[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 151 (Monday, October 28, 2013)]
[House]
[Pages H6778-H6780]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  AUTHORIZING AWARD OF MEDAL OF HONOR

  Mr. ROGERS of Alabama. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and 
pass the bill (H.R. 3304) to authorize and request the President to 
award the Medal of Honor to Bennie G. Adkins and Donald P. Sloat of the 
United States Army for acts of valor during the Vietnam Conflict and to 
authorize the award of the Medal of Honor to certain other veterans who 
were previously recommended for award of the Medal of Honor.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 3304

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

     SECTION 1. AUTHORIZATION AND REQUEST FOR AWARD OF MEDAL OF 
                   HONOR TO BENNIE G. ADKINS FOR ACTS OF VALOR 
                   DURING THE VIETNAM CONFLICT.

       (a) Authorization.--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 is authorized and requested to award the Medal of 
     Honor under section 3741 of such title to Bennie G. Adkins of 
     the United States Army for the acts of valor during the 
     Vietnam Conflict described in subsection (b).

[[Page H6779]]

       (b) Acts of Valor Described.--The acts of valor referred to 
     in subsection (a) are the actions of then Sergeant First 
     Class Bennie G. Adkins of the United States Army serving with 
     Special Forces Detachment A-102 from March 9 to 12, 1966, 
     during the Vietnam Conflict for which he was originally 
     awarded the Distinguished Service Cross.

     SEC. 2. AUTHORIZATION AND REQUEST FOR AWARD OF MEDAL OF HONOR 
                   TO DONALD P. SLOAT FOR ACTS OF VALOR DURING THE 
                   VIETNAM CONFLICT.

       (a) Authorization.--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 is authorized and requested to award the Medal of 
     Honor under section 3741 of such title to Donald P. Sloat of 
     the United States Army for the acts of valor during the 
     Vietnam Conflict described in subsection (b).
       (b) Acts of Valor Described.--The acts of valor referred to 
     in subsection (a) are the actions of then Specialist Four 
     Donald P. Sloat of the United States Army serving with 3rd 
     Platoon, Delta Company, 2nd Battalion, 1st Infantry, 196th 
     Light Infantry Brigade, Americal Division on January 17, 
     1970, during the Vietnam Conflict.

     SEC. 3. AUTHORIZATION FOR AWARD OF MEDAL OF HONOR TO FORMER 
                   MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES PREVIOUSLY 
                   RECOMMENDED FOR AWARD OF THE MEDAL OF HONOR.

       Section 552(e) of the National Defense Authorization Act 
     for Fiscal Year 2002 (Public Law 107-107; 10 U.S.C. 3741 
     note) is amended--
       (1) by inserting ``(1)'' after ``Honor.--''; and
       (2) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
       ``(2) In addition to the authority provided by paragraph 
     (1), a Medal of Honor may be awarded to a veteran of the 
     Armed Forces who, although not a Jewish-American war veteran 
     or Hispanic-American war veteran described in subsection (b), 
     was identified during the review of service records conducted 
     under subsection (a) and regarding whom the Secretary of 
     Defense submitted, before January 1, 2014, a recommendation 
     to the President that the President award the Medal of Honor 
     to that veteran.''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Alabama (Mr. Rogers) and the gentlewoman from Guam (Ms. Bordallo) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Alabama.


                             General Leave

  Mr. ROGERS of Alabama. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all 
Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their 
remarks and to insert extraneous material into the bill under 
consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Alabama?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. ROGERS of Alabama. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  I rise today in strong support of H.R. 3304. This bill would waive 
the time limit for the President to consider awarding the Medal of 
Honor to a handful of American heroes. The battlefield actions of these 
brave Americans have undergone a thorough review by the Department of 
Defense and have been determined to merit consideration for our 
Nation's highest honor.
  Among those heroes who would be considered under this bill is Mr. 
Bennie Adkins of Opelika, Alabama. In 1966, while serving in Vietnam, 
then-Sergeant First Class Bennie Adkins was assigned to Special Forces 
Detachment A-102 at Special Forces Camp A Shau in the Republic of 
Vietnam. From March 9 to March 12 of that year, he displayed 
extraordinary bravery during a sustained and well-coordinated attack 
from a determined, vicious, and highly lethal Viet Cong force. Though 
recommended at the time by his chain of command for the Medal of Honor, 
he received, instead, the Distinguished Service Cross for his actions.
  His citation read:

