Museado / NARA Collection grf-0055 — Collection grf-0055
Recent Folios
Login Register
English (inglés) español magyar (húngaro) हिन्दी (hindi)

Survos folio page chat

1974/08/20 HR7682 Conferring Posthumous US Citizenship Upon Lance Corporal Frederico Silva

Ask the Scholar

Page 1 of 1
I can add historical knowledge about this page.

Page image

Page 1

OCR

The original documents are located in Box 2, folder "1974/08/20 HR7682 Conferring Posthumous US Citizenship Upon Lance Corporal Frederico Silva" of the White House Records Office: Legislation Case Files at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library. Copyright Notice The copyright law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code) governs the making of photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted material. Gerald R. Ford donated to the United States of America his copyrights in all of his unpublished writings in National Archives collections. Works prepared by U.S. Government employees as part of their official duties are in the public domain. The copyrights to materials written by other individuals or organizations are presumed to remain with them. If you think any of the information displayed in the PDF is subject to a valid copyright claim, please contact the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library. Exact duplicates within this folder were not digitized. Digitized from Box 2 of the White House Records Office Legislation Case Files at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT APPROVED AUG 20 OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET WASHINGTON, D.C. 20503 AUG 13 1974 MEMORANDUM FOR THE PRESIDENT Posted Subject: Enrolled Bill H.R. 7682 - Conferring posthumous U.S. citizenship upon Lance Corporal Federico 8/20 Silva Sponsor - Rep. Brown (D) California Jo archives Last Day for Action /20 BERALD FORD LIBRARY August 21, 1974 - Wednesday Purpose Confers United States citizenship posthumously upon a native of Mexico and lawful permanent resident of the U.S. who was killed while serving with the U.S. Marine Corps in Vietnam. Agency Recommendations Office of Management and Budget Approval Immigration and Naturalization Service Approval Department of State No objection Discussion Federico Silva was born in Mexico in 1946 and admitted to the United States for permanent residence in April 1956. His mother is a U.S. citizen and his father a lawful permanent resident living in San Bernardino, California. He has fifteen brothers and sisters, five of whom are permanent residents of the U.S. and ten of whom are citizens. The beneficiary attended public school in this country from 1956 until 1964, when he enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps. He was killed in action in December 1965, while serving in Vietnam. 2 During his service he received six decorations and awards, including the Purple Heart. He had applied for naturalization as a U.S. citizen in January 1965, but subsequently withdrew the application. A second application was pending at the time of his death. The enrolled bill would provide that Mr. Silva be held and con- sidered to have been a U.S. citizen at the time of his death. Helfred H Roussed GERALD FORD LIBRARY Assistant Director for Legislative Reference Enclosures UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE IMMIGRATION AND NATURALIZATION SERVICE PLEASE ADDRESS REPLY TO Washington 25, D.C. OFFICE OF THE COMMISSIONER AND REFER TO THIS FILE NO. AUG 8 1974 A10 632 428 TO : OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET SUBJECT: Enrolled Private Bill No. H. R. 7682 ; Office of Management and Budget request dated August 7, 1974 Beneficiary or Beneficiaries Lance Corporal Frederico Silva. Pursuant to your request for the views of the Department of Justice on the subject bill, a review has been made of the facsimile of the bill, the re- lating Congressional Committee report or reports, and all pertinent information in the files of the Immigration and Naturalization Service On the basis of this review the Immigration and Naturalization Service, on behalf of the Department of Justice: X Recommends approval of the bill. Interposes no objection to approval of the bill GERALD FORD LIBRARY Sincerely, thapmant Commissioner CO Form 18 (REV. 1-17-72) DEPARTMENT OF STATE Washington, D.C. 20520 August 9, 1974 Honorable Roy L. Ash Director, Office of Management and Budget Washington, D. D. 20503 Dear Mr. Ash: This is in reply to Mr. Rommel's communication of August 7, 1974, enclosing for comment a copy of enrolled bill H. R. 7682, to confer United States citizenship posthumously upon Lance Corporal Frederico Silva. The Department perceives no objection to the approval of this enactment. FORD LIBRARY j CERALD Linwood Cordially, Holton Linwood Holton Assistant Secretary for Congressional Relations THE WHITE HOUSE WASHINGTON 8/13/74 TO: WARREN HENDRIKS R. FIBRAPT R&L Robert D. Linder THE WHITE HOUSE WASHINGTON ENROLLED BILL SUBJECT: Enrolled Bill H.R. 7682 - Conferring Posthumous U.S. Citizenship upon Lance Corporal Federico Silva Name Approval Date Geoff Shepard Yes NSC/S Yes GERALD R. FORD LIBRARY Fred Buzhardt Yes Bill Timmons Yes Ken Cole Comments: THE WHITE HOUSE ACTION MEMORANDUM WASHINGTON LOG NO.: 509 Date: August 13, 1974 Time: 5:30 p.m. FOR ACTION: VGeoff Shepard CC (for information): Warren K. Hendriks Fred Buzhardt Jerry Jones Bill Timmons NSC/S FROM THE STAFF SECRETARY DUE: Date: Friday, August 16, 1974 Time: 2:00 p.m. m. SUBJECT: Enrolled Bill H.R. 7682 - Conferring Posthumous U.S. Citizenship upon Lance Corporal Federico Silva GERALD LIBRUT ? FORD ACTION REQUESTED: For Necessary Action XX For Your Recommendations Prepare Agenda and Brief Draft Reply For Your Comments Draft Remarks REMARKS: Please return to Kathy Tindle - West Wing PLEASE ATTACH THIS COPY TO MATERIAL SUBMITTED. If you have any questions or if you anticipate a delay in submitting the required material, please K. R. COLE, JR. telephone the Staff Secretary immediately. For the President Nendrika EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET WASHINGTON, D.C. 20503 AUG 13 1974 MEMORANDUM FOR THE PRESIDENT Subject: Enrolled Bill H.R. 7682 - Conferring posthumous U.S. citizenship upon Lance Corporal Federico Silva Sponsor - Rep. Brown (D) California Last Day for Action GERALD FORD LIBRARY August 21, 1974 - Wednesday Purpose Confers United States citizenship posthumously upon a native of Mexico and lawful permanent resident of the U.S. who was killed while serving with the U.S. Marine Corps in Vietnam. Agency Recommendations Office of Management and Budget Approval Immigration and Naturalization Service Approval Department of State No objection Discussion Federico Silva was born in Mexico in 1946 and admitted to the United States for permanent residence in April 1956. His mother is a U.S. citizen and his father a lawful permanent resident living in San Bernardino, California. He has fifteen brothers and sisters, five of whom are permanent residents of the U.S. and ten of whom are citizens. The beneficiary attended public school in this country from 1956 until 1964, when he enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps. He was killed in