```

[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5168 Introduced in House (IH)]

<DOC>

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.

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

SECTION 1. AUTHORIZATION OF AWARD OF MEDAL OF HONOR TO JOSEPH M. PEREZ 
              FOR ACTS OF VALOR AS A MEMBER OF THE ARMY DURING THE 
              VIETNAM WAR.

    (a) Recognition of Acts of Valor.--Congress recognizes the 
following acts of valor by Joseph M. Perez:
            (1) Joseph M. Perez distinguished himself by valorous 
        actions against overwhelming odds while serving as a Sergeant 
        in the Army, with Company C, 3rd Battalion, 8th Infantry 
        Regiment, 4th Infantry Division, in South Vietnam.
            (2) On May 26, 1967, during the Vietnam War, Sergeant Perez 
        acted as the fire team leader with the Commanding Officer of 
        Company C led an infantry unit conducting a search and destroy 
        task near the Cambodian border. When the unit reached the top 
        of a hill, they were suddenly under attack from a concealed 
        sniper.
            (3) During the initial phase of battle, Sergeant Perez and 
        the unit took cover to assess and decide the strength of the 
        enemy and determine the erection of where the attack was coming 
        from. The fire team returned fire, when the enemy launched a 
        hand-grenade. Without hesitation or concern for his personal 
        safety, Sergeant Perez absorbed the full lethal explosion and 
        shielded his fellow soldiers from the blast. The explosion 
        caused Sergeant Perez to lose his right eye and severed his 
        right hand.
            (4) The fire team moved to relocate to a safer area, 
        leaving Sgt Perez alone. Once Sgt Perez regained consciousness, 
        he crawled to safe ground twenty meters to be able to be 
        treated by medics.
            (5) Sergeant Perez's personal leadership in intense close 
        combat resulted in a major win for his battalion against 
        overwhelming odds, though he lost his eye and hand and nearly 
        lost his life, he saved the lives of three of his fire team 
        members from death and serious injuries from the explosion.
            (6) Sergeant Perez's selfless devotion to duty, his 
        extraordinary heroism, conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity, 
        and numerous risks of his life above and beyond the call of 
        duty, are all in keeping with the highest traditions of the 
        Army, and reflect great credit on himself, the Armed Forces, 
        and the United States.
    (b) Findings.--Congress makes the following findings:
            (1) When awarding him the Distinguished Service Cross, 
        Sergeant Perez's chain of command was unaware of the full 
        extent of his valorous actions and the numerous risks he took 
        for his soldiers, all above and beyond the call of duty.
            (2) Although Sergeant Perez absorbed the lethal explosion 
        of a hand grenade, once he regained consciousness, he continued 
        to move with his battalion against devastating and overwhelming 
        enemy fire.
    (c) Authorization.--Notwithstanding the time limitations specified 
in section 7274 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 to award 
the Medal of Honor, under section 7271 of such title, to Joseph M. 
Perez for the acts of valor described in subsection (d).
    (d) Acts of Valor Described.--The acts of valor described in this 
subsection are the actions of Joseph M. Perez on May 26, 1967, while 
serving as a member of the Army during the Vietnam War, for which he 
was previously awarded the Distinguished Service Cross.
                                 <all>
```