLOYD K. LINDSTROM DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS CLINIC
Mr. LAMBORN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
bill (H.R. 3375) to designate the community-based outpatient clinic of
the Department of Veterans Affairs to be constructed at 3141 Centennial
Boulevard, Colorado Springs, Colorado, as the ``PFC Floyd K. Lindstrom
Department of Veterans Affairs Clinic''.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 3375
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. PFC FLOYD K. LINDSTROM DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS
AFFAIRS CLINIC.
(a) Designation.--The community-based outpatient clinic of
the Department of Veterans Affairs to be constructed at 3141
Centennial Boulevard, Colorado Springs, Colorado, shall be
known and designated as the ``PFC Floyd K. Lindstrom
Department of Veterans Affairs Clinic''.
(b) References.--Any reference in a law, regulation, map,
document, paper, or other record of the United States to the
building referred to in subsection (a) shall be deemed to be
a reference to the ``PFC Floyd K. Lindstrom Department of
Veterans Affairs Clinic''.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Colorado (Mr. Lamborn) and the gentleman from South Carolina (Mr.
Clyburn) each will control 20 minutes.
[[Page H5382]]
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Colorado.
General Leave
Mr. LAMBORN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members
have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks on
H.R. 3375.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Colorado?
There was no objection.
Mr. LAMBORN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may
consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 3375, which would name the
Department of Veterans Affairs community-based outpatient clinic at
3141 Centennial Boulevard in Colorado Springs, Colorado, the PFC Floyd
K. Lindstrom Department of Veterans Affairs Clinic.
We are here today to honor the life and sacrifice of Private First
Class Floyd K. Lindstrom by naming a new VA community-based outpatient
clinic in southern Colorado after him.
PFC Lindstrom was raised by his mother in Colorado Springs, which is
part of the Fifth Congressional District that I am honored to
represent. There, he spent much of his youth working summers on the
Stratton farm and playing basketball. As a young man, he delivered
fruit and produce between California and Colorado, while helping to
support his mother and sister.
Just after his 30th birthday, PFC Lindstrom answered the Nation's
call to serve by enlisting in the United States Army on June 22, 1942.
He was trained as a machine gunner; assigned to 2nd Platoon, H Company,
3rd Battalion, 7th Infantry Regiment of the 3rd Infantry Division; and
arrived in North Africa in the early months of 1943. That is when my
father was also in North Africa.
On July 12, 1943, PFC Lindstrom's convoy was in Sicily and came under
attack from enemy aircraft when he saw an out-of-control truck heading
for a friendly dismounted soldier. Noticing that the soldier was
unaware of the threat, Lindstrom abandoned the safety of his protective
cover and redirected the truck, saving his fellow soldier's life. For
these actions, Lindstrom was awarded the Silver Star.
This wasn't the only time he displayed extraordinary heroism and
selfless sacrifice.
{time} 1545
On November 11, 1943, PFC Lindstrom's unit was providing machine gun
support for a rifle company attacking a hill near Mignano, Italy. When
a German counterattack forced friendly forces to retreat to a defensive
position, Lindstrom demonstrated complete fearlessness in the face of
almost certain death by singlehandedly assaulting and knocking out an
enemy machine gun position. That display of aggressive spirit and
conspicuous gallantry was credited with breaking up the counterattack,
and Lindstrom was subsequently nominated for the Medal of Honor.
I would like to read the last sentence from the citation for PFC
Lindstrom when he received his Medal of Honor:
His spectacular performance completely broke up the German
counterattack. PFC Lindstrom demonstrated aggressive spirit
and complete fearlessness in the face of almost certain
death.
Mr. Speaker, at this time, I will introduce into the Record the
citation for his Medal of Honor.
Medal of Honor citation
Private First Class Lindstrom's official Medal of Honor
citation reads:
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at risk of life
above and beyond the call of duty. On 11 November 1943, this
soldier's platoon was furnishing machinegun support for a
rifle company attacking a hill near Mignano, Italy, when the
enemy counterattacked, forcing the riflemen and half the
machinegun platoon to retire to a defensive position. Pfc.
