Senator Cory Gardner (R-CO) released the following statement after President Obama signed S. 3283, a bill Gardner introduced to name the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Community Based Outpatient Clinic in Pueblo after Private First Class (PFC) James Dunn, into law. The legislation was approved by the Senate with unanimous consent on July 14, 2016 and H.R. 5901, introduced by Rep. Scott Tipton (CO-03), passed by the House of Representatives on September 28, 2016.

During WWII, PFC James Dunn was assigned to the 3rd Battalion 6th Marines and saw combat action during the Battle of Guadalcanal in the Solomon Islands. Dunn took command of his platoon after his commander was severely injured from enemy fire during a patrol. Dunn then led his fellow Marines to safe cover and was ordered to withdraw without the wounded. Dunn, however, returned to his wounded comrades and helped evacuate them while under heavy incoming machine gun and mortar fire.

“Private First Class Dunn, a Colorado native and a Navy Cross recipient, bravely served his country and the VA clinic in Pueblo will now serve as a constant reminder of that. His heroic and selfless actions embody what it means to truly love your county and your fellow man,” said Gardner. “I look forward to the visual reminder of Private First Class Dunn’s service in Pueblo, and I’m proud that future generations of Coloradans can look to his example of a soldier’s sacrifice for the freedoms that make this country so great.”