Posted on 05/25/2007 10:34:21 AM PDT by jazusamo
In Washington these days, even a simple act to honor a veteran can fall victim to partisan rancor. Consider the case of Raymond G. "Jerry" Murphy, a Marine Corps officer during the Korean War who was awarded the Medal of Honor for courageously rescuing many of his fellow Marines one night in February 1953. He was also the recipient of a Silver Star and a Purple Heart. To honor Mr. Murphy, who died just last month, New Mexico congressmen and senators want to rename the Department of Veterans' Affairs Medical Center in Albuquerque after him.
This seems a fair, fitting and entirely uncontroversial way to pay respect to a heroic and dedicated veteran. But the legislation has been stalled in the House Committee on Veterans Affairs. Rep. Steve Buyer, ranking member of the committee, has written and called Committee Chairman Bob Filner, urging the California Democrat to move the legislation, under suspension of rules, out of committee and to a full House vote. "If you will not," Mr. Buyer wrote in a May 11 letter, "please inform me in writing as to your substantive policy objections." Mr. Filner didn't respond -- not surprising, since it's hard to imagine any objection to honoring a veteran as worthy as Mr. Murphy.
The Medal of Honor citation reads, "2d Lt. Murphy steadfastly refused medical aid and continued to lead his men up a hill through a withering barrage of hostile mortar and small-arms fire." It also says that "[u]ndeterred by the increasing intense enemy fire," Mr. Murphy continued to locate casualties and "personally carried many of the stricken marines to safety."
His service didn't end when he left the Marine Corps, however. From 1974 to 1997, Mr. Murphy worked in the VA regional office in Albuquerque. Hardly could Mr. Murphy be more deserving...
(Excerpt) Read more at washtimes.com ...
Washington, DC Office:
2428 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
Phone: (202) 225-8045
Fax: (202) 225-9073
Community Offices:
333 F Street, Suite A
Chula Vista, CA 91910
Phone: (619) 422-5963
Fax: (619) 422-7290
1101 Airport Road, Suite D
Imperial, CA 92251
Phone: (760) 355-8800
Fax: (760) 355-8802
Thank you for your service Marine.
May angels comfort you where you are.
And don't worry about us down here.
We will remember.
PING!
Will do, jaz.
What a great man...... so let me see, the Demagogues can have countless federal facilities named after Robert “KKK” Byrd but are blocking a most appropriate proposal to honor a great American hero...... par for the course with our Demagogues.
Exactly!...When I read this editorial I was flabbergasted.
Come on. He's a white Christian male. That's an instant disqualification for the democrats.
Ping
They are such a hatefull set of bastards it is not even funny to joke over it.
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