Rep. Mike Thompson Applauds Passage of Bill To Rename Yountville Veterans Home Post Office In Honor of Private First Class Alejandro R. Ruiz Sr.
November 16, 2011
Congressman Mike Thompson (CA-1) today applauded passage of legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives to rename the Yountville Veterans Home Post Office the “Private First Class Alejandro R. Ruiz Post Office Building.” Congressman Thompson introduced this legislation, which passed today by voice vote, to honor Alejandro R. Ruiz Sr., a Medal of Honor winner who spent his career in the U.S. Army and served in World War II. After retirement, Ruiz lived at the Yountville Veterans Home, located in Napa County, California, until he passed away in 2009 at the age 85.
“Private First Class Alejandro R. Ruiz Sr. served his country with honor and distinction,” said Thompson. “During the Battle of Okinawa in World War II, he twice single-handedly stormed a Japanese machine gun bunker, and against all odds he silenced the bunker and saved the lives of fellow soldiers. It is my honor to lead the effort to rename the Yountville Veterans Home Post Office after one of its residents and heroes.”
On April 28, 1945, Private First Class Ruiz was deployed to Okinawa. While patrolling in a ravine, his unit was ambushed by heavy and camouflaged machine gun fire. Every soldier except Ruiz and his squad leader was killed or injured. With his entire unit pinned down, Ruiz grabbed an automatic rifle and started his solo charge on the bunker. When he reached the bunker his rifle misfired. After beating back enemy soldiers he quickly ran back to where his unit was pinned down to retrieve another weapon. On his second charge towards the bunker he was shot in the leg by enemy fire. By himself he eliminated 12 enemy soldiers and saved the lives of the platoon members.
The bill, H.R. 3004, to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 260 California Drive in Yountville, California, as the "Private First Class Alejandro R. Ruiz Post Office Building" was introduced on September 21, 2011. It was voted out of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform on November 3rd by unanimous consent. It is cosponsored by all 52 members of the California Congressional Delegation.
Ruiz was born in Loving, New Mexico to Mexican immigrants. Of the 3,400 Medals of Honor that Presidents of the United States have awarded, only 44 have been awarded to someone of Hispanic descent. Of the 55,000 residents to have lived at the Yountville Veterans Home, only five have been awarded the Medal of Honor.
Congressman Mike Thompson is proud to represent California's 1st Congressional District, which includes Del Norte, Humboldt, Lake, Mendocino, Napa, and portions of Sonoma and Yolo counties. He is a senior member of the House Ways and Means Committee and the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. Rep. Thompson is also a member of the fiscally conservative Blue Dog Coalition, Co-Chair of the bipartisan, bicameral Congressional Wine Caucus, and Co-Chair of the Congressional Military Veterans Caucus.
“Private First Class Alejandro R. Ruiz Sr. served his country with honor and distinction,” said Thompson. “During the Battle of Okinawa in World War II, he twice single-handedly stormed a Japanese machine gun bunker, and against all odds he silenced the bunker and saved the lives of fellow soldiers. It is my honor to lead the effort to rename the Yountville Veterans Home Post Office after one of its residents and heroes.”
On April 28, 1945, Private First Class Ruiz was deployed to Okinawa. While patrolling in a ravine, his unit was ambushed by heavy and camouflaged machine gun fire. Every soldier except Ruiz and his squad leader was killed or injured. With his entire unit pinned down, Ruiz grabbed an automatic rifle and started his solo charge on the bunker. When he reached the bunker his rifle misfired. After beating back enemy soldiers he quickly ran back to where his unit was pinned down to retrieve another weapon. On his second charge towards the bunker he was shot in the leg by enemy fire. By himself he eliminated 12 enemy soldiers and saved the lives of the platoon members.
The bill, H.R. 3004, to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 260 California Drive in Yountville, California, as the "Private First Class Alejandro R. Ruiz Post Office Building" was introduced on September 21, 2011. It was voted out of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform on November 3rd by unanimous consent. It is cosponsored by all 52 members of the California Congressional Delegation.
Ruiz was born in Loving, New Mexico to Mexican immigrants. Of the 3,400 Medals of Honor that Presidents of the United States have awarded, only 44 have been awarded to someone of Hispanic descent. Of the 55,000 residents to have lived at the Yountville Veterans Home, only five have been awarded the Medal of Honor.
Congressman Mike Thompson is proud to represent California's 1st Congressional District, which includes Del Norte, Humboldt, Lake, Mendocino, Napa, and portions of Sonoma and Yolo counties. He is a senior member of the House Ways and Means Committee and the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. Rep. Thompson is also a member of the fiscally conservative Blue Dog Coalition, Co-Chair of the bipartisan, bicameral Congressional Wine Caucus, and Co-Chair of the Congressional Military Veterans Caucus.
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