Public Law 117-235 | Public Law 117–235: To designate the Department of Veterans Affairs community-based outpatient clinic in French Camp, California, as the “Richard A. Pittman VA Clinic”.

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PUBLIC LAW 117–235—DEC. 20, 2022

136 STAT. 2322

Public Law

117–235

117th Congress

An Act

To designate the Department of Veterans Affairs community-based outpatient clinic in French Camp, California, as the “Richard A. Pittman VA Clinic”.

Dec. 20, 2022

[H.R. 6722]

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)

Richard A. Pittman was born on May 26, 1945, in French Camp, California.

(2)

Richard A. Pittman enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1965 and was later promoted to Lance Corporal.

(3)

On July 24, 1966, Lance Corporal Pittman’s unit, First Platoon, Company I, Third Battalion, Fifth Marines, was moving along a trail near the Demilitarized Zone in the Republic of Vietnam when the Marines ahead of them came under attack.

(4)

Upon hearing the attack, Lance Corporal Pittman took a machine gun and several belts of ammunition and rushed to aid his comrades. As he advanced, Lance Corporal Pittman encountered intense small-arms fire at point-blank range. He was able to return fire and silence the enemy combatants. Continuing towards the attacked Marines, Lance Corporal Pittman came under heavy fire from two automatic weapons, which he was able to destroy.

(5)

When Lance Corporal Pittman learned there were additional wounded Marines further along the trail, he endured enemy mortar and gunfire to get to them. As he reached them, he faced an attack by 30 to 40 enemy fighters.

(6)

Lance Corporal Pittman used a combination of machine-gun fire, an enemy submachine gun, a pistol from a fallen comrade, and a grenade to cause enemy forces to withdraw. Due to his courageous actions, many of his wounded comrades were saved.

(7)

In recognition of his bravery that day, Richard A. Pittman, who was then a Sergeant, was awarded the Medal of Honor by President Lyndon B. Johnson on May 14, 1968.

(8)

Richard A. Pittman retired in 1988 as a Master Sergeant, after having served in the Marine Corps for more than two decades.

SEC. 2.

NAME OF DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS COMMUNITY-BASED OUTPATIENT CLINIC, FRENCH CAMP, CALIFORNIA.

(a)

Designation.—

The Department of Veterans Affairs community-based outpatient clinic in French Camp, California, shall after 136 STAT. 2323 the date of the enactment of this Act be known and designated as the “Richard A. Pittman VA Clinic”.

(b)

References.—

Any reference in a law, map, regulation, document, paper, or other record of the United States to the clinic referred to in subsection (a) shall be deemed to be a reference to the “Richard A. Pittman VA Clinic”.

Approved December 20, 2022.

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—H.R. 6722:

CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 168 (2022):

Nov. 14, considered and passed House.

Dec. 6, considered and passed Senate.

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Public Law 117–235: To designate the Department of Veterans Affairs community-based outpatient clinic in French Camp, California, as the “Richard A. Pittman VA Clinic”.