H.R. 5589

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5589 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 5589

To name the Department of Veterans Affairs clinic located in Riverhead, 
New York, as the ``Private First Class Garfield M. Langhorn VA 
Clinic'', and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

September 26, 2025

Mr. LaLota (for himself and Mr. Lawler) introduced the following bill; 
which was referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

A BILL

To name the Department of Veterans Affairs clinic located in Riverhead, 
New York, as the ``Private First Class Garfield M. Langhorn VA 
Clinic'', and for other purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. FINDINGS.

Congress finds the following:
(1) Garfield McConnell Langhorn was born on September 10, 
1948, in Cumberland, Virginia, and grew up in Riverhead, New 
York, on Long Island.
(2) Langhorn graduated from Riverside High School in 1967, 
and worked for Suffolk County before being drafted into the 
United States Army in 1968. Private First Class Langhorn was 
assigned as a radio operator with Troop C, 7th Squadron 
(Airmobile), 17th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Aviation Brigade, and 
deployed to Vietnam in November 1968.
(3) On January 15, 1969, Langhorn's unit was inserted near 
Plei Djereng, Pleiku Province, to rescue downed AH-1 Cobra 
helicopter pilots. After finding both pilots deceased, the unit 
came under heavy attack by North Vietnamese forces in heavily 
fortified positions. Amid intense combat and while surrounded, 
Langhorn radioed for urgent air support, coordinating minigun 
and rocket strikes from the gunships above, and provided 
covering fire from within the defensive perimeter.
(4) As darkness fell and air support became ineffective, 
enemy soldiers began probing the perimeter. When an enemy 
grenade landed close to wounded comrades, Langhorn 
unhesitatingly threw himself on the grenade, scooped it beneath 
his body, and absorbed the blast. By sacrificing himself, he 
saved the lives of his comrades.
(5) Private First Class Langhorn's selfless act of valor, 
in giving his life to save his fellow soldiers, stands as a 
timeless example of courage and sacrifice that continues to 
inspire his community and our Nation.

SEC. 2. NAME OF DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS CLINIC, BAY SHORE, NEW 
YORK.

The Department of Veterans Affairs clinic located in Riverhead, New 
York, shall, after the date of the enactment of this Act, be known and 
designated as the ``Private First Class Garfield M. Langhorn VA 
Clinic''. Any reference to such clinic in any law, regulation, map, 
document, record, or other paper of the United States shall be 
considered to be a reference to the ``Private First Class Garfield M. 
Langhorn VA Clinic''.
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