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[Page H4723]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
HONORING CARL NUNZIATO
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Ohio
(Mr. Ryan) for 5 minutes.
Mr. RYAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak about H.R. 5023, which
names the Department of Veterans Affairs community-based outpatient
clinic in Youngstown, Ohio, as the Carl Nunziato VA Clinic.
This bill was recommended to my office and strongly supported by
leaders within my congressional district's veterans community because
they rightly wish to honor one of their own for his exemplary service.
I thank them and Chairman Mark Takano, Ranking Member Dr. Phil Roe, and
their respective staffs for helping our office bring this bill to the
floor, as well as my own staff, Zach Prager and Ivan De La Cruz
Santiago.
Today is a red-letter day, Mr. Speaker, in my book because in the
midst of all that is going on nationally, all the controversies,
Congress can still put its differences aside to take time and recognize
a true American hero: Carl Nunziato.
Carl was born in Youngstown, Ohio, in 1938, graduating from Rayen
High School. After marrying his high school sweetheart, Clara, he would
go on to attend college at Youngstown State University.
Through the university's Reserve Officer Training Corps program, Carl
earned a commission as a second lieutenant in the United States Army.
It was with his heart filled with love and devotion to his family, his
hometown, and his country that he set off for the battlefields of
Vietnam.
All those who served with Carl testify to his unmatched fighting
spirit. If you ever found yourself in a foxhole with chaos all around
you, Carl was the guy you wanted there with you because no matter what
happened, you could be sure of one thing: Carl would never quit. Never.
Life would test Carl in ways that most Americans can't even imagine.
On November 22, 1966, Carl lost both of his legs when an enemy mortar
round impacted less than 3 feet away from him as he was running toward
his unit's command center.
On that battlefield, and over the next 2 years at home, Carl would
fight for his life not far from where we stand today, at Walter Reed
National Military Medical Center. Carl may have walked out of that
hospital on two prosthetic legs, but his resolve was more steadfast
than before he walked in.
Carl returned to his hometown, Youngstown, Ohio, enrolled in law
school at Case Western Reserve, and with graduation began yet another
battle: the fight for veterans and all Americans with disabilities.
As an attorney utilizing a wheelchair in the 1970s, most of the
courthouses he encountered lacked the accessibility that he and other
Americans like him needed to be able to simply get his job done.
Carl saw the problem and seized the initiative, as he had always done
with obstacles he encountered in life. Carl created a committee to
fight for veterans with disabilities and became a relentless advocate
on behalf of all of those with the same conditions.
But Carl went even further. He established a task force to improve
veterans services in Youngstown at a time when the VA sent the city a
single nurse once a week when the Mahoning Valley had 40,000 veterans.
Carl wanted a VA clinic. VA said no. Carl didn't take no for an
answer. Carl's efforts came to fruition in 1991 when the VA finally
established an outpatient clinic in Youngstown.
Today, Carl continues to be a stellar citizen, not just for
Youngstown, not just for the people of Ohio, not just for vets, not
just for people with disabilities, but for all Americans.
Carl works tirelessly with the VA to continue improving the care
received by veterans. Carl relentlessly pursues improving care and
services for all Americans with disabilities.
The naming of this clinic, Mr. Speaker, is a small measure in
comparison to what he has accomplished on behalf of our country's
heroes and all of those with disabilities.
Carl never quits--never has quit, never will quit. And I am humbled
to have the privilege of representing an individual of this caliber in
this Chamber.
I will say, finally, when other vets and citizens from our community
look at Carl's portrait hanging in this clinic and they see his name,
they will know that things can get better. With effort, with grit, you
can make a difference as long as you never quit, as long as you never
take no for an answer.
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