Washington, D.C.— Congressman Jeff Duncan issued the following statement on the successful passage of two bills he introduced, H.R. 91 and H.R. 92. The bills will rename post offices in Easley at 810 South Pendleton Street and in Pickens at 110 Johnson Street after two fallen heroes from South Carolina’s Third District, Private First Class Barrett Lyle Austin of Easley and Specialist Four Charles Johnson
, Jr. of Pickens. Both pieces of legislation passed both the House and Senate, and the President signed them into law on October 11, 2022. Both H.R. 91 and H.R. 92 were cosponsored by the entire South Carolina delegation.
“I am proud to have played a role, along with the support of the entire South Carolina delegation, in ensuring two of our fallen American heroes and sons of South Carolina will be remembered in their communities for generations to come,” said Congressman Jeff Duncan. “Private First Class Barrett Lyle Austin and Specialist Four Charles Johnson, Jr. are American heroes who deserve our appreciation and recognition for paying the ultimate sacrifice for our nation.”
“Private First Class Austin served in Afghanistan and Specialist Four Johnson served in Vietnam, and both died to defend our country. The soldiers were both awarded the Purple Heart, and we cannot give them the honor they are due for their service and sacrifice,” said Congressman Jeff Duncan. “I am pleased that H.R. 91 and H.R. 92 passed both the House and Senate and were signed into law by President Biden to commemorate Private Austin and Specialist Johnson who gave their lives to preserve our freedoms.”
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Private First Class Barrett Lyle Austin
Not long after Private First Class Barrett Lyle Austin won his stripes as a private first class in the Army, he was driving an armored truck on patrol in the Wardak Province of Afghanistan when insurgents attacked and a bomb exploded, and he suffered massive head and chest trauma. PFC Austin died in Germany days later at age 20 on April 21, 2013. PFC Austin was posthumously awarded a Purple Heart, Bronze Star, Palmetto State Hero award, and the SC Governor's Award for Extraordinary Sacrifice and Heroism. PFC Austin was an avid sportsman, a 2011 graduate of Pickens High School, and a member of Rock Springs Baptist Church in Easley.
Specialist Four Charles Johnson, Jr.
Specialist Four Charles Johnson, Jr. was killed in action on March 30, 1966, in Vietnam and was the first casualty from Pickens County. Specialist Charles Johnson of Pickens, South Carolina began his military career in the Army at only 17 years old and was one of three brothers to serve in Vietnam at the same time. He was awarded the Purple Heart, the Vietnam Gallantry Cross, and the National Defense Service Medal, among other commendations. Specialist Johnson was a 1958 graduate of Clear View High School in Easley and was a member of Griffin Ebenezer Baptist Church.
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