[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 9114 Introduced in House (IH)]

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118th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 9114

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


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             July 23, 2024

  Mr. Correa 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 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. In that 
        time, then-Staff Sergeant Major Rodriguez received a total of 
        17 combat medals and awards in recognition of his heroism and 
        acts of valor against hostile enemy forces.
            (3) Staff Sergeant Rodriguez's courage in combat has earned 
        him the distinction of being one of the most decorated combat 
        soldiers who served in Vietnam.
            (4) For fearless actions while wounded and exposed to 
        intense enemy fire, Staff Sergeant Rodriguez's distinguished 
        service was further acknowledged by three Bronze Stars with V, 
        2 Oak Leaf Clusters, and five Purple Hearts.
            (5) On August 16, 1967, he volunteered to guide a 
        helicopter pilot by flashlight to evacuate wounded platoon 
        members. The helicopter was the target of concentrated enemy 
        fire, yet Staff Sergeant Ramirez remained exposed until he had 
        directed the aircraft into the pick-up zone. Staff Sergeant 
        Rodriguez was awarded the Army Commendation Medal for Heroism.
            (6) On November 8, 1967, Staff Sergeant Rodriguez entered a 
        Viet Cong tunnel complex that he knew was occupied by the 
        enemy. Despite the risk of cave-in, he employed grenades to 
        root out the enemy and cover the tunnel exits to prevent their 
        escape.
            (7) On January 24, 1968, his outpost came under a heavy 
        barrage of enemy mortars, followed by a ground assault. The 
        platoon leader was mortally wounded, and Staff Sergeant 
        Rodriguez immediately assumed command of the platoon. The enemy 
        force was able to breach the perimeter and Staff Sergeant 
        Rodriguez, though wounded himself, began moving through the 
        trench line administering aid to the wounded personnel while 
        leveling intense fire that killed four enemy sappers. After the 
        casualties were moved to a safe area, he rallied the four 
        remaining men of the platoon, and courageously managed to hold 
        off the enemy onslaught.
            (8) On February 26, 1968, Staff Sergeant Rodriguez's 
        platoon was ambushed during a search and clear mission. The 
        platoon leader and the lead man were seriously wounded, and the 
        platoon was pinned down by enemy fire. Staff Sergeant Rodriguez 
        assumed command and maneuvered the platoon to a location where 
        he could place a base of fire on the enemy troops, and he 
        pulled the platoon leader to safety. He repeated his gallant 
        actions, although he was wounded by small arms fire, until all 
        the wounded personnel were removed. A sweep of the area 
        revealed eight mortally wounded insurgents, seven AK-47 rifles, 
        and three grenade launchers.
            (9) Staff Sergeant Rodriguez attended the United States 
        Ranger School and graduated with distinguished honors.
            (10) Staff Sergeant Rodriguez led the Special Forces scuba 
        team at Ford Gulick, Canal Zone, Panama, and directed several 
        rescue missions.
            (11) In 1981, Staff Sergeant Rodriguez earned the rank of 
        Command Sergeant Major at the United States Sergeant Major 
        Academy at Fort Bliss, Texas.
            (12) Command Sergeant Major Rodriguez was nominated for the 
        Medal of Honor in 1982.
            (13) Command Sergeant Major Rodriguez completed two more 
        assignments before officially retiring from the Army in 1983.
            (14) On June 11, 2008, Command Sergeant Major Rodriguez was 
        inducted as a member of the Ranger Hall of Fame.
            (15) Command Sergeant Major Rodriguez is known to be one of 
        the most decorated combat soldiers who served in the Vietnam 
        War.
            (16) Rodriguez currently serves as the Chairman of the 
        Military and Veterans Affairs Commission for the County of Los 
        Angeles, California.
            (17) Command Sergeant Rodriguez's devotion to duty and 
        personal courage are in keeping with the highest traditions of 
        the military service and reflect great credit upon himself and 
        the United States Army.
    (b) Waiver of Time Limitations.--Notwithstanding the time 
limitations specified in section 7274 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 7271 of such title to Command 
Sergeant Major Ramon Rodriguez of the Army for acts of valor, 
sacrifice, and courage at the risk of his own life beyond the call of 
duty during the Vietnam War.
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