[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 529 Introduced in House (IH)]

<DOC>






116th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 529

     Honoring the life of Petty Officer Raul Guerra of Montebello, 
California, who perished on October 8, 1967, during military operations 
off northern Vietnam, and the work of the Bring Raul Home Committee to 
  have Petty Officer Raul Guerra's remains laid to rest in California.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             July 25, 2019

   Ms. Sanchez (for herself, Mrs. Napolitano, Ms. Roybal-Allard, Mr. 
Gomez, Mrs. Torres of California, Mr. Cisneros, Mr. Cox of California, 
  and Mr. Thompson of California) submitted the following resolution; 
         which was referred to the Committee on Armed Services

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
     Honoring the life of Petty Officer Raul Guerra of Montebello, 
California, who perished on October 8, 1967, during military operations 
off northern Vietnam, and the work of the Bring Raul Home Committee to 
  have Petty Officer Raul Guerra's remains laid to rest in California.

Whereas Petty Officer Guerra was born on December 18, 1942, in Montebello, 
        California;
Whereas Petty Officer Guerra graduated from Montebello High School in 1963 and 
        attended East Los Angeles College;
Whereas Petty Officer Guerra was beloved by his friends and family, and known 
        for his love of journalism;
Whereas Petty Officer Guerra enlisted in the Navy Reserves in July of 1965;
Whereas Petty Officer Guerra completed basic training and his unit was activated 
        to fight in Vietnam;
Whereas Petty Officer Guerra was deployed as a Navy journalist;
Whereas, on the evening of October 8, 1967, Petty Officer Guerra volunteered to 
        join a combat mission to support a major air strike over northern 
        Vietnam;
Whereas Petty Officer Guerra's plane was shot down and crashed, and, due to 
        heavy terrain and hostile territory, he was pronounced Killed in Action 
        and his remains were not recovered;
Whereas Petty Officer Guerra was decorated with the National Defense Medal, 
        Vietnam Service Medal, and the Vietnam Campaign Medal;
Whereas Petty Officer Guerra was promoted to Journalist 3rd Class posthumously;
Whereas, in 2007, the Whitter Daily News reported ``Local Navy Seaman's Remains 
        Found'', which was the start of a long process to return Petty Officer 
        Guerra's remains to the United States;
Whereas Petty Officer Guerra's former classmates, Ruben Valencia and Donna and 
        Gary Peterson, formed the Bring Raul Home Committee;
Whereas, for over 12 years, the Bring Raul Home Committee diligently spread the 
        news and the story of Petty Officer Guerra to fellow veterans and their 
        communities, searched for family members, and held several meetings with 
        the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (hereinafter ``DPAA'');
Whereas, in February 2019, the DPAA notified the Bring Raul Home Committee that 
        Petty Officer Guerra's remains would finally return home;
Whereas, in March 2019, the United States Navy made the final arrangements for 
        Petty Officer Guerra's remains;
Whereas, on April 25, 2019, Petty Officer Guerra was finally laid to rest after 
        52 years; and
Whereas Petty Officer Guerra made the ultimate sacrifice defending the United 
        States with honor: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) extends its deepest sympathies to the friends and loved 
        ones of fallen Petty Officer Raul Guerra of Montebello, 
        California, in their bereavement;
            (2) honors the courage and character of this brave Petty 
        Officer for protecting the United States and defending the 
        freedom of all Americans; and
            (3) recognizes the dedication and years of work shown by 
        the Bring Raul Home Committee to finally have Petty Officer 
        Raul Guerra laid to rest in California.
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