action in December 1965, while serving in Vietnam. THE WHITE HOUSE ACTION MEMORANDUM WASHINGTON LOG NO.: 509 Date: August 13, 1974 Time: 5:30 p.m. FOR ACTION: Geoff Shepard CC (for information): Warren K. Hendriks Fred Buzhardt Jerry Jones Bill Timmons NSC/S FROM THE STAFF SECRETARY DUE: Date: Friday, August 16, 1974 Time: 2:00 p.m. SUBJECT: Enrolled Bill H. R. 7682 - Conferring Posthumous U.S. Citizenship upon Lance Corporal Federico Silva GERALD FORD LIBRARY ACTION REQUESTED: For Necessary Action XX For Your Recommendations Prepare Agenda and Brief Draft Reply For Your Comments Draft Remarks REMARKS: Please return to Kathy Tindle - West Wing PLEASE ATTACH THIS COPY TO MATERIAL SUBMITTED. If you have any questions or if you anticipate a delay in submitting the required material, please telephone the Staff Secretary immediately. Warren K. Hendriks For the President THE WHITE HOUSE ACTION MEMORANDUM WASHINGTON LOG NO.: 509 Date: August 13, 1974 Time: 5:30 p.m. FOR ACTION: Geoff Shepard CC (for information): Warren K. Hendriks Fred Buzhardt Jerry Jones Bill Timmons NSC/S FROM THE STAFF SECRETARY DUE: Date: Friday, August 16, 1974 Time: 2:00 p.m. SUBJECT: Enrolled Bill H.R. 7682 - Conferring Posthumous U.S. Citizenship upon Lance Corporal Federico Silva GERALD FORD LIBRARY ACTION REQUESTED: For Necessary Action XX For Your Recommendations Prepare Agenda and Brief Draft Reply For Your Comments Draft Remarks REMARKS: No objection D.C. Please return to Kathy Tindle - West Wing PLEASE ATTACH THIS COPY TO MATERIAL SUBMITTED. If you have any questions or if you anticipate a delay in submitting the required material, please telephone the Staff Secretary immediately. Warren K. Hendriks For the President THE WHITE HOUSE ACTION MEMORANDUM WASHINGTON LOG NO.: 509 Date: August 13, 1974 Time: 5:30 p.m. FOR ACTION: Geoff Shepard CC (for information): Warren K. Hendriks Fred Buzhardt Jerry Jones Bill Timmons NSC/S FROM THE STAFF SECRETARY DUE: Date: Friday, August 16, 1974 Time: 2:00 p. m. SUBJECT: Enrolled Bill H.R. 7682 - Conferring Posthumous U.S. Citizenship upon Lance Corporal Federico Silva FORD & LIBRARY GERALD ACTION REQUESTED: For Necessary Action XX For Your Recommendations Prepare Agenda and Brief Draft Reply For Your Comments Draft Remarks REMARKS: Please return to Kathy Tindle - West Wing PLEASE ATTACH THIS COPY TO MATERIAL SUBMITTED. If you have any questions or if you anticipate a delay in submitting the required material, please telephone the Staff Secretary immediately. Warren K. Hendriks For the President THE WHITE HOUSE WASHINGTON August 14, 1974 MEMORANDUM FOR: MR. WARREN HENDRIKS FROM: WILLIAM E. TIMMONS SUBJECT: Action Memorandum - Log No. 509 B Enrolled Bill H. R. 7682 - Conferring Posthumous U. S. Citizenship upon Lance Corporal Federico Silva FORD is LIBRARY GENALD The Office of Legislative Affairs concurs in the attached proposal and has no additional recommendations. (Timmons requests a private ceremony for signing of this bill - Rep. George Brown (D-Cal) and parents of Silva to be invited. ) Attachment Calendar No. 893 93D CONGRESS SENATE REPORT 2d Session No. 93-921 CONFERRING U.S. CITIZENSHIP POSTHUMOUSLY UPON LANCE CPL. FREDERICO SILVA JUNE 12, 1974.-Ordered to be printed Mr. EASTLAND, from the Committee on the Judiciary, submitted the following BERALD FORD LIGHTER REPORT [To accompany H.R. 7682] The Committee on the Judiciary, to which was referred the bill (H.R. 7682) to confer citizenship posthumously upon Lance Cpl. Frederico Silva, having considered the same, reports favorably there- on with amendments and recommends that the bill as amended do pass. AMENDMENTS 1. In line 3, change the word "national" to read : "native". 2. Beginning in line 4, following the word "Corps", delete the lan- guage "in the vicinity of Que Son, Republic of Vietnam,". 3. Amend the title SO as to read: An Act to confer United States citizenship posthumously upon Lance Corporal Frederico Silva. PURPOSE OF THE BILL The purpose of the bill, as amended, is to confer U.S. citizenship posthumously upon Lance Cpl. Frederico Silva. The amendments are technical in nature. 99-010 2 3 STATEMENT OF FACTS The beneficiary was admitted to the United States as a law- Lance Corporal Frederico Silva was born in Mexico on March 2, ful permanent resident on April 12, 1956. He applied for naturalization as a United States citizen during January 1946, and was admitted to the United States for permanent residence 1965, but subsequently withdrew the application. A second on April 12, 1956. His mother and father, U.S. citizen and lawful permanent resident, respectively, reside in San Bernardino, Califor- application was pendingat his death. The interested party, a native of Mexico, was born August nia. Other survivors include 15 brothers and sisters, five of them per- manent residents and ten of them citizens. The beneficiary served hon- 18, 1913. She attended public school in this country for four years. Her parents are deceased. Her six brothers and sisters orably in the U.S. Marine Corps from the time of his enlistment Feb- are citizens of the United States. She and her husband receive ruary 20, 1964, until he was killed in action on December 18, 1965. approximately $400 monthly from social security, veteran's A letter, with attached memorandum, dated December 20, 1973 to benefits, and public assistance. Neither is employed. Their the chairman of the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of Rep- assets consist of $15,000 equity in a home, an automobile worth resentatives from the Immigration and Naturalization Service with $500, plus furniture and other personal property valued at reference to the bill reads as follows: $7,000. The interested party was admitted to the United States as a U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, lawful permanent resident on April 12, 1956. She became a IMMIGRATION AND NATURALIZATION SERVICE, naturalized citizen of this country on February 19, 1970. OFFICE OF THE COMMISSIONER, Washington, D.C., December 20, 1973. Congressman George E. Brown, Jr., the author of the bill, sub- A-10632428. mitted the following letter in support of his bill: Hon. PETER W. RODINO, Jr., CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES, Chairman, Committee on the Judiciary, House of Representatives, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Washington, D.C. Washington, D.C., February 8, 1974. DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN In response to your request for a report rela- Hon. JOSHUA EILBERG, tive to the bill (H.R. 7682) for the relief of Lance Corporal Federico Chairman, Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship, and Interna- Silva, there is attached a memorandum of information concerning the tional Law, Washington, D.C. beneficiary. DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN It was most gratifying to learn of your Sub- The bill would provide that the beneficiary, a national of Mexico, committee's support for H.R. 7682. The written statement which you who was killed in Vietnam while serving with the United States Ma- suggested that I submit for inclusion in the House report on the bill rine Corps, be held and considered