       When the camp was attacked by a large Viet Cong force, 
     Sergeant First Class Adkins rushed through intense hostile 
     fire and manned a mortar position. Although he was wounded, 
     he ran through exploding mortar rounds and dragged several of 
     his comrades to safety.
       When the hostile fire subsided, Sergeant First Class Adkins 
     exposed himself to sporadic sniper fire and carried his 
     wounded comrades to the camp dispensary. During the 
     evacuation of a seriously wounded American, Sergeant First 
     Class Adkins maneuvered outside the camp walls to draw fire 
     and successfully cover the rescue.
       During the early morning hours of 10 March 1966, a Viet 
     Cong regiment launched its main attack. Within 2 hours, 
     Sergeant First Class Adkins was the only man firing a mortar 
     weapon. Although he was painfully wounded and most of his 
     crew was killed or wounded, he fought off the fanatical waves 
     of attacking Viet Cong. After withdrawing to a communications 
     bunker where several Americans were attempting to fight off a 
     company of Viet Cong, Sergeant First Class Adkins killed 
     numerous insurgents with his suppressive fire.
       Running extremely low on ammunition, he returned to the 
     mortar pit, gathered the vital ammunition, and ran through 
     intense fire back to the communications bunker. After being 
     ordered to evacuate the camp, all signal equipment and 
     classified documents were destroyed. Sergeant First Class 
     Adkins and a small group of men fought their way out of the 
     camp and evaded the Viet Cong for 2 days until they were 
     rescued by a helicopter.
       Sergeant First Class Adkins' extraordinary heroism in close 
     combat against a numerically superior hostile force was in 
     keeping with the highest traditions of the military service 
     and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the 
     United States Army.

  Mr. Adkins continued his stellar military career until he retired in 
1977 at the rank of sergeant major. Mr. Adkins also served a term as 
the national commander of the Legion of Valor.
  Following a thorough review of Mr. Adkins' actions in battle by the 
Department of Defense, Secretary of Defense Hagel recently wrote to 
Congress that Mr. Adkins' actions merited the Medal of Honor and that, 
if Congress would waive the time requirement, he would recommend to 
President Obama that the President should award the Medal of Honor to 
Mr. Adkins.
  As such, Mr. Speaker, I would like to submit for the Record a letter 
from Secretary Hagel.
  This bill would also allow Mr. Donald Sloat to be considered for the 
Medal of Honor. On January 17, 1970, while serving in Vietnam, then-
Specialist Donald Sloat, a machine gunner with Company D, Second 
Battalion, First Infantry Regiment, 196th Light Infantry, American 
Division, was killed while saving the lives of his squad members by 
drawing an enemy grenade to his body and shielding them from the blast. 
For his ultimate sacrifice to save his fellow soldiers, the DOD 
determined that Mr. Sloat's actions merited consideration for the Medal 
of Honor.
  Mr. Speaker, I would also like to commend the Department of Defense 
for completing the review of Jewish and Hispanic American veterans 
going back to World War II in order to correct an injustice to 
deserving members of our military who risked their lives for their 
country but whose actions were overlooked due to their ethnicities and 
religions. While conducting this review, the Department discovered 
seven individuals who did not meet the exact criteria of the 
congressionally mandated review but who, nevertheless, were deserving 
of the Medal of Honor. This bill would allow them to be recognized with 
the Nation's highest award for valor.
  It is important to note that none of these brave Americans asked for 
this renewed consideration. It was through the advocacy and admiration 
of loved ones and of those who served with them that led to this 
effort.
  For those brave Americans who show such extraordinary heroism in 
defense of our liberties, it is never too late to say thank you. To Mr. 
Adkins and Mr. Sloat and to all of the brave Americans like them, I say 
thank you.
  I reserve the balance of my time.

                                                     Pentagon,

                                     Washington, DC, June 7, 2013.
     Hon. Mike Rogers,
     House of Representatives,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Representative Rogers: I am writing in response to 
     your request for award of the Medal of Honor to then-Sergeant 
     First Class (SFC) Bennie G. Adkins under the provisions of 
     section 1130 of title 10, United States Code (U.S.C.), 
     ``Consideration of proposals for decorations not previously 
     submitted in timely fashion: procedures for review.''
       I reviewed the proposal for award of the Medal of Honor to 
     then-SFC Bennie G. Adkins for his valorous acts from March 9 
     to March 12, 1966, during the Vietnam Conflict. After giving 
     the nomination careful consideration, I believe then-SFC 
     Bennie G. Adkins' actions merit award of the Medal of Honor. 
     However, section 3744 of title 10, U.S.C., requires that the 
     Medal of Honor be awarded ``within three years after the date 
     of the act justifying the award.'' Therefore, a statutory 
     time waiver to section 3744 of title 10, U.S.C. is required 
     before the President of the United States may, if he so 
     chooses, award the Medal of Honor to then-SFC Bennie G. 
     Adkins.
       The final award authority for the Medal of Honor rests 
     solely with the President of the United States. My favorable 
     determination in no way presumes what the President's 
     decision might be.

[[Page H6780]]

       If you have any questions regarding this matter, please 
     contact the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for 
     Legislative Affairs. A similar letter is being sent to the 
     Chairmen of the Senate and House Committees on Armed 
     Services.
           Sincerely,
                                                      Chuck Hagel,
                                             Secretary of Defense.

  Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  I rise in support of H.R. 3304, introduced by my friend and 
colleague, Mr. Deutch of Florida.
  H.R. 3304 authorizes the President of the United States to award the 
Medal of Honor to Bennie G. Adkins, Donald P. Sloat, Melvin Morris, 
Ardie Copas, Jack Weinstein, Leonard Kravitz, Alfred Nietzel, Donald 
Schwab, and William Leonard.
  These individuals have distinguished themselves in service to our 
Nation in previous conflicts, ranging from World War II to Vietnam. The 
individuals were reviewed by the appropriate services, and their 
nominations were given careful consideration by the Secretary of 
Defense, and their names have been submitted to the Congress.
  Section 3744 of title X, United States Code, requires the Medal of 
Honor to be awarded within 3 years after the date of the act justifying 
the award, which is why we are here on the floor--to seek a statutory 
time waiver to allow the President of the United States to award the 
Medal of Honor to these particular individuals. So I urge my colleagues 
to support the passage of this important legislation.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman 
from Florida (Mr. Deutch), the author of this bill.
  Mr. DEUTCH. I thank my friend, the gentlelady from Guam.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 3304. I was pleased to work 
with my colleagues, Mr. Rogers of Alabama, Mr. Bridenstine of Oklahoma, 
and Mr. Rooney of Florida, on this bill; and I appreciate the work that 
they do on behalf of our veterans and the men and women who serve our 
country today.
  This legislation will waive the time limitation to allow the award of 
the Medal of Honor to two brave men, Bennie G. Adkins, a constituent of 
Mr. Rogers', and Donald P. Sloat, a constituent of Mr. Bridenstine's. I 
sincerely appreciate my colleagues' support and the support of the 
House Armed Services Committee in the effort to bring this legislation 
to the floor today.
  This legislation will also allow the award of the Medal of Honor to 
several other deserving veterans. This bill represents the culmination 
of a long fight to remedy discrimination against Jewish American and 
Hispanic American veterans of our Armed Forces who, in spite of their 
acts of valor above and beyond the call of duty, may have been 
overlooked as being deserving of the Medal of Honor.
  Over 12 years ago, this important effort began because Mitch Libman, 
a close friend of Leonard Kravitz', made it known that then-Private 
First Class Kravitz may have been improperly bypassed for the Medal of 
Honor. After sacrificing his life in combat in Korea, he was awarded 
the Distinguished Service Cross with the following citation:

       Upon order to withdraw, Private Kravitz voluntarily 
     remained to provide protective fire for the retiring 
     elements. Traversing the gun to the left to cover the 
     infiltrating enemy and ignoring the pleadings of his comrades 
     to fall back, he fearlessly maintained his position. 
     Detecting a column of Communist troops moving toward friendly 
     positions, he swept the hostile soldiers with deadly accurate 
     fire, killing the entire group. His destructive retaliation 
     caused the enemy to concentrate vicious fire on his position 
     and enabled the friendly elements to effect a withdrawal.

  Leonard Kravitz bravely gave his life for the men fighting at his 
side and for his country. In spite of his acts of valor above and 
beyond the call of duty, Kravitz was not awarded the Medal of Honor. In 
fact, when Mr. Libman came forward to share Mr. Kravitz' story, no 
Jewish American veteran had been recommended to receive the Medal of 
Honor for service in Korea. To ensure that this disparity was not the 
result of discrimination, Congress required each military department to 
conduct a review of veteran files to identify any deserving veteran who 
may have been overlooked for the Medal of Honor. This review has 
ensured that our highest military honor will be awarded based only on 
the acts of valor and courage displayed in battle and that no veteran 
will be denied the Medal of Honor as a result of his or her religion, 
race, or heritage.
  I am extremely proud of the long, rich history of Jewish Americans 
and Hispanic Americans serving in our Armed Forces. Over half a million 
Jewish Americans fought for the United States in World War II, and 
11,000 of them perished while fighting for this country. Jewish 
Americans have served with distinction in Korea, Vietnam, Operation 
Desert Storm, and countless other missions around the globe. Hispanic 
Americans have a proud history of military service stretching back to 
the Revolutionary War. Over 1 million Latino veterans have served 
courageously in our Armed Forces. Hispanic Americans and Jewish 
Americans are among the brave young men and women who have stepped 
forward to serve our Nation in our most recent conflicts in Iraq and 
Afghanistan.
  Members of both of these communities have fought for America's 
freedom and have had to fight to ensure that they receive the respect 
and honor they are owed for their service. The review of hundreds of 
service records resulted in the recommendation of the award of the 
Medal of Honor to at least seven veterans, including Mr. Kravitz.
  I want to thank all of those at the Department of Defense who 
diligently reviewed their records to make certain that we properly 
recognize all of the brave veterans deserving of the Medal of Honor.

                              {time}  1615

  The President of the United States, Mr. Speaker, has awarded the 
Medal of Honor to 3,471 of our finest Americans over the course of our 
Nation's history. With the passage of this bill, the President will be 
authorized to add Bennie G. Adkins, Donald P. Sloat, and at least seven 
other veterans whose heroic acts can at last receive the highest honor 
that they richly deserve.
  I strongly urge my colleagues to support the passage of this 
legislation.
  Mr. ROGERS of Alabama. Mr. Speaker, at this time, I have no further 
requests to speak, so I am prepared to close with an urging to my 
colleagues that they vote in favor of this bill.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers, but I do want 
to commend the author of this bill, this very worthwhile piece of 
legislation, and I urge my colleagues to support it.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Alabama (Mr. Rogers) that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the bill, H.R. 3304.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

                          ____________________