The U.S. House of Representatives passed U.S. Senator Marco Rubio’s (R-FL) Pensacola and Perdido Bays Estuary of National Significance Act (S. 50) to direct the Environmental Protection Agency to formally enroll the Pensacola and Perdido Bays Estuary Program (PPBEP)...
U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) released a statement on his nomination by President-elect Donald J. Trump to serve as the United States Secretary of State. “Leading the U.S. Department of State is a tremendous responsibility, and I am honored by the trust President...
U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) joined The World Over with Raymond Arroyo to discuss President-elect Donald Trump’s historic victory, the Democrats’ response to the election, foreign policy challenges facing our nation, and more. See below for highlights and watch the...
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Senator Rubio's office is pleased to be issuing a limited number of tickets to President-elect Donald Trump's inauguration ceremony, which will occur on January 20, 2025 at the West Front of the U.S. Capitol. Floridians interested in receiving tickets should fill out...
U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) joined Hannity to discuss President-elect Donald Trump’s historic victory. See below for highlights and watch the full interview on YouTube and Rumble. On the ongoing realignment among American voters: “The Republican Party now reflects...
Washington, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL), Representatives John Rutherford (R-FL) and Michael Waltz (R-FL) introduced legislation to name a Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) clinic in St. Johns County Florida after Private First Class Leo C. Chase, Jr., the first man from St. Johns County to be killed in the Vietnam War. This new VA outpatient clinic will be located at 207 Stratton Road, St. Augustine, Florida, and would be designated as the “Leo C. Chase, Jr. Department of Veterans Affairs Clinic.’’ Groundbreaking for the clinic is expected in October.
“At 23 years old Private Chase was killed while serving with an Airmobile unit in Vietnam just five days before he would have gone home. Private Chase’s life served as an inspiration to others before and after his death,” Rubio said. “While we can never repay his sacrifice to our nation, I am proud to introduce this legislation that will name the new VA clinic in St. Augustine after an American hero who gave the ultimate sacrifice.”
“We owe our military and veterans, especially those who made the ultimate sacrifice, a debt of gratitude that can never be repaid.” Rutherford said. “Through his actions in battle and his answer to the call of service, Private Chase displayed the honor and courage that characterizes so many of our Vietnam Era veterans. With this legislation, we make sure every person walking into that building remembers the life and legacy of Private Leo C. Chase, Jr.”
“I’m honored to recognize the first St. Johns County hero who sacrificed his life for our country in Vietnam,” Waltz said. “The Leo C. Chase Jr. clinic will expand and improve health care for Northeast Florida veterans who earned this commitment from their government.”
Army Private First Class Leo C. Chase, Jr. was killed on November 15, 1965 in the Ia Drang battle dramatized in the book and film, We Were Soldiers. Chase was a rifleman in Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 7th Cavalry. He flew into landing zone X-Ray in the Ia Drang Valley of South Vietnam, near the Cambodian border. The helicopter troops were immediately attacked by thousands of soldiers of the 320th, 33rd, and 66th regiments of the North Vietnamese Army in a battle that lasted four days. Outnumbered nearly ten to one, Chase and the other members of his platoon bravely repulsed many massive ground assaults from the Viet Cong, all the while taking fire from enemy snipers.
In the end, Chase and many other members of his platoon lost their lives, but not without accomplishing their objective. The American lines held because of the courage and sheer determination of the Seventh Cavalry.