to have been a citizen of the United is as follows: States at the time of his death. Mr. Chairman, any war is going to have its share of innumerable Sincerely, personal tragedies, and the war in Vietnam is no exception. What I wish to do is to make known to this Committee and to the Members Commissioner. of the House of Representatives the circumstances of one such tragedy Enclosure. involving a young man from my district, Federico Silva, known to his family and friends as Lico. MEMORANDUM OF INFORMATION FROM IMMIGRATION AND Lico Silva was born in Juarez, Mexico, in 1946. He came to the NATURALIZATION SERVICE FILES RE H.R. 7682 United States with his family when he was 10 years old and attended junior and senior high school in San Bernardino, California. Information concerning this case was obtained from Fran- While still a young man, he decided to become a pastor in the cisca T. Silva, the interested party and mother of the de- Church of the Nazarene and he was well on his way to gathering a ceased beneficiary. flock. Among his other activities, he would bake cookies for prisoners The beneficiary, Lance Corporal Federico Silva, a native in the county jail and read to them from the Bible. In 1964, as the and citizen of Mexico, was born March 2, 1946, and was single. violence grew in Vietnam, his missionary spirit caused him to enlist His mother and father, United States citizen and lawful per- because he wanted to help the children in that horribly devastated manent resident, respectively, reside in San Bernardino, Cali- country. From his small paycheck he would send money home to his fornia. He is survived by fifteen brothers and sisters, five of parents, apologizing for how little it was because he was spending SO whom are lawful permanent residents, and the others citizens much on food and clothing for the Vietnamese children. of this country. The beneficiary attended public school in He was proud of his uniform and he was proud of his adopted the United States from 1956 until February 20, 1964, when he country. He wrote his parents that he was trying to get permission enlisted in the United States Marine Corps. He was killed in to go to Hawaii to apply for American citizenship. But he never action on December 18, 1965, while serving in Vietnam. reached Hawaii. On December 18, 1965, 7 months before he was due S.R. 921 S.R. 921 4 to return to the States permanently, he and his company were re- turning to camp near Que Son when a Vietcong machinegun opened up on them. Lico, standing in front of his company, was cut down, dying instantly. A friend of Lico's wrote Lico's parents about how many of the men in the company wept when they learned of his death. Lico Silva's service to his adopted country was recognized by the following decorations and awards: the Purple Heart, Presidental Unit Citation, National Defense Service Medal, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal with Device, Vietnam Service Medal with one bronze star, and the Republic of Vietnam Meritorious Unit Citation Gallantry Cross Color. Lico Silva still lives in the hearts of his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Francisco Silva, and his brothers, sisters, and many friends. In the years since then, his mother, two brothers, and 13 sisters have become American citizens. Lico Silva never had that opportunity. For that reason, Mr. Chairman, and in memory of Lico Silva and others like him, I introduced two bills. One of them, H.R. 7682, the bill being considered here, would grant Lico Silva posthumous citizenship. The other one, H.R. 7622, which is pending before this Committee but which is not the subject of this report, would be known as the Lico Silva Memorial Act of 1973 and would grant posthumous citizenship to any person not a citizen of the United States who was killed in action while serving in the U.S. Armed Forces in Indochina. Sincerely, GEORGE E. BROWN, Jr., Member of Congress. The committee, after consideration of all the facts in the case, is of the opinion that the bill (H.R. 7682), as amended, should be enacted. S.R. 921 93D CONGRESS HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 2d Session ~ REPORT No. 93-908 CONFERRING CITIZENSHIP POSTHUMOUSLY UPON LANCE CPL. FEDERICO SILVA MARCH 13, 1974.-Committed to the Committee of the Whole House and order to be printed Mr. HOGAN, from the Committee on the Judiciary, submitted the following REPORT GERALD [To accompany H.R. 7682] The Committee on the Judiciary, to whom was referred the bill (H.R. 7682) to confer citizenship posthumously upon Lance Corporal Federico Silva, having considered the same, report favorably thereon without amendment and recommend that the bill do pass. PURPOSE OF THE BILL The purpose of this bill is to confer United States citizenship post- humously upon Lance Corporal Federico Silva. GENERAL INFORMATION Lance Corporal Federico Silva was a native of Mexico who was a lawful permanent resident of the United States. His application for citizenship was pending at the time of his death while serving in the United States Marine Corps in Vietnam. The Committee received the following report on this legislation from the Immigration and Naturalization Service: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, IMMIGRATION AND NATURALIZATION SERVICE, OFFICE OF THE COMMISSIONER, Washington, D.C., December 20, 1973. A 10 632 428. Hon. PETER W. RODINO, JR., Chairman, Committee on the Judiciary, House of Representatives, Washington, D.C. DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN: In response to your request for a report rela- tive to the bill (H.R. 7682) for the relief of Lance Corporal Federico Silva, there is attached a memorandum of information concerning the beneficiary. 99-007 2 3 The bill would provide that the beneficiary, a national of Mexico, Mr. Chairman, any war is going to have its share of innumerable who was killed in Vietnam while serving with the United States Ma- personal tragedies, and the war in Vietnam is no exception. What I rine Corps, be held and considered to have been a citizen of the United wish to do is to make known to this Committee and to the Members States at the time of his death. of the House of Representatives the circumstances of one such tragedy Sincerely, involving a young man from my district, Federico Silva, known to his family and friends as Lico. Commissioner. Lico Silva was born in Juarez, Mexico, in 1946. He came to the Enclosure. United States with his family when he was 10 years old and attended junior and senior high school in San Bernardino, California. MEMORANDUM OF INFORMATION FROM IMMIGRATION AND While still a young man, he decided to become a pastor in the NATURALIZATION SERVICE FILES RE H.R. 7682 Church of the Nazarene and he was well on his way to gathering a flock. Among his other activities, he would bake cookies for prisoners Information concerning this case was obtained from Fran- in the county jail and read to them from the Bible. In 1964, as the cisca T. Silva, the interested party and mother of the de- violence grew in Vietnam, his missionary spirit caused him to enlist ceased beneficiary. because he wanted to help the children in that horribly devastated