I 112th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 6095 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES July 10, 2012 Mr. Deutch introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Armed Services A BILL To authorize the Secretaries of the military departments to provide an exception to the standards for awarding the Purple Heart for veterans of World War II whose service records are incomplete because of damage to the permanent record.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Morris Soskil Path to the Purple Heart Act.

2.

Award of Purple Heart for veterans of World War II whose service records are incomplete because of damage to the permanent record

(a)

Authority To consider unofficial sources of information

In the case of an individual who served during World War II as a member of the Armed Forces and whose service records are incomplete because of damage to the permanent record while in the possession of the Department of Defense, the Secretary of the military department who exercised jurisdiction over the individual may provide an exception to the standards for awarding the Purple Heart and consider unofficial sources of information, including eyewitness statements whether dating from the time of the incident or afterward, to determine whether the individual is eligible for the award of the Purple Heart as a member of the Armed Forces who was killed or wounded in action as the result of an act of the enemy of the United States. (b)

Recommendation based on review

Based upon the review under subsection (a) of the service records and other information of an individual described in such subsection, if the Secretary of the military department concerned determines that the award of the Purple Heart to that individual is warranted, the Secretary shall award the Purple Heart to the individual. (c)

Posthumous award

The Purple Heart may be awarded posthumously to an individual under subsection (b). (d)

World War II defined

In this section, the term World War II has the meaning given that term in section 1126(d) of title 10, United States Code.