REP. MIKE THOMPSON ANNOUNCES YOUNTVILLE VETERANS HOME POST OFFICE OFFICIALLY RENAMED IN HONOR OF PRIVATE FIRST CLASS ALEJANDRO R. RUIZ SR.
May 15, 2012
Congressman Mike Thompson (CA-1) announced that the President today signed legislation that Thompson introduced to officially rename the Yountville Veterans Home Post Office the “Private First Class Alejandro R. Ruiz Post Office Building.” Congressman Thompson introduced this legislation in November 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. “Today we honor his life, courage and sacrifice by officially renaming 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.
Thompson's 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 signed by the President on May 15th, 2012. Thompson's legislation was cosponsored by the other 52 members of the California Congressional Delegation, and both California Senators supported the bill.
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. “Today we honor his life, courage and sacrifice by officially renaming 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.
Thompson's 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 signed by the President on May 15th, 2012. Thompson's legislation was cosponsored by the other 52 members of the California Congressional Delegation, and both California Senators supported the bill.
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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Issues:Veterans