November 30, 2016 - Issue: Vol. 162, No. 171 — Daily Edition114th Congress (2015 - 2016) - 2nd Session
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ADOLFO ``HARPO'' CELAYA POST OFFICE; Congressional Record Vol. 162, No. 171
(House of Representatives - November 30, 2016)
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[Pages H7014-H7015] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] ADOLFO ``HARPO'' CELAYA POST OFFICE Mr. GOSAR. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 6304) to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 501 North Main Street in Florence, Arizona, as the ``Adolfo `Harpo' Celaya Post Office''. The Clerk read the title of the bill. The text of the bill is as follows: H.R. 6304 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. ADOLFO ``HARPO'' CELAYA POST OFFICE. (a) Designation.--The facility of the United States Postal Service located at 501 North Main Street in Florence, Arizona, shall be known and designated as the ``Adolfo `Harpo' Celaya Post Office''. (b) References.--Any reference in a law, map, regulation, document, paper, or other record of the United States to the facility referred to in subsection (a) shall be deemed to be a reference to the ``Adolfo `Harpo' Celaya Post Office''. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Gosar) and the gentlewoman from the Virgin Islands (Ms. Plaskett) each will control 20 minutes. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Arizona. General Leave Mr. GOSAR. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to include any extraneous material on the bill under consideration. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from Arizona? There was no objection. Mr. GOSAR. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise today in support of my bill, H.R. 6304. The bill designates a post office in Florence, Arizona, as the Adolfo ``Harpo'' Celaya Post Office. Mr. Speaker, this bill honors a great man and an Arizona hero. He has served his Nation both in combat and with a lifetime of community service. That man is Adolfo ``Harpo'' Celaya. The bill being considered here today, H.R. 6304, would designate the United States Postal Service facility in Florence, Arizona, as the Adolfo ``Harpo'' Celaya Post Office. This is a small gesture to honor a man who has given so much to this Nation and to his community. By way of background, Harpo Celaya was born in Florence, Arizona, on May 16, 1927. He worked numerous jobs, including picking cotton and working at the local dairy from the time he was only 8 years old. He earned the nickname ``Harpo'' because he had thick black curls that reminded his friends of Harpo Marx. When he was just 17 years old, he read a recruitment poster that boasted ``Join the Navy, see the world'' and he begged his father to let him join. He was assigned to the USS Indianapolis, the flagship of the 5th Fleet. The Indy saw many battles during World War II, and Harpo was there with the ship at the battle of Iwo Jima and witnessed the historic flag-raising on the island in February of 1945. He was also aboard when the Indy went on a secret mission delivering parts for Little Boy, the atomic bomb that was dropped on Hiroshima. His experiences on the Indy would change his life forever. On the night of July 30, 1945, the Indy was on its way back to the Philippines after a secret mission delivering the atomic bomb. Harpo and many of his mates were sleeping on the deck because it was too hot to sleep in their bunks below. Despite the heat, Harpo covered himself with a blanket, as had been his habit for many years in trying to ward off mosquitoes in the Arizona desert. Shortly after midnight, a Japanese submarine hit the Indy with two torpedoes. Fire tore through the deck, burning Harpo and his mates. Harpo credits his blanket, which was essentially vaporized in the heat, for saving him from being burned more severely. He was en route to retrieve his lifejacket when he ran into his friend, Santos Pena, who told him that the ship was sinking and they needed to abandon it immediately. The USS Indianapolis sank within 12 minutes. The two friends separated after jumping into the water, and 3 days passed before they found each other again. They continued to endure excruciating conditions with their fellow sailors in the choppy open seas, most slowly succumbing to dehydration, exposure, and shark attacks. The survivors of the Indy were eventually rescued after spending almost 5 harrowing days in the water. Of the 1,196 men aboard, only 317 survived. After this incident, Harpo was medically discharged from the Navy and awarded the Purple Heart. Still only 17 years of age, he went back to high school in his hometown of Florence, Arizona, and was recruited to play on the Florence Gophers basketball team. Even though none of the players were over 6 feet tall, Harpo led his team to the Arizona State Basketball Championship and was named captain of the first-string all-state team. Harpo continued his winning streak by playing for and eventually coaching the basketball team at Palo Verde Community College in Blythe, California. Harpo went on to become a cowboy for a few years and eventually ran his own small business, providing heating and air-conditioning services to his new community of San Jose, California. Throughout his life, Harpo could often be found coaching or refereeing [[Page H7015]] games for local youth. He knew firsthand of the value of sports and exercise as a means to keep young boys out of trouble. Harpo's walls are adorned by many plaques and awards honoring his efforts. He is honored in the Arizona Basketball Hall of Fame at Arizona State University, the Florence High School Athletic Hall of Fame, and served as grand marshal for the Florence Junior Parade in November 2009. Harpo Celaya is a true hero, beloved by his hometown of Florence. I would like to thank all of the survivors of the USS Indianapolis for their sacrifice. Of the 23 survivors still alive today, Harpo is the only Native American. We are humbled to honor him today. I would like to thank the town of Florence for their support of this bill and for proposing this great honor for Mr. Celaya. Thank you to the Oversight and Government Reform Committee for their expertise and patience in bringing this bill forward. I urge Members to support my bill. I reserve the balance of my time. Ms. PLASKETT. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise today in strong support of H.R. 6304, to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 501 North Main Street in Florence, Arizona, as the Adolfo ``Harpo'' Celaya Post Office. Born in 1927, Mr. Celaya overcame a childhood of poverty, neglect, and abuse. At age 17, he joined the Navy and was assigned to the USS Indianapolis during World War II. Harpo fought in the battles of Iwo Jima and Okinawa and was aboard the USS Indianapolis during its secret mission to deliver the ingredients of the atomic bomb Little Boy to the island of Tinian. As the ship was returning from this mission, it was hit with two torpedoes from a Japanese submarine. Despite being badly burned, Harpo Celaya jumped from a sinking ship into the water, where he remained for 5 days until rescuers arrived. Of the 1,196 men aboard the ship that day, Harpo was one of only 317 survivors. He received the Purple Heart and returned to high school in his hometown of Florence, Arizona. There, he led the basketball team to the Arizona State Basketball Championship and was named captain of the all-state team in spite of his combat injuries. Harpo Celaya attended Palo Verde Community College and again led the basketball team to a championship. He was inducted into the Arizona Basketball Hall of Fame in 1972 and the Florence High School Athletic Hall of Fame in 2008. Outside of basketball, Harpo led a successful career as a cowboy and then as a small-business owner, but always made time to mentor local youth by coaching or refereeing athletic sports. Mr. Speaker, we should pass this bill to honor Harpo Celaya for both his valiant military service and his ability to overcome hardship and having a lasting positive impact on his community. I urge my colleagues to support this bill. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time. Mr. GOSAR. Mr. Speaker, I ask that Members pass this bill. I yield back the balance of my time. The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Gosar) that the House suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 6304. The question was taken. The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds being in the affirmative, the ayes have it. Mr. GOSAR. Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not present. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further proceedings on this question will be postponed. The point of no quorum is considered withdrawn. ____________________
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