I 

118TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 5521 

To authorize the President to posthumously award the Medal of Honor 

to Marcelino Serna for acts of valor as a private in the Army during 

World War I. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

SEPTEMBER 18, 2023 

Ms. ESCOBAR (for herself, Mr. CASTRO of Texas, and Mr. VARGAS) introduced 

the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Armed Services 

A BILL 

To authorize the President to posthumously award the Medal 

of Honor to Marcelino Serna for acts of valor as a 

private in the Army during World War I. 

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

3 SECTION 1. FINDINGS. 

4 Congress finds the following: 

5 (1) Military service is one of the most admired 

6 and respected vocations any one can embark upon 

7 knowing that their commitment is to something far 

8 greater than oneself, and we value such military 


kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
2 

•HR 5521 IH

1 service because it is dedicated to upholding, defend2 ing, and preserving the constitution. 

3 (2) While historically many were drafted into 

4 service before the military became an all-volunteer 

5 service in 1973, there were still individuals who vol6 unteered to serve without being drafted, and people 

7 of all walks of life, including new immigrants, have 

8 sought to demonstrate their love, commitment, and 

9 loyalty to this country by volunteering their lives to 

10 service. 

11 (3) Private Marcelino Serna was one such im12 migrant seeking to demonstrate his love, commit13 ment, and loyalty to his country; born in Chihuahua, 

14 Mexico, Private Serna is part of a legacy of immi15 grant soldiers fighting for the United States, eager 

16 to pursue the American Dream; in 1917, without 

17 hesitation, he volunteered to serve in the U.S. 

18 Armed Forces against Germany at the age of 20. 

19 (4) Private Serna was placed in the 355th In20 fantry of the 89th Division, and upon his arrival in 

21 France, when it was discovered that he was not a 

22 U.S. citizen, he was given the option to return home, 

23 however, Private Serna made the valiant decision to 

24 serve the United States, his adoptive home. 


kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
3 

•HR 5521 IH

1 (5) In recognition of his courageous actions, 

2 Private Serna became the most decorated World 

3 War I veteran in Texas, with awards from the 

4 United States, France, Italy and the United King5 dom, which include: the World War I Victory Medal, 

6 two Purple Hearts, the French Medaille Militaire, 

7 two French Croix de Guerre, a French Medaille 

8 commemorative, the British War Medal, the Italian 

9 Croce al Merito di Guerra, the French Verdun, and 

10 the St. Mihiel Medals, as well as being posthumously 

11 awarded Texas’ Lone Star Medal of Valor in 2016. 

12 (6) The aforementioned awards recognize Pri13 vate Serna’s demonstrated bravery and remarkable 

14 service to his country in World War I, during which 

15 time, as detailed in the military’s official citation for 

16 his receipt of the Distinguished Service Cross and in 

17 the Texas Handbook Online, Private Serna single18 handedly fought, killed, and captured enemy fighters 

19 in the French theater. 

20 (7) White contemporaries of Private Serna who 

21 engaged in similar courageous acts during World 

22 War I have been rightfully recognized for their valor 

23 with the Medal of Honor; however Private Serna was 

24 reportedly passed over for the Medal of Honor beVerDate Sep 11 2014 01:35 Sep 19, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H5521.IH H5521

kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
4 

•HR 5521 IH

1 cause he did not know enough English to be pro2 moted. 

3 (8) On May 7, 2021, recognizing that acts of 

4 valor performed by minority service members like 

5 Private Serna have gone unrecognized, a bipartisan 

6 Texas State House and Senate Committee voted to 

7 unanimously award Private Serna the Texas Legisla8 tive Medal of Honor. 

9 (9) For his conspicuous gallantry, unwavering 

10 commitment, and heroic actions above and beyond 

11 the call of duty to the United States of America, 

12 Private Marcelino Serna has long earned the Medal 

13 of Honor, an award that would allow his descend14 ants, fellow Texans, and Americans everywhere to 

15 recognize his heroic deeds. 

16 SEC. 2. AUTHORIZATION FOR AWARD OF THE MEDAL OF 

17 HONOR TO MARCELINO SERNA FOR ACTS OF 

18 VALOR DURING WORLD WAR I. 

19 (a) AUTHORIZATION.—Notwithstanding the time lim20 itations specified in section 7274 of title 10, United States 

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

22 awarding of certain medals to persons who served in the 

23 Armed Forces, the President may posthumously award the 

24 Medal of Honor under section 7272 of such title to 


kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
5 

•HR 5521 IH

1 Marcelino Serna for the acts of valor described in the sub2 section (b). 

3 (b) ACTS OF VALOR DESCRIBED.—The acts of valor 

4 described in this subsection are the actions of Marcelino 

5 Serna as a private in the Army during World War I, for 

6 which he was previously awarded the Distinguished-Serv7 ice Cross. 

Æ 


kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB