I 

116TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. R. 7835 

To authorize the President to award the Medal of Honor to Eric Fisher 

Wood, Jr. for the acts of valor during the Battle of the Bulge. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

JULY 29, 2020 

Mr. JOYCE of Pennsylvania (for himself, Mr. WALTZ, Mr. GONZALEZ of Ohio, 

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania, Mr. GAETZ, Mr. RESCHENTHALER, and 

Mr. MOONEY of West Virginia) 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 Eric Fisher Wood, Jr. for the acts of valor during 

the Battle of the Bulge. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. AUTHORIZATION FOR AWARD OF THE MEDAL 

4 OF HONOR TO ERIC FISHER WOOD, JR. FOR 

5 ACTS OF VALOR DURING THE BATTLE OF THE 

6 BULGE IN WORLD WAR II. 

7 (a) WAIVER OF TIME LIMITATIONS.—Notwith8 standing the time limitations specified in section 7271 of 

9 title 10, United States Code, or any other time limitation 


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•HR 7835 IH

1 with respect to the awarding of certain medals to persons 

2 who served in the Armed Forces, the President may award 

3 the Medal of Honor under section 7271 of such title to 

4 Eric Fisher Wood, Jr. for the acts of valor during the Bat5 tle of the Bulge described in subsection (b). 

6 (b) ACTS OF VALOR DESCRIBED.—(1) The acts of 

7 valor referred to in subsection (a) are the actions of Eric 

8 Fisher Wood, Jr. in the Ardennes region of Wallonia, Bel9 gium, during the Battle of the Bulge, when, as a Lieuten10 ant in Battery A, 589th Field Artillery Battalion, 106th 

11 Infantry Division, from December 17, 1944, to January 

12 22, 1945, he displayed extraordinary heroism in action 

13 against the enemy in Belgium. 

14 (2) After ordering his artillery battery to fire against 

15 enemy tanks in a delaying action, allowing other American 

16 units avoid capture, his unit was surrounded and forced 

17 to surrender. Rather than accept capture, as enemy fire 

18 converged on him from all sides, he raced across a large 

19 open field into the woods beyond. 

20 (3) Cut off from his own lines, and surrounded by 

21 the enemy in the Ardennes forest, Lieutenant Wood rallied 

22 a small band of American soldiers who were also separated 

23 from their units. Over the course of several weeks, he re24 peatedly initiated harassing ambush attacks against 

25 enemy communications, supply columns and patrols, acVerDate Sep 11 2014 23:25 Aug 17, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H7835.IH H7835

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1 counting for the deaths and wounding of scores of enemy 

2 soldiers and further slowing their advance to strategic 

3 road intersections and helping other American units from 

4 being overrun or captured. 

5 (4) Lieutenant Wood continued his offensive actions 

6 until a final, fierce engagement with overwhelming enemy 

7 forces, where he made the last full measure of service. His 

8 body was found surrounded by several enemy dead. Lieu9 tenant Wood’s extraordinary heroism and selflessness 

10 above and beyond the call of duty in the service of his 

11 country are in keeping with the highest traditions of mili12 tary service. Lieutenant Wood was posthumously awarded 

13 the Distinguished-Service Cross, Silver Star, Bronze Star, 

14 and the Purple Heart for his heroism. 

Æ 


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