The beneficiary, Lance Corporal Federico Silva, a native country. From his small paycheck he would send money home to his and citizen of Mexico, was born March 2, 1946, and was single. parents, apologizing for how little it was because he was spending SO His mother and father, United States citizen and lawful per- much on food and clothing for the Vietnamese children. manent resident, respectively, reside in San Bernardino, Cali- He was proud of his uniform and he was proud of his adopted fornia. He is survived by fifteen brothers and sisters, five of country. He wrote his parents that he was trying to get permission whom are lawful permanent residents, and the others citi- to go to Hawaii to apply for American citizenship. But he never zens of this country. The beneficiary attended public school in reached Hawaii. On December 18, 1965, 7 months before he was due the United States from 1956 until February 20, 1964, when he to return to the States permanently, he and his company were re- enlisted in the United States Marine Corps. He was killed in turning to camp near Que Son when a Vietcong machine gun opened action on December 18, 1965, while serving in Viefnam. up on them. Lico, standing in front of his company, was cut down, The beneficiary was admitted to the United States as a law- dying instantly. ful permanent resident on April 12, 1956. He applied for A friend of Lico's wrote Lico's parents about how many of the men naturalization as a United States citizen during January in the company wept when they learned of his death. 1965, but subsequently withdrew the application. A second Lico Silva's service to his adopted country was recognized by the application was pending at his death. following decorations and awards: the Purple Heart, Presidential The interested party, a native of Mexico, was born August Unit Citation, National Defense Service Medal, Republic of Vietnam 18, 1913. She attended public school in this country for four Campaign Medal with Device, Vietnam Service Medal with one years. Her parents are deceased. Her six brothers and sisters bronze star, and the Republic of Vietnam Meritorious Unit Citation are citizens of the United States. She and her husband receive Gallantry Cross Color. approximately $400 monthly from social security, veteran's Lico Silva still lives in the hearts of his parents, Mr. and Mrs. benefits, and public assistance. Neither is employed. Their Francisco Silva, and his brothers, sisters, and many friends. In the assets consist of $15,000 equity in a home, an automobile worth years since then, his mother, two brothers, and 13 sisters have become $500, plus furniture and other personal property valued at American citizens. Lico Silva never had that opportunity. For that $7,000. reason, Mr. Chairman, and in memory of Lico Silva and others like The interested party was admitted to the United States as a him, I introduced two bills. One of them, H.R. 7682, the bill being lawful permanent resident on April 12, 1956. She became a considered here, would grant Lico Silva posthumous citizenship. The naturalized citizen of this country on February 19, 1970. other one, H.R. 7622, which is pending before this Committee but Mr. Brown of California submitted the following letter in support which is not the subject of this report, would be known as the Lico of his bill: Silva Memorial Act of 1973 and would grant posthumous citizenship to any person not a citizen of the United States who was killed in CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES, action while serving in the U.S. Armed Forces in Indochina. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Sincerely, Washington, D.C., February 8, 1974. GEORGE E. BROWN, Jr., Hon. JOSHUA EILBERG, Member of Congress. Chairman, Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship, and Interna- tional Law, Washington, D.C. Upon consideration of all the facts in this case, the Committee is of the opinion that H.R. 7682 should be enacted an accordingly rec- DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN It was most gratifying to learn of your Sub- ommends that the bill do pass. committee's support for H.R. 7682. The written statement which you suggested that I submit for inclusion in the House report on the bill is as follows: H.R. 908 H.R. 908 CORRECTED SHEET H. R. 7682 Ninety-third Congress of the United States of America AT THE SECOND SESSION Begun and held at the City of Washington on Monday, the twenty-first day of January, one thousand nine hundred and seventy-four An Art FORD To confer United States citizenship posthumously upon Lance Corporal Federico i Silva. GERALD Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That Lance Cor- poral Federico Silva, a native of Mexico, who was serving in the United States Marine Corps when he was killed in action on Decem- ber 18, 1965, shall be held and considered to have been a citizen of the United States at the time of his death. Speaker of the House of Representatives. Vice President of the United States and President of the Senate. August 9, 1974 Dear Mr. Director: The following bills were received at the White House on August 9th: S.J. Res. 229 H.J. Res. 1104 H.R. 69 H.R. 5667 H.R. 7682 Please let the President have reports and recommendations as to the approval of these bills as soon as possible. Sincerely, FORD i GERALD BRAN Robert D. Linder Chief Executive Clerk The Honorable Roy L. Ash Director Office of Management and Budget Washington, D. C.

Page data

Page
1
Source index
0
Type
document
Media ID
d15829da03d3f8cc
Size
unknown

Document data

ID
1668641
Core
doc
Type
document
DTO data 
{
    "id": "1668641",
    "sourceUrl": "https://catalog.archives.gov/id/1668641",
    "contentType": "document",
    "title": "1974/08/20 HR7682 Conferring Posthumous US Citizenship Upon Lance Corporal Frederico Silva",
    "citationUrl": "https://catalog.archives.gov/id/1668641",
    "collections": [
        "White House Records Office: Legislation Case Files",
        "Legislation Case Files"
    ],
    "subjects": [
        "Civil rights",
        "Legislation"
    ],
    "iiifBase": "https://s3.amazonaws.com/NARAprodstorage/opastorage/live/41/6686/1668641/content/library/document/0055/1668641.pdf",
    "thumbnailUrl": "https://s3.amazonaws.com/NARAprodstorage/opastorage/live/41/6686/1668641/content/library/document/0055/1668641.pdf",
    "largeImageUrl": "https://s3.amazonaws.com/NARAprodstorage/opastorage/live/41/6686/1668641/content/library/document/0055/1668641.pdf",
    "imageCount": 1,
    "hasImages": true,
    "source": "import",
    "hasTranscription": false
}

Context sent to Scholar

Document identity 
{
    "localId": "1668641",
    "label": "1974/08/20 HR7682 Conferring Posthumous US Citizenship Upon Lance Corporal Frederico Silva",
    "core": "doc",
    "dtoType": "document",
    "citationUrl": "https://catalog.archives.gov/id/1668641"
}
Document source metadata 
{
    "id": "1668641",
    "sourceUrl": "https://catalog.archives.gov/id/1668641",
    "contentType": "document",
    "title": "1974/08/20 HR7682 Conferring Posthumous US Citizenship Upon Lance Corporal Frederico Silva",
    "citationUrl": "https://catalog.archives.gov/id/1668641",
