(Source: Rep. Chet Edwards)

(Washington, DC) - U.S. Rep. Chet Edwards announced that legislation he authored, H.R. 3720, to rename the Clay Avenue Post Office in Waco for fallen Vietnam Army Private First Class Juan Alonso Covarrubias has passed the House today. Covarrubias, who was raised in Waco, was a decorated Army paratrooper killed in South Vietnam in 1969.

“Juan Alonso Covarrubias is an American hero who gave his life defending our country in Vietnam. We humbly recognize that we can never fully repay him or his family for their loss, but I hope and pray that honoring him in this way will celebrate his dedicated service and preserve his memory. Upon the passage of this bill into law, thousands of Waco citizens who visit the U.S. Post Office at 424 Clay Avenue, just blocks away from the Waco VA Regional Office, will be touched by the life and sacrifice of the young man raised in their neighborhood.

“On March 24, 1969, just one month after the birth of his daughter, Tammy, this young father gave his life so far from home. It is that type of incredible sacrifice that should remind us all that we are the land of the free, because we are still the home of the brave. I would also like to say to the Covarrubias family, which has sacrificed so much for the American family, that a grateful nation owes you a deep debt of gratitude. I would like to say to Tammy, that while you never got to know your father in person, I hope you will always be proud that he loved you so much that he was willing to sacrifice his life for the country in which his little daughter would grow up. Surely, he must look down upon you from the special place in heaven reserved for those who would lay down their lives for their neighbors. To Private Covarrubias’ father, I would say as the father of two young sons, no father should ever have to see his own son buried, but I hope you take comfort and pride in knowing that the spirit of the son you helped bring into this world will be touching and inspiring the lives of others long after we are gone,” said Edwards.

Covarrubias was raised in Waco, and drafted in 1968 to serve as an Army paratrooper at the tender age of 20. He was killed in the line of duty on March 24, 1969 in the Thua Thien province of South Vietnam and buried with full military honors on Good Friday April 4, 1969 at Waco Memorial Park. He is survived by his daughter Tammy Covarrubias Boyett of Waco, who was born one month before her father was killed in Vietnam, his 97 year old father, Juan Sr., brother Gilbert, and sister Irene Ramirez of Dallas. Covarrubias has been honored with a panel on the Vietnam Veterans Wall Memorial in Washington D.C. as well as the Waco Vietnam Veterans Memorial. He holds the National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal with 1 Bronze Service Star, Bronze Star Medal, and Good Conduct Medal. Covarrubias was a noted marksman and has been honored with the Expert Badge with Rifle Bar, Marksman Badge with Auto Rifle Bar, and Sharpshooter Badge with Machine Gun Bar.

Edwards introduced the legislation, which has been cosponsored by the entire Texas congressional delegation, in October of 2007. The bill now heads to the Senate for consideration, and is expected to be passed and signed in to law later this year.