WASHINGTON — Rep. Robert Aderholt’s bill renaming the Guntersville Veterans Affairs Clinic in honor of Col. Ola Lee Mize Department, a Marshall County native and Medal of Honor recipient, has been signed by President Joe Biden.
“I am proud that we were able to get my legislation, HR 5464, passed through both chambers and to the President’s desk where it was signed,” said Aderholt (R-Haleyville). “Colonel Ola Lee Mize is an American hero and deserves the recognition he will now be given.”
Aderholt expressed his gratitude to Alabama’s two senators for submitting companion legislation in the upper chamber.
“I want to thank Senators Tuberville and Britt for carrying this bill in the Senate, and I know every member of the Alabama delegation looks forward to seeing this legislation signed into law,” he said.
Britt’s and Tuberville’s bill referenced by Aderholt passed the U.S. Senate unanimously earlier this month.
“Showing tremendous courage and remarkable valor on the battlefield, Colonel Ola Lee Mize exemplified what it means to be a true American hero,” said Britt (R-Montgomery). “A Medal of Honor recipient that served in both Korea and Vietnam, he always went above and beyond the call of duty throughout his distinguished military career.
“Naming this VA facility in his honor will ensure that Alabama’s heroes today and those in the generations to come will continue to commemorate his service.”
Tuberville (R-Auburn) also praised the Marshall County native for his distinguished service.
“Colonel Ola Lee Mize was a true patriot who embodied the American ideals of courage, selflessness, and honor,” he said. “He devoted his entire life to putting country ahead of self, and showed true bravery in the face of danger time and again.
“Alabama is proud to call him one of our own, and it is an honor to pay tribute to his legacy by naming the Guntersville VA facility in his honor.”
Mize received the Medal of Honor while serving as a sergeant with Company K of the 15th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division, in the Korean War.
After the Korean War, Mize joined the Special Forces and completed three tours of duty in Vietnam. He retired as a colonel in 1981. In his career, Mize was also awarded two Legion of Merits, the Silver Star, five Bronze Stars, and the Purple Heart. He died in 2014.
The tribute is supported by the full Alabama congressional delegation, the Alabama chapters of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, The American Legion, and Disabled American Veterans.
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