    "collections": [
        "White House Records Office: Legislation Case Files",
        "Legislation Case Files"
    ],
    "subjects": [
        "Civil rights",
        "Legislation"
    ],
    "iiifBase": "https://s3.amazonaws.com/NARAprodstorage/opastorage/live/41/6686/1668641/content/library/document/0055/1668641.pdf",
    "thumbnailUrl": "https://s3.amazonaws.com/NARAprodstorage/opastorage/live/41/6686/1668641/content/library/document/0055/1668641.pdf",
    "largeImageUrl": "https://s3.amazonaws.com/NARAprodstorage/opastorage/live/41/6686/1668641/content/library/document/0055/1668641.pdf",
    "imageCount": 1,
    "hasImages": true,
    "source": "import",
    "hasTranscription": false
}
Document source extras 
{
    "url": "https://catalog.archives.gov/id/1668641",
    "naId": 1668641,
    "coverageEndDate": {
        "logicalDate": "1974-08-31",
        "month": 8,
        "year": 1974
    },
    "coverageStartDate": {
        "logicalDate": "1974-08-01",
        "month": 8,
        "year": 1974
    },
    "levelOfDescription": "fileUnit",
    "recordType": "description",
    "ocrSource": "nara-archive"
}
Page context 
{
    "seq": 1,
    "pageIndex": 0,
    "type": "document",
    "url": "https://s3.amazonaws.com/NARAprodstorage/opastorage/live/41/6686/1668641/content/library/document/0055/1668641.pdf",
    "mediaId": "d15829da03d3f8cc",
    "ocrText": "The original documents are located in Box 2, folder \"1974/08/20 HR7682 Conferring\nPosthumous US Citizenship Upon Lance Corporal Frederico Silva\" of the White House\nRecords Office: Legislation Case Files at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library.\nCopyright Notice\nThe copyright law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code) governs the making of\nphotocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted material. Gerald R. Ford donated to the United\nStates of America his copyrights in all of his unpublished writings in National Archives collections.\nWorks prepared by U.S. Government employees as part of their official duties are in the public\ndomain. The copyrights to materials written by other individuals or organizations are presumed to\nremain with them. If you think any of the information displayed in the PDF is subject to a valid\ncopyright claim, please contact the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library.\nExact duplicates within this folder were not digitized.\nDigitized from Box 2 of the White House Records Office Legislation Case Files at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library\nEXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT\nAPPROVED AUG 20\nOFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET\nWASHINGTON, D.C. 20503\nAUG 13 1974\nMEMORANDUM FOR THE PRESIDENT\nPosted\nSubject: Enrolled Bill H.R. 7682 - Conferring posthumous\nU.S. citizenship upon Lance Corporal Federico\n8/20\nSilva\nSponsor - Rep. Brown (D) California\nJo archives\nLast Day for Action\n/20\nBERALD FORD LIBRARY\nAugust 21, 1974 - Wednesday\nPurpose\nConfers United States citizenship posthumously upon a native\nof Mexico and lawful permanent resident of the U.S. who was\nkilled while serving with the U.S. Marine Corps in Vietnam.\nAgency Recommendations\nOffice of Management and Budget\nApproval\nImmigration and Naturalization\nService\nApproval\nDepartment of State\nNo objection\nDiscussion\nFederico Silva was born in Mexico in 1946 and admitted to the\nUnited States for permanent residence in April 1956. His\nmother is a U.S. citizen and his father a lawful permanent\nresident living in San Bernardino, California. He has fifteen\nbrothers and sisters, five of whom are permanent residents of\nthe U.S. and ten of whom are citizens.\nThe beneficiary attended public school in this country from\n1956 until 1964, when he enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps.\nHe was killed in action in December 1965, while serving in\nVietnam.\n2\nDuring his service he received six decorations and awards,\nincluding the Purple Heart. He had applied for naturalization\nas a U.S. citizen in January 1965, but subsequently withdrew\nthe application. A second application was pending at the time\nof his death.\nThe enrolled bill would provide that Mr. Silva be held and con-\nsidered to have been a U.S. citizen at the time of his death.\nHelfred H Roussed\nGERALD FORD LIBRARY\nAssistant Director for\nLegislative Reference\nEnclosures\nUNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE\nIMMIGRATION AND NATURALIZATION SERVICE\nPLEASE ADDRESS REPLY TO\nWashington 25, D.C.\nOFFICE OF THE COMMISSIONER\nAND REFER TO THIS FILE NO.\nAUG 8 1974\nA10 632 428\nTO\n: OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET\nSUBJECT: Enrolled Private Bill No. H. R. 7682\n; Office of Management\nand Budget request dated August 7, 1974\nBeneficiary or Beneficiaries Lance Corporal Frederico Silva.\nPursuant to your request for the views of the Department of Justice on\nthe subject bill, a review has been made of the facsimile of the bill, the re-\nlating Congressional Committee report or reports, and all pertinent information\nin the files of the Immigration and Naturalization Service\nOn the basis of this review the Immigration and Naturalization Service,\non behalf of the Department of Justice:\nX\nRecommends approval of the bill.\nInterposes no objection to approval of the bill\nGERALD FORD LIBRARY\nSincerely,\nthapmant\nCommissioner\nCO Form 18\n(REV. 1-17-72)\nDEPARTMENT OF STATE\nWashington, D.C. 20520\nAugust 9, 1974\nHonorable Roy L. Ash\nDirector, Office of\nManagement and Budget\nWashington, D. D. 20503\nDear Mr. Ash:\nThis is in reply to Mr. Rommel's communication of\nAugust 7, 1974, enclosing for comment a copy of\nenrolled bill H. R. 7682, to confer United States\ncitizenship posthumously upon Lance Corporal\nFrederico Silva.\nThe Department perceives no objection to the\napproval of this enactment.\nFORD LIBRARY j CERALD\nLinwood Cordially, Holton\nLinwood Holton\nAssistant Secretary for\nCongressional Relations\nTHE WHITE HOUSE\nWASHINGTON\n8/13/74\nTO: WARREN HENDRIKS\nR. FIBRAPT\nR&L\nRobert D. Linder\nTHE WHITE HOUSE\nWASHINGTON\nENROLLED BILL\nSUBJECT: Enrolled Bill H.R. 7682 - Conferring\nPosthumous U.S. Citizenship upon Lance\nCorporal Federico Silva\nName\nApproval\nDate\nGeoff Shepard\nYes\nNSC/S\nYes\nGERALD R. FORD LIBRARY\nFred Buzhardt\nYes\nBill Timmons\nYes\nKen Cole\nComments:\nTHE WHITE HOUSE\nACTION MEMORANDUM\nWASHINGTON\nLOG NO.: 509\nDate: August 13, 1974\nTime:\n5:30 p.m.\nFOR ACTION: VGeoff Shepard\nCC (for information): Warren K. Hendriks\nFred Buzhardt\nJerry Jones\nBill Timmons\nNSC/S\nFROM THE STAFF SECRETARY\nDUE: Date:\nFriday, August 16, 1974\nTime:\n2:00 p.m. m.\nSUBJECT: Enrolled Bill H.R. 7682 - Conferring Posthumous U.S.\nCitizenship upon Lance Corporal Federico Silva\nGERALD LIBRUT ? FORD\nACTION REQUESTED:\nFor Necessary Action\nXX For Your Recommendations\nPrepare Agenda and Brief\nDraft Reply\nFor Your Comments\nDraft Remarks\nREMARKS:\nPlease return to Kathy Tindle - West Wing\nPLEASE ATTACH THIS COPY TO MATERIAL SUBMITTED.\nIf you have any questions or if you anticipate a\ndelay in submitting the required material, please\nK. R. COLE, JR.