Napa Valley Register - Bill would rename endangered post office after Medal winner
November 18, 2011
Rep. Mike Thompson is sponsoring legislation to rename the threatened post office at the Veterans Home of California at Yountville on behalf of a Medal of Honor winner who died at the home two years ago.
While fighting to persuade the U.S. Postal Service not to close the facility to save money, Thompson is pushing legislation to rename it the “Private First Class Alejandro R. Ruiz Post Office Building.”
This legislation passed in the House of Representatives on a voice vote Wednesday and must still be approved the Senate.
“Pfc. Alejandro R. Ruiz Sr. served his country with honor and distinction,” Thompson said in a release. “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.”
Ruiz spent his career in the U.S. Army. After retirement, he lived at the Veterans Home until he died in 2009 at age 85.
Thompson, D-St. Helena, said the renaming legislation was independent of his efforts to keep the post office open as an essential service for the home's more than 1,000 residents.
"I am strongly against the potential closing of the Yountville Veterans Home Post Office. I believe this is a slap in the face to every person who has every served his or her country," said Thompson.
"However, regardless of what the USPS decides, Pfc. Alejandro Ruiz has earned more than our country could ever repay him. Naming the post office after this American hero who spent his final years at the Yountville Veterans Home is an honor he deserves no matter what the future holds for the Veterans Home post office."
On April 28, 1945, 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, Thompson said.
With his entire unit pinned down, Ruiz grabbed an automatic rifle and started his solo charge on the bunker, according to reports. 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 toward the bunker, he was shot in the leg by enemy fire. By himself, he killed 12 enemy soldiers and saved the lives of the platoon members.
Thompson introduced his bill, H.R. 3004, on Sept. 21. It was voted out of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform on Nov. 3 by unanimous consent. It is cosponsored by all 52 members of the California congressional delegation, Thompson said.
Thompson noted that Ruiz, who was born in Loving, N.M., to Mexican immigrants, is one of only 44 persons of Hispanic descent to have been awarded the Medal of Honor.
All told, presidents of the U.S. have awarded this highest military honor to only 3,400 military personnel.
Of the 55,000 residents to have lived at the Yountville Veterans Home, only five have been awarded the Medal of Honor, Thompson said.
While fighting to persuade the U.S. Postal Service not to close the facility to save money, Thompson is pushing legislation to rename it the “Private First Class Alejandro R. Ruiz Post Office Building.”
This legislation passed in the House of Representatives on a voice vote Wednesday and must still be approved the Senate.
“Pfc. Alejandro R. Ruiz Sr. served his country with honor and distinction,” Thompson said in a release. “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.”
Ruiz spent his career in the U.S. Army. After retirement, he lived at the Veterans Home until he died in 2009 at age 85.
Thompson, D-St. Helena, said the renaming legislation was independent of his efforts to keep the post office open as an essential service for the home's more than 1,000 residents.
"I am strongly against the potential closing of the Yountville Veterans Home Post Office. I believe this is a slap in the face to every person who has every served his or her country," said Thompson.
"However, regardless of what the USPS decides, Pfc. Alejandro Ruiz has earned more than our country could ever repay him. Naming the post office after this American hero who spent his final years at the Yountville Veterans Home is an honor he deserves no matter what the future holds for the Veterans Home post office."
On April 28, 1945, 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, Thompson said.
With his entire unit pinned down, Ruiz grabbed an automatic rifle and started his solo charge on the bunker, according to reports. 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 toward the bunker, he was shot in the leg by enemy fire. By himself, he killed 12 enemy soldiers and saved the lives of the platoon members.
Thompson introduced his bill, H.R. 3004, on Sept. 21. It was voted out of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform on Nov. 3 by unanimous consent. It is cosponsored by all 52 members of the California congressional delegation, Thompson said.
Thompson noted that Ruiz, who was born in Loving, N.M., to Mexican immigrants, is one of only 44 persons of Hispanic descent to have been awarded the Medal of Honor.
All told, presidents of the U.S. have awarded this highest military honor to only 3,400 military personnel.
Of the 55,000 residents to have lived at the Yountville Veterans Home, only five have been awarded the Medal of Honor, Thompson said.