[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 153 (Wednesday, October 30, 2013)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1609]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   MEDAL OF HONOR FOR DONALD P. SLOAT

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JIM BRIDENSTINE

                              of oklahoma

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, October 30, 2013

  Mr. BRIDENSTINE. Mr. Speaker, on Monday, October 28, 2013, the House 
of Representatives passed H.R. 3304, a bill to authorize and request 
the President of the United States 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. I am a proud original co-
sponsor of H.R. 3304.
  The late Mr. Donald P. Sloat was a constituent in the First District 
of Oklahoma. Then-Specialist Four Donald P. Sloat served our country 
during the Vietnam Conflict. On January 17, 1970, then-Specialist Four 
Donald Sloat, a machinegunner with Company D, 2nd Battalion, 1st 
Infantry Regiment, 196th Light Infantry, Americal Division was killed 
saving the lives of three of his fellow soliders by shielding them from 
a grenade blast with his own body.
  For his gallantry and intrepidity, then-Secretary of Defense Robert 
Gates determined that Mr. Sloat's actions merited the Medal of Honor. I 
submit the following letter from Secretary Gates to Representative 
Howard P. ``Buck'' McKeon, Chairman of the House Armed Services 
Committee. In his letter, Secretary Gates notes that the Medal of Honor 
must be awarded ``within three years after the date of the act 
justifying the award.'' Congress must waive the time limit before the 
President of the United States can award the Medal of Honor to Mr. 
Sloat. By passing H.R. 3304, the House of Representatives took the 
first step in ensuring that Mr. Sloat receives the honor he so richly 
deserves.

                                             Secretary of Defense,


                                        1000 Defense Pentagon,

                                 Washington, DC, January 11, 2013.
     Hon. Howard P. ``Buck'' McKeon,
     Chairman, Committee on Armed Services, House of 
         Representatives, Washington, DC.
       Dear Mr. Chairman: I am writing in response to requests 
     from Senator Tom Coburn and Representative John Sullivan for 
     award of the Medal of Honor (MoH) to then-Specialist Four 
     (SP4) Donald P. Sloat under the provisions of title 10, 
     U.S.C., section 1130, of ``Consideration of proposals for 
     decorations not previously submitted in timely fashion: 
     procedures for review.''
       I reviewed the proposal for award of the MoH to then-SP4 
     Sloat for saving the lives of three of his fellow soldiers by 
     shielding them from a grenade blast with his own body on 
     January 17, 1970, during the Vietnam conflict. After giving 
     the nomination careful consideration, I believe then-SP4 
     Sloat's actions merit award of the MoH. However, title 10, 
     U.S.C., section 3744, requires that the MoH be awarded 
     ``within three years after the date of the act justifying the 
     award.'' Therefore, a statutory time waiver to title 10, 
     U.S.C., section 3744, is required before the President of the 
     United States may, if he so chooses, award the MoH to then-
     SP4 Sloat.
       The final award authority for the MoH rests solely with the 
     President of the United States. My favorable determination in 
     no way presumes what the President's decision might be.
       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 
     Chairman of the Senate Committee on Armed Services, Senator 
     Tom Coburn, and Representative John Sullivan.
           Sincerely,
                                                  Robert M. Gates,
     Secretary of Defense.

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