\ntelephone the Staff Secretary immediately.\nFor the President\nNendrika\nEXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT\nOFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET\nWASHINGTON, D.C. 20503\nAUG 13 1974\nMEMORANDUM FOR THE PRESIDENT\nSubject: Enrolled Bill H.R. 7682 - Conferring posthumous\nU.S. citizenship upon Lance Corporal Federico\nSilva\nSponsor - Rep. Brown (D) California\nLast Day for Action\nGERALD FORD LIBRARY\nAugust 21, 1974 - Wednesday\nPurpose\nConfers United States citizenship posthumously upon a native\nof Mexico and lawful permanent resident of the U.S. who was\nkilled while serving with the U.S. Marine Corps in Vietnam.\nAgency Recommendations\nOffice of Management and Budget\nApproval\nImmigration and Naturalization\nService\nApproval\nDepartment of State\nNo objection\nDiscussion\nFederico Silva was born in Mexico in 1946 and admitted to the\nUnited States for permanent residence in April 1956. His\nmother is a U.S. citizen and his father a lawful permanent\nresident living in San Bernardino, California. He has fifteen\nbrothers and sisters, five of whom are permanent residents of\nthe U.S. and ten of whom are citizens.\nThe beneficiary attended public school in this country from\n1956 until 1964, when he enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps.\nHe was killed in action in December 1965, while serving in\nVietnam.\nTHE WHITE HOUSE\nACTION MEMORANDUM\nWASHINGTON\nLOG NO.: 509\nDate: August 13, 1974\nTime:\n5:30 p.m.\nFOR ACTION:\nGeoff Shepard\nCC (for information): Warren K. Hendriks\nFred Buzhardt\nJerry Jones\nBill Timmons\nNSC/S\nFROM THE STAFF SECRETARY\nDUE: Date:\nFriday, August 16, 1974\nTime:\n2:00 p.m.\nSUBJECT:\nEnrolled Bill H. R. 7682 - Conferring Posthumous U.S.\nCitizenship upon Lance Corporal Federico Silva\nGERALD FORD LIBRARY\nACTION REQUESTED:\nFor Necessary Action\nXX For Your Recommendations\nPrepare Agenda and Brief\nDraft Reply\nFor Your Comments\nDraft Remarks\nREMARKS:\nPlease return to Kathy Tindle - West Wing\nPLEASE ATTACH THIS COPY TO MATERIAL SUBMITTED.\nIf you have any questions or if you anticipate a\ndelay in submitting the required material, please\ntelephone the Staff Secretary immediately.\nWarren K. Hendriks\nFor the President\nTHE WHITE HOUSE\nACTION MEMORANDUM\nWASHINGTON\nLOG NO.: 509\nDate: August 13, 1974\nTime:\n5:30 p.m.\nFOR ACTION: Geoff Shepard\nCC (for information): Warren K. Hendriks\nFred Buzhardt\nJerry Jones\nBill Timmons\nNSC/S\nFROM THE STAFF SECRETARY\nDUE: Date:\nFriday, August 16, 1974\nTime:\n2:00 p.m.\nSUBJECT:\nEnrolled Bill H.R. 7682 - Conferring Posthumous U.S.\nCitizenship upon Lance Corporal Federico Silva\nGERALD FORD LIBRARY\nACTION REQUESTED:\nFor Necessary Action\nXX For Your Recommendations\nPrepare Agenda and Brief\nDraft Reply\nFor Your Comments\nDraft Remarks\nREMARKS:\nNo objection\nD.C.\nPlease return to Kathy Tindle - West Wing\nPLEASE ATTACH THIS COPY TO MATERIAL SUBMITTED.\nIf you have any questions or if you anticipate a\ndelay in submitting the required material, please\ntelephone the Staff Secretary immediately.\nWarren K. Hendriks\nFor the President\nTHE WHITE HOUSE\nACTION MEMORANDUM\nWASHINGTON\nLOG NO.: 509\nDate: August 13, 1974\nTime:\n5:30 p.m.\nFOR ACTION:\nGeoff Shepard\nCC (for information): Warren K. Hendriks\nFred Buzhardt\nJerry Jones\nBill Timmons\nNSC/S\nFROM THE STAFF SECRETARY\nDUE: Date:\nFriday, August 16, 1974\nTime: 2:00 p. m.\nSUBJECT:\nEnrolled Bill H.R. 7682 - Conferring Posthumous U.S.\nCitizenship upon Lance Corporal Federico Silva\nFORD & LIBRARY GERALD\nACTION REQUESTED:\nFor Necessary Action\nXX For Your Recommendations\nPrepare Agenda and Brief\nDraft Reply\nFor Your Comments\nDraft Remarks\nREMARKS:\nPlease return to Kathy Tindle - West Wing\nPLEASE ATTACH THIS COPY TO MATERIAL SUBMITTED.\nIf you have any questions or if you anticipate a\ndelay in submitting the required material, please\ntelephone the Staff Secretary immediately.\nWarren K. Hendriks\nFor the President\nTHE WHITE HOUSE\nWASHINGTON\nAugust 14, 1974\nMEMORANDUM FOR: MR. WARREN HENDRIKS\nFROM:\nWILLIAM E. TIMMONS\nSUBJECT:\nAction Memorandum - Log No. 509\nB\nEnrolled Bill H. R. 7682 - Conferring\nPosthumous U. S. Citizenship upon\nLance Corporal Federico Silva\nFORD is LIBRARY GENALD\nThe Office of Legislative Affairs concurs in the attached\nproposal and has no additional recommendations.\n(Timmons requests a private ceremony for signing of\nthis bill - Rep. George Brown (D-Cal) and parents of\nSilva to be invited. )\nAttachment\nCalendar No. 893\n93D CONGRESS\nSENATE\nREPORT\n2d Session\nNo. 93-921\nCONFERRING U.S. CITIZENSHIP POSTHUMOUSLY\nUPON LANCE CPL. FREDERICO SILVA\nJUNE 12, 1974.-Ordered to be printed\nMr. EASTLAND, from the Committee on the Judiciary,\nsubmitted the following\nBERALD FORD LIGHTER\nREPORT\n[To accompany H.R. 7682]\nThe Committee on the Judiciary, to which was referred the bill\n(H.R. 7682) to confer citizenship posthumously upon Lance Cpl.\nFrederico Silva, having considered the same, reports favorably there-\non with amendments and recommends that the bill as amended do pass.\nAMENDMENTS\n1. In line 3, change the word \"national\" to read : \"native\".\n2. Beginning in line 4, following the word \"Corps\", delete the lan-\nguage \"in the vicinity of Que Son, Republic of Vietnam,\".\n3. Amend the title SO as to read:\nAn Act to confer United States citizenship posthumously\nupon Lance Corporal Frederico Silva.\nPURPOSE OF THE BILL\nThe purpose of the bill, as amended, is to confer U.S. citizenship\nposthumously upon Lance Cpl. Frederico Silva. The amendments are\ntechnical in nature.\n99-010\n2\n3\nSTATEMENT OF FACTS\nThe beneficiary was admitted to the United States as a law-\nLance Corporal Frederico Silva was born in Mexico on March 2,\nful permanent resident on April 12, 1956. He applied for\nnaturalization as a United States citizen during January\n1946, and was admitted to the United States for permanent residence\n1965, but subsequently withdrew the application. A second\non April 12, 1956. His mother and father, U.S. citizen and lawful\npermanent resident, respectively, reside in San Bernardino, Califor-\napplication was pendingat his death.\nThe interested party, a native of Mexico, was born August\nnia. Other survivors include 15 brothers and sisters, five of them per-\nmanent residents and ten of them citizens. The beneficiary served hon-\n18, 1913. She attended public school in this country for four\nyears. Her parents are deceased. Her six brothers and sisters\norably in the U.S. Marine Corps from the time of his enlistment Feb-\nare citizens of the United States. She and her husband receive\nruary 20, 1964, until he was killed in action on December 18, 1965.\napproximately $400 monthly from social security, veteran's\nA letter, with attached memorandum, dated December 20, 1973 to\nbenefits, and public assistance. Neither is employed. Their\nthe chairman of the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of Rep-\nassets consist of $15,000 equity in a home, an automobile worth\nresentatives from the Immigration and Naturalization Service with\n$500, plus furniture and other personal property valued at\nreference to the bill reads as follows:\n$7,000.