I 

118TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 5168 

To authorize the President to award the Medal of Honor to Joseph M. 

Perez for acts of valor while serving as a member of the Army during 

the Vietnam War. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

AUGUST 8, 2023 

Mr. MOYLAN 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 Joseph M. Perez for acts of valor while serving as 

a member of the Army during the Vietnam War. 

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 OF AWARD OF MEDAL OF 

4 HONOR TO JOSEPH M. PEREZ FOR ACTS OF 

5 VALOR AS A MEMBER OF THE ARMY DURING 

6 THE VIETNAM WAR. 

7 (a) RECOGNITION OF ACTS OF VALOR.—Congress 

8 recognizes the following acts of valor by Joseph M. Perez: 


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•HR 5168 IH

1 (1) Joseph M. Perez distinguished himself by 

2 valorous actions against overwhelming odds while 

3 serving as a Sergeant in the Army, with Company 

4 C, 3rd Battalion, 8th Infantry Regiment, 4th Infan5 try Division, in South Vietnam. 

6 (2) On May 26, 1967, during the Vietnam War, 

7 Sergeant Perez acted as the fire team leader with 

8 the Commanding Officer of Company C led an in9 fantry unit conducting a search and destroy task 

10 near the Cambodian border. When the unit reached 

11 the top of a hill, they were suddenly under attack 

12 from a concealed sniper. 

13 (3) During the initial phase of battle, Sergeant 

14 Perez and the unit took cover to assess and decide 

15 the strength of the enemy and determine the erec16 tion of where the attack was coming from. The fire 

17 team returned fire, when the enemy launched a 

18 hand-grenade. Without hesitation or concern for his 

19 personal safety, Sergeant Perez absorbed the full le20 thal explosion and shielded his fellow soldiers from 

21 the blast. The explosion caused Sergeant Perez to 

22 lose his right eye and severed his right hand. 

23 (4) The fire team moved to relocate to a safer 

24 area, leaving Sgt Perez alone. Once Sgt Perez reVerDate Sep 11 2014 01:57 Aug 22, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H5168.IH H5168

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1 gained consciousness, he crawled to safe ground 

2 twenty meters to be able to be treated by medics. 

3 (5) Sergeant Perez’s personal leadership in in4 tense close combat resulted in a major win for his 

5 battalion against overwhelming odds, though he lost 

6 his eye and hand and nearly lost his life, he saved 

7 the lives of three of his fire team members from 

8 death and serious injuries from the explosion. 

9 (6) Sergeant Perez’s selfless devotion to duty, 

10 his extraordinary heroism, conspicuous gallantry and 

11 intrepidity, and numerous risks of his life above and 

12 beyond the call of duty, are all in keeping with the 

13 highest traditions of the Army, and reflect great 

14 credit on himself, the Armed Forces, and the United 

15 States. 

16 (b) FINDINGS.—Congress makes the following find17 ings: 

18 (1) When awarding him the Distinguished Serv19 ice Cross, Sergeant Perez’s chain of command was 

20 unaware of the full extent of his valorous actions 

21 and the numerous risks he took for his soldiers, all 

22 above and beyond the call of duty. 

23 (2) Although Sergeant Perez absorbed the le24 thal explosion of a hand grenade, once he regained 

25 consciousness, he continued to move with his batVerDate Sep 11 2014 01:57 Aug 22, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H5168.IH H5168

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1 talion against devastating and overwhelming enemy 

2 fire. 

3 (c) AUTHORIZATION.—Notwithstanding the time lim4 itations specified in section 7274 of title 10, United States 

5 Code, or any other time limitation with respect to the 

6 awarding of certain medals to persons who served in the 

7 Armed Forces, the President is authorized to award the 

8 Medal of Honor, under section 7271 of such title, to Jo9 seph M. Perez for the acts of valor described in subsection 

10 (d). 

11 (d) ACTS OF VALOR DESCRIBED.—The acts of valor 

12 described in this subsection are the actions of Joseph M. 

13 Perez on May 26, 1967, while serving as a member of 

14 the Army during the Vietnam War, for which he was pre15 viously awarded the Distinguished Service Cross. 

Æ 


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