Lindstrom saw that his small section was alone and
outnumbered 5 to 1, yet he immediately deployed the few
remaining men into position and opened fire with his single
gun. The enemy centered fire on him with machinegun, machine
pistols, and grenades. Unable to knock out the enemy nest
from his original position, Pfc. Lindstrom picked up his own
heavy machinegun and staggered 15 yards up the barren, rocky
hillside to a new position, completely ignoring enemy small
arms fire which was striking all around him. From this new
site, only 10 yards from the enemy machinegun, he engaged it
in an intense duel. Realizing that he could not hit the
hostile gunners because they were behind a large rock, he
charged uphill under a steady stream of fire, killed both
gunners with his pistol and dragged their gun down to his own
men, directing them to employ it against the enemy.
Disregarding heavy rifle fire, he returned to the enemy
machinegun nest for 2 boxes of ammunition, came back and
resumed withering fire from his own gun. His spectacular
performance completely broke up the German counterattack.
Pfc. Lindstrom demonstrated aggressive spirit and complete
fearlessness in the face of almost certain death.
Mr. LAMBORN. Following that event, PFC Lindstrom was given the option
of staying with his fellow soldiers or taking a significantly safer
assignment as a guard far removed from enemy lines. Consistent with his
previous actions, Lindstrom refused to put his own safety ahead of his
fellow soldiers and chose to remain with his unit. Less than 3 months
later, he was killed during a German counterattack at Anzio, Italy. On
April 20, 1944, PFC Lindstrom was posthumously awarded the Medal of
Honor for his courageous actions near Mignano.
He is now interred in Evergreen Cemetery in Colorado Springs,
Colorado.
The new VA community-based outpatient clinic in Colorado Springs is
set to open in the next few months and was only made possible through
many years of hard work by the veterans of southern Colorado and the
support of my colleagues here in Congress. The new facility will double
the size of existing clinics while providing health care that is more
comprehensive and convenient to the veterans of southern Colorado. It
is only fitting for the new clinic to be named after one of Colorado
Springs'--and the Nation's--greatest heroes.
I can think of no one more deserving of this honor than Private 1st
Class Floyd K. Lindstrom. It is my pleasure to offer H.R. 3375, and I
am grateful for the leadership and support of the VA Committee Chairman
Jeff Miller, Ranking Member Michaud, and the entire Colorado
delegation.
I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring this great hero by
supporting this bill. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. CLYBURN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may
consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to offer my support of H.R. 3375, a bill to
name the Department of Veterans Affairs community-based outpatient
clinic that will be constructed at 3141 Centennial Boulevard, Colorado
Springs, Colorado, as the PFC Floyd K. Lindstrom Department of Veterans
Affairs Clinic.
Floyd Lindstrom was born on June 21, 1912. He was a truckdriver for
the local store and frequently drove back and forth to California. He
joined the Army from Colorado Springs in June 1942. By November 11,
1943, he was serving as a Private 1st Class in the 3rd Infantry
Division. On that day, near Mignano, Italy, he singlehandedly charged
and captured a German machine gun. PFC Lindstrom was killed in action 3
months later on February 3, 1944, at the age of 31. He is buried in
Evergreen Cemetery in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
For his bravery and service, PFC Lindstrom was awarded two Italian
military crosses, the Purple Heart, and a Silver Star. On April 20,
1944, he was posthumously awarded the United States military's highest
decoration, the Medal of Honor, for his actions near Mignano, Italy,
during World War II.
PFC Lindstrom went above and beyond the call of duty. He made the
ultimate sacrifice for our Nation. It is most appropriate that the VA
community-based outpatient clinic in Colorado Springs, Colorado, be
named in honor of this local hero.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. LAMBORN. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my colleague, the gentleman
from South Carolina, for his words and his support on this bill. This
has special meaning to me because my father fought, also, in North
Africa, Sicily, and Italy, and he recently passed away as one of the
members of the Greatest Generation. Floyd Lindstrom, though, never came
back. I believe he was engaged. He had a fiancee or a girlfriend, but
he never came back.
So it is only fitting that we honor the veterans who have served in
the past on a building that is going to be serving the needs of our
veterans in the
[[Page H5383]]
present. And I believe this will also inspire generations in the future
as they know the story of Floyd Lindstrom.
With that, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. CLYBURN. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers at this time. I
yield back the balance of my time, and I urge all of my colleagues to
support H.R. 3375.
Mr. LAMBORN. I ask my colleagues to also support H.R. 3375, and I
yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Lamborn) that the House suspend the rules
and pass the bill, H.R. 3375.
The question was taken.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
Mr. LAMBORN. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
The yeas and nays were ordered.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further
proceedings on this motion will be postponed.
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