\nThe interested party was admitted to the United States as a\nU.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE,\nlawful permanent resident on April 12, 1956. She became a\nIMMIGRATION AND NATURALIZATION SERVICE,\nnaturalized citizen of this country on February 19, 1970.\nOFFICE OF THE COMMISSIONER,\nWashington, D.C., December 20, 1973.\nCongressman George E. Brown, Jr., the author of the bill, sub-\nA-10632428.\nmitted the following letter in support of his bill:\nHon. PETER W. RODINO, Jr.,\nCONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES,\nChairman, Committee on the Judiciary, House of Representatives,\nHOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,\nWashington, D.C.\nWashington, D.C., February 8, 1974.\nDEAR MR. CHAIRMAN In response to your request for a report rela-\nHon. JOSHUA EILBERG,\ntive to the bill (H.R. 7682) for the relief of Lance Corporal Federico\nChairman, Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship, and Interna-\nSilva, there is attached a memorandum of information concerning the\ntional Law, Washington, D.C.\nbeneficiary.\nDEAR MR. CHAIRMAN It was most gratifying to learn of your Sub-\nThe bill would provide that the beneficiary, a national of Mexico,\ncommittee's support for H.R. 7682. The written statement which you\nwho was killed in Vietnam while serving with the United States Ma-\nsuggested that I submit for inclusion in the House report on the bill\nrine Corps, be held and considered to have been a citizen of the United\nis as follows:\nStates at the time of his death.\nMr. Chairman, any war is going to have its share of innumerable\nSincerely,\npersonal tragedies, and the war in Vietnam is no exception. What I\nwish to do is to make known to this Committee and to the Members\nCommissioner.\nof the House of Representatives the circumstances of one such tragedy\nEnclosure.\ninvolving a young man from my district, Federico Silva, known to his\nfamily and friends as Lico.\nMEMORANDUM OF INFORMATION FROM IMMIGRATION AND\nLico Silva was born in Juarez, Mexico, in 1946. He came to the\nNATURALIZATION SERVICE FILES RE H.R. 7682\nUnited States with his family when he was 10 years old and attended\njunior and senior high school in San Bernardino, California.\nInformation concerning this case was obtained from Fran-\nWhile still a young man, he decided to become a pastor in the\ncisca T. Silva, the interested party and mother of the de-\nChurch of the Nazarene and he was well on his way to gathering a\nceased beneficiary.\nflock. Among his other activities, he would bake cookies for prisoners\nThe beneficiary, Lance Corporal Federico Silva, a native\nin the county jail and read to them from the Bible. In 1964, as the\nand citizen of Mexico, was born March 2, 1946, and was single.\nviolence grew in Vietnam, his missionary spirit caused him to enlist\nHis mother and father, United States citizen and lawful per-\nbecause he wanted to help the children in that horribly devastated\nmanent resident, respectively, reside in San Bernardino, Cali-\ncountry. From his small paycheck he would send money home to his\nfornia. He is survived by fifteen brothers and sisters, five of\nparents, apologizing for how little it was because he was spending SO\nwhom are lawful permanent residents, and the others citizens\nmuch on food and clothing for the Vietnamese children.\nof this country. The beneficiary attended public school in\nHe was proud of his uniform and he was proud of his adopted\nthe United States from 1956 until February 20, 1964, when he\ncountry. He wrote his parents that he was trying to get permission\nenlisted in the United States Marine Corps. He was killed in\nto go to Hawaii to apply for American citizenship. But he never\naction on December 18, 1965, while serving in Vietnam.\nreached Hawaii. On December 18, 1965, 7 months before he was due\nS.R. 921\nS.R. 921\n4\nto return to the States permanently, he and his company were re-\nturning to camp near Que Son when a Vietcong machinegun opened\nup on them. Lico, standing in front of his company, was cut down,\ndying instantly.\nA friend of Lico's wrote Lico's parents about how many of the men\nin the company wept when they learned of his death.\nLico Silva's service to his adopted country was recognized by the\nfollowing decorations and awards: the Purple Heart, Presidental\nUnit Citation, National Defense Service Medal, Republic of Vietnam\nCampaign Medal with Device, Vietnam Service Medal with one\nbronze star, and the Republic of Vietnam Meritorious Unit Citation\nGallantry Cross Color.\nLico Silva still lives in the hearts of his parents, Mr. and Mrs.\nFrancisco Silva, and his brothers, sisters, and many friends. In the\nyears since then, his mother, two brothers, and 13 sisters have become\nAmerican citizens. Lico Silva never had that opportunity. For that\nreason, Mr. Chairman, and in memory of Lico Silva and others like\nhim, I introduced two bills. One of them, H.R. 7682, the bill being\nconsidered here, would grant Lico Silva posthumous citizenship. The\nother one, H.R. 7622, which is pending before this Committee but\nwhich is not the subject of this report, would be known as the Lico\nSilva Memorial Act of 1973 and would grant posthumous citizenship\nto any person not a citizen of the United States who was killed in\naction while serving in the U.S. Armed Forces in Indochina.\nSincerely,\nGEORGE E. BROWN, Jr.,\nMember of Congress.\nThe committee, after consideration of all the facts in the case, is of\nthe opinion that the bill (H.R. 7682), as amended, should be enacted.\nS.R. 921\n93D CONGRESS\nHOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES\n2d Session\n~\nREPORT\nNo. 93-908\nCONFERRING CITIZENSHIP POSTHUMOUSLY UPON\nLANCE CPL. FEDERICO SILVA\nMARCH 13, 1974.-Committed to the Committee of the Whole House and\norder to be printed\nMr. HOGAN, from the Committee on the Judiciary,\nsubmitted the following\nREPORT\nGERALD\n[To accompany H.R. 7682]\nThe Committee on the Judiciary, to whom was referred the bill\n(H.R. 7682) to confer citizenship posthumously upon Lance Corporal\nFederico Silva, having considered the same, report favorably thereon\nwithout amendment and recommend that the bill do pass.\nPURPOSE OF THE BILL\nThe purpose of this bill is to confer United States citizenship post-\nhumously upon Lance Corporal Federico Silva.\nGENERAL INFORMATION\nLance Corporal Federico Silva was a native of Mexico who was a\nlawful permanent resident of the United States. His application for\ncitizenship was pending at the time of his death while serving in the\nUnited States Marine Corps in Vietnam.\nThe Committee received the following report on this legislation\nfrom the Immigration and Naturalization Service:\nU.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE,\nIMMIGRATION AND NATURALIZATION SERVICE,\nOFFICE OF THE COMMISSIONER,\nWashington, D.C., December 20, 1973.\nA 10 632 428.\nHon. PETER W. RODINO, JR.,\nChairman, Committee on the Judiciary, House of Representatives,\nWashington, D.C.\nDEAR MR. CHAIRMAN: In response to your request for a report rela-\ntive to the bill (H.R. 7682) for the relief of Lance Corporal Federico\nSilva, there is attached a memorandum of information concerning the\nbeneficiary.