Sensenbrenner Petitions to Award Wisconsinite the Medal of Honor
Washington,
Nov 28 -
Congressman Jim Sensenbrenner (R-WI) today sent a letter to the House Armed Services Chairman Buck McKeon (R-CA) and Ranking Member Adam Smith (D-WA) to request support for a provision awarding the Medal of Honor to Wisconsin native, First Lt. Alonzo H. Cushing, in the upcoming conference negotiations of the National Defense Authorization Act of 2013.
Text of the letter:
The Honorable Howard P. “Buck” McKeon
Chairman
House Committee on Armed Services
2120 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515 |
The Honorable Adam Smith
Ranking Member
House Committee on Armed Services
2120 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515 |
Dear Chairman McKeon and Ranking Member Smith:
As the National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal year 2013 moves to conference, I am writing to request your support for the provision in section 554 of H.R. 4310, to award the Medal of Honor to First Lieutenant Alonzo H. Cushing. This provision was added by an amendment sponsored by myself and Representative Kind, and was passed by voice vote.
Section 554 authorizes the award of the Medal of Honor to Lt. Cushing for his acts of valor during the Civil War. As you know, current law places a time limitation with respect to awarding the Medal of Honor. I have been informed that the Secretary of the Army and the Secretary of Defense have both approved the request for issuing a waiver and have transmitted this approval to the House and Senate Armed Services Committees.
Lt. Cushing commanded Battery A, 4th United States Artillery, Army of the Potomac, during the Battle of Gettysburg. During the battle, Lt. Cushing was shot multiple times, but refused to retreat. He continued to command his battery until he was shot and fatally wounded. During the Civil War, Medals of Honor were rarely awarded posthumously, which is why the award was never made soon after his death. Lt. Cushing was a true American hero whose valor deserves to be recognized with our nation’s highest honor.
I would be more than happy to answer any additional questions you may have, and appreciate your consideration of this request.
Sincerely,
F. JAMES SENSENBRENNER, JR.
Member of Congress
Signed letter.
|
text size 
