[Congressional Bills 114th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1596 Introduced in House (IH)]

114th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 1596

   To authorize the President to award the Medal of Honor to Special 
Forces Command Sergeant Major Ramon Rodriguez of the United States Army 
               for acts of valor during the Vietnam War.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             March 24, 2015

Ms. Loretta Sanchez of California introduced the following bill; which 
            was referred to the Committee on Armed Services

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
   To authorize the President to award the Medal of Honor to Special 
Forces Command Sergeant Major Ramon Rodriguez of the United States Army 
               for acts of valor during the Vietnam War.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. AUTHORIZATION FOR AWARD OF THE MEDAL OF HONOR TO SPECIAL 
              FORCES SERGEANT RAMON RODRIGUEZ FOR ACTS OF VALOR DURING 
              THE VIETNAM WAR.

    (a) Findings.--Congress makes the following findings:
            (1) At the age of 17, Ramon Rodriguez of Wilmington, 
        California, began his military career when he enlisted in the 
        Army during his junior year at Banning High School.
            (2) While a Staff Sergeant in the Army, Ramon Rodriguez 
        served in Vietnam for 32 months during the Vietnam War.
            (3) During a mission in 1967 in Phu Bai in Thua Thien 
        Province, Staff Sergeant Rodriguez was wounded while leading 
        five soldiers to safety, for which he received a second award 
        of the Silver Star in recognition of his ``fearless action 
        while exposed to intense enemy fire''.
            (4) In all, Staff Sergeant Rodriguez was awarded the Silver 
        Star three times within a span of 34 days for his courageous 
        service during the Vietnam War.
            (5) Staff Sergeant Rodriguez was awarded three Bronze Stars 
        with V and 2 Oak Leaf Cluster and five Purple Hearts.
            (6) Command Sergeant Major Rodriguez received a total of 17 
        combat medals and awards for his service in Vietnam in 
        recognition of his heroism and acts of valor against hostile 
        enemy forces.
            (7) Staff Sergeant Rodriguez attended the United States 
        Ranger School and graduated with distinguished honors.
            (8) Staff Sergeant Rodriguez led the Special Forces scuba 
        team at Ford Gulick, Canal Zone, Panama, and directed several 
        rescue missions.
            (9) In 1981, Staff Sergeant Rodriguez earned the rank of 
        Command Sergeant Major at the United States Sergeant Major 
        Academy at Fort Bliss, Texas.
            (10) Command Sergeant Major Rodriguez was nominated for the 
        Congressional Medal of Honor in 1982.
            (11) Command Sergeant Major Rodriguez completed two more 
        assignments before officially retiring from the Army in 1983.
            (12) On June 11, 2008, Command Sergeant Major Rodriguez was 
        inducted as a member of the Ranger Hall of Fame.
            (13) Command Sergeant Major Rodriguez is known to be one of 
        the most decorated combat soldiers who served in the Vietnam 
        War.
            (14) Rodriguez currently serves as the Chairman of the 
        Military and Veterans Affairs Commission for the County of Los 
        Angeles, California.
    (b) Waiver of Time Limitations.--Notwithstanding the time 
limitations specified in section 3744 of title 10, United States Code, 
or any other time limitation with respect to the awarding of certain 
medals to persons who served in the Armed Forces, the President may 
award the Medal of Honor under section 3741 of such title to Command 
Sergeant Major Ramon Rodriguez of the United States Army for acts of 
valor, sacrifice, and courage at the risk of his own life beyond the 
call of duty during the Vietnam War.
                                 <all>