[Congressional Bills 104th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.J. Res. 33 Introduced in House (IH)]




                                     


104th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. J. RES. 33

                  For the relief of Alexander Vraciu.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            January 4, 1995

    Mr. Jacobs introduced the following joint resolution; which was 
             referred to the Committee on National Security

_______________________________________________________________________

                            JOINT RESOLUTION


 
                  For the relief of Alexander Vraciu.

Whereas the World War II commanding officer of then Lieutenant (jg.) Alexander 
        Vraciu and all of the 7 firing line commanders who were there and knew 
        what happened, recommended Lieutenant (jg.) Alexander Vraciu for the 
        Congressional Medal of Honor;
Whereas Admiral G.D. Murray, at Pearl Harbor Headquarters, improperly processed 
        the recommendation and wrongfully deleted part of the 4 mission citation 
        indicating with tortuous, if not contorted logic, to wit: ``His superior 
        performance of normal duties brought distinction upon himself. His 
        failure, if it had occurred, to engage the enemy, on 19 June 1944, would 
        have brought censure upon himself'';
Whereas at that time Lieutenant (jg.) Alexander Vraciu was the leading Navy 
        flying ace, having shot down 19 enemy aircraft and destroyed 21 planes 
        on the ground;
Whereas in one engagement alone, Lieutenant (jg.) Alexander Vraciu, dismissing 
        thoughts of self, plunged into the fray and destroyed 6 attacking enemy 
        bomber aircraft in 8 minutes' time, quite clearly performing far above 
        and beyond the call of duty;
Whereas Lieutenant (jg.) Alexander Vraciu alone sank a large and significant 
        enemy cargo vessel and shot down 2 additional enemy planes and 
        materially assisted our bombers in sinking an enemy carrier--all in a 
        matter of a few days; and
Whereas Lieutenant (jg.) Alexander Vraciu was shot down 2 different times in the 
        thick of battle and welter of anti-aircraft enemy fire, selflessly and 
        repeatedly venturing his entire moral being for the life of his country: 
        Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United 
States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. AWARD OF MEDAL OF HONOR TO ALEXANDER VRACIU.

    Notwithstanding the time limitations of section 6248 of title 10, 
United States Code (relating to the award of the Medal of Honor), the 
President shall award a Medal of Honor to Alexander Vraciu of Danville, 
California, in accordance with the decision of Vraciu's commanding 
officer at sea and pursuant to section 6241 of that title, for his 
superlatively heroic service to our Nation.
                                 <all>