PFC Milton A. Lee Medal of Honor Memorial Highway

Floor Speech

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Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my friend and colleague from Missouri, Representative Graves, for yielding me time.

Mr. Speaker, it is a privilege to recognize veteran, patriot, and Medal of Honor recipient Milton A. Lee today. Earlier this year, I introduced H.R. 2559, which designates a portion of Interstate Highway 10 in Boerne, Texas, as PFC Milton A. Lee Medal of Honor Memorial Highway.

PFC Lee was born on February 28, 1949, in Shreveport, Louisiana. While he was not born in Texas, Lee entered the Army in San Antonio, served honorably in the Vietnam war, and was laid to rest at Fort Sam Houston, which is located in my district.

PFC Lee served as a radio telephone operator with the 3rd Platoon, Company B, during an intense, surprise hostile attack by North Vietnamese army fighters. The 3rd Platoon maneuvered to a position of cover to treat their wounded and reorganize. Meanwhile, PFC Lee moved through the heavy enemy fire to give lifesaving first aid to his wounded fellow soldiers. During the subsequent assault, PFC Lee continuously kept close radio contact with the company commander and relayed precise and understandable information to his platoon leader.

While advancing toward the objective, PFC Lee observed four North Vietnamese soldiers with automatic weapons and a rocket launcher lying in wait for his platoon. PFC Lee immediately, and with great risk to his own personal safety, passed his radio to another soldier and charged through the barrage of fire. Without hesitation, he continued his attack and successfully overran the enemy position, killing all occupants and capturing four automatic weapons and a rocket launcher.

PFC Lee continued his one-man assault on another enemy position through a heavy barrage of enemy automatic weapons fire. Although wounded, he continued to press the attack and crawled forward into a firing position to deliver accurate cover fire for his platoon. This enabled his platoon to maneuver and destroy the enemy position. Not until the position was overrun did PFC Lee falter in his steady volume of fire and succumb to his wounds.

PFC Lee's heroic actions saved the lives of many in his platoon and were instrumental in the destruction of a key position of the enemy's defense. PFC Lee's gallantry at the risk of life above and beyond the call of duty epitomizes the highest traditions of the military service and reflects great credit on himself, the 502nd Infantry, and the U.S. Army.

So today, I urge my colleagues to support this bill in honor of an American hero. In giving his life for our country in such a selfless and heroic fashion, PFC Lee is deserving of our naming a portion of a Federal highway in his honor.

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