[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 119 (Tuesday, July 23, 2024)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E757-E758]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




INTRODUCTION OF A BILL TO AWARD THE MEDAL OF HONOR TO COMMAND SERGEANT 
                         MAJOR RAMON RODRIGUEZ

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. J. LUIS CORREA

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, July 23, 2024

  Mr. CORREA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce a bill to award 
the Medal of Honor

[[Page E758]]

to Special Forces Command Sergeant Major Ramon Rodriguez of the Army 
for acts of valor during the Vietnam War.
  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 Ramon Rodriguez served as a Staff Sergeant in 
Vietnam for 32 months, becoming one of the most decorated combat 
soldiers to serve in the Vietnam War.
  In recognition of his heroism and fearless actions even when wounded, 
Staff Sergeant Rodriguez received many medals and awards--including 
three Bronze Stars with V, two Oak Leaf Clusters, and five Purple 
Hearts.
  There are many examples of Staff Sergeant Rodriguez's bravery, but I 
will highlight four of them. On August 16, 1967, he volunteered to 
guide a helicopter by flashlight to evacuate wounded platoon members. 
Despite being the target of enemy fire, Staff Sergeant Rodriguez 
remained exposed until the helicopter reached the pick-up zone. On 
November 8, 1967, he entered a tunnel complex despite the presence of 
enemy combatants and the risk of a cave-in. Staff Sergeant Rodriguez 
employed grenades to root out the enemy and prevent then escape. On 
January 24, 1968, his outpost came under a heavy ground assault. The 
platoon leader was mortally wounded so Staff Sergeant Rodriguez assumed 
command. He administered aid and brought the wounded to safety, despite 
being wounded himself--all while fending off attackers. Staff Sergeant 
Rodriguez then rallied the remaining men in the platoon and fought off 
the enemy onslaught. On February 26, 1968, his platoon was ambushed 
during a search and clear mission. Staff Sergeant Rodriguez assumed 
command after the platoon leader was wounded. He maneuvered the platoon 
to return fire and removed all wounded personnel from danger.
  After the war, Staff Sergeant Rodriguez graduated from the U.S. 
Ranger School with distinguished honors, led the Special Forces scuba 
team at Fort Gulick, Panama, and in 1981, earned the rank of Command 
Sergeant Major at the United States Sergeant Mann Academy in Fort 
Bliss, Texas.
  Command Sergeant Major Rodriguez officially retired from the Army in 
1983 and was inducted into the Ranger Hall of Fame on June 11, 2008. 
Rodriguez currently serves as the Chairman of the Military and Veterans 
Affairs Commission for the County of Los Angeles, California.
  I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring this brave hero Command 
Sergeant Major 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.

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