\n99-007\n2\n3\nThe bill would provide that the beneficiary, a national of Mexico,\nMr. Chairman, any war is going to have its share of innumerable\nwho was killed in Vietnam while serving with the United States Ma-\npersonal tragedies, and the war in Vietnam is no exception. What I\nrine Corps, be held and considered to have been a citizen of the United\nwish to do is to make known to this Committee and to the Members\nStates at the time of his death.\nof the House of Representatives the circumstances of one such tragedy\nSincerely,\ninvolving a young man from my district, Federico Silva, known to his\nfamily and friends as Lico.\nCommissioner.\nLico Silva was born in Juarez, Mexico, in 1946. He came to the\nEnclosure.\nUnited States with his family when he was 10 years old and attended\njunior and senior high school in San Bernardino, California.\nMEMORANDUM OF INFORMATION FROM IMMIGRATION AND\nWhile still a young man, he decided to become a pastor in the\nNATURALIZATION SERVICE FILES RE H.R. 7682\nChurch of the Nazarene and he was well on his way to gathering a\nflock. Among his other activities, he would bake cookies for prisoners\nInformation concerning this case was obtained from Fran-\nin the county jail and read to them from the Bible. In 1964, as the\ncisca T. Silva, the interested party and mother of the de-\nviolence grew in Vietnam, his missionary spirit caused him to enlist\nceased beneficiary.\nbecause he wanted to help the children in that horribly devastated\nThe beneficiary, Lance Corporal Federico Silva, a native\ncountry. From his small paycheck he would send money home to his\nand citizen of Mexico, was born March 2, 1946, and was single.\nparents, apologizing for how little it was because he was spending SO\nHis mother and father, United States citizen and lawful per-\nmuch on food and clothing for the Vietnamese children.\nmanent resident, respectively, reside in San Bernardino, Cali-\nHe was proud of his uniform and he was proud of his adopted\nfornia. He is survived by fifteen brothers and sisters, five of\ncountry. He wrote his parents that he was trying to get permission\nwhom are lawful permanent residents, and the others citi-\nto go to Hawaii to apply for American citizenship. But he never\nzens of this country. The beneficiary attended public school in\nreached Hawaii. On December 18, 1965, 7 months before he was due\nthe United States from 1956 until February 20, 1964, when he\nto return to the States permanently, he and his company were re-\nenlisted in the United States Marine Corps. He was killed in\nturning to camp near Que Son when a Vietcong machine gun opened\naction on December 18, 1965, while serving in Viefnam.\nup on them. Lico, standing in front of his company, was cut down,\nThe beneficiary was admitted to the United States as a law-\ndying instantly.\nful permanent resident on April 12, 1956. He applied for\nA friend of Lico's wrote Lico's parents about how many of the men\nnaturalization as a United States citizen during January\nin the company wept when they learned of his death.\n1965, but subsequently withdrew the application. A second\nLico Silva's service to his adopted country was recognized by the\napplication was pending at his death.\nfollowing decorations and awards: the Purple Heart, Presidential\nThe interested party, a native of Mexico, was born August\nUnit Citation, National Defense Service Medal, Republic of Vietnam\n18, 1913. She attended public school in this country for four\nCampaign Medal with Device, Vietnam Service Medal with one\nyears. Her parents are deceased. Her six brothers and sisters\nbronze star, and the Republic of Vietnam Meritorious Unit Citation\nare citizens of the United States. She and her husband receive\nGallantry Cross Color.\napproximately $400 monthly from social security, veteran's\nLico Silva still lives in the hearts of his parents, Mr. and Mrs.\nbenefits, and public assistance. Neither is employed. Their\nFrancisco Silva, and his brothers, sisters, and many friends. In the\nassets consist of $15,000 equity in a home, an automobile worth\nyears since then, his mother, two brothers, and 13 sisters have become\n$500, plus furniture and other personal property valued at\nAmerican citizens. Lico Silva never had that opportunity. For that\n$7,000.\nreason, Mr. Chairman, and in memory of Lico Silva and others like\nThe interested party was admitted to the United States as a\nhim, I introduced two bills. One of them, H.R. 7682, the bill being\nlawful permanent resident on April 12, 1956. She became a\nconsidered here, would grant Lico Silva posthumous citizenship. The\nnaturalized citizen of this country on February 19, 1970.\nother one, H.R. 7622, which is pending before this Committee but\nMr. Brown of California submitted the following letter in support\nwhich is not the subject of this report, would be known as the Lico\nof his bill:\nSilva Memorial Act of 1973 and would grant posthumous citizenship\nto any person not a citizen of the United States who was killed in\nCONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES,\naction while serving in the U.S. Armed Forces in Indochina.\nHOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,\nSincerely,\nWashington, D.C., February 8, 1974.\nGEORGE E. BROWN, Jr.,\nHon. JOSHUA EILBERG,\nMember of Congress.\nChairman, Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship, and Interna-\ntional Law, Washington, D.C.\nUpon consideration of all the facts in this case, the Committee is\nof the opinion that H.R. 7682 should be enacted an accordingly rec-\nDEAR MR. CHAIRMAN It was most gratifying to learn of your Sub-\nommends that the bill do pass.\ncommittee's support for H.R. 7682. The written statement which you\nsuggested that I submit for inclusion in the House report on the bill is\nas follows:\nH.R. 908\nH.R. 908\nCORRECTED SHEET\nH. R. 7682\nNinety-third Congress of the United States of America\nAT THE SECOND SESSION\nBegun and held at the City of Washington on Monday, the twenty-first day of January,\none thousand nine hundred and seventy-four\nAn Art\nFORD\nTo confer United States citizenship posthumously upon Lance Corporal Federico\ni\nSilva.\nGERALD\nBe it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the\nUnited States of America in Congress assembled, That Lance Cor-\nporal Federico Silva, a native of Mexico, who was serving in the\nUnited States Marine Corps when he was killed in action on Decem-\nber 18, 1965, shall be held and considered to have been a citizen of the\nUnited States at the time of his death.\nSpeaker of the House of Representatives.\nVice President of the United States and\nPresident of the Senate.\nAugust 9, 1974\nDear Mr. Director:\nThe following bills were received at the White\nHouse on August 9th:\nS.J. Res. 229\nH.J. Res. 1104\nH.R. 69\nH.R. 5667\nH.R. 7682\nPlease let the President have reports and\nrecommendations as to the approval of these\nbills as soon as possible.\nSincerely,\nFORD i GERALD BRAN\nRobert D. Linder\nChief Executive Clerk\nThe Honorable Roy L. Ash\nDirector\nOffice of Management and Budget\nWashington, D. C."
}