IV 

116TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. RES. 529 

Honoring the life of Petty Officer Raul Guerra of Montebello, California, 

who perished on October 8, 1967, during military operations off northern 

Vietnam, and the work of the Bring Raul Home Committee to have 

Petty Officer Raul Guerra’s remains laid to rest in California. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

JULY 25, 2019 

Ms. SA ́NCHEZ (for herself, Mrs. NAPOLITANO, Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD, Mr. 

GOMEZ, Mrs. TORRES of California, Mr. CISNEROS, Mr. COX of California, and Mr. THOMPSON of California) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Armed Services 

RESOLUTION 

Honoring the life of Petty Officer Raul Guerra of Montebello, 

California, who perished on October 8, 1967, during 

military operations off northern Vietnam, and the work 

of the Bring Raul Home Committee to have Petty Officer 

Raul Guerra’s remains laid to rest in California. 

Whereas Petty Officer Guerra was born on December 18, 

1942, in Montebello, California; 

Whereas Petty Officer Guerra graduated from Montebello 

High School in 1963 and attended East Los Angeles College; 

Whereas Petty Officer Guerra was beloved by his friends and 

family, and known for his love of journalism; 


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•HRES 529 IH 

Whereas Petty Officer Guerra enlisted in the Navy Reserves 

in July of 1965; 

Whereas Petty Officer Guerra completed basic training and 

his unit was activated to fight in Vietnam; 

Whereas Petty Officer Guerra was deployed as a Navy journalist; 

Whereas, on the evening of October 8, 1967, Petty Officer 

Guerra volunteered to join a combat mission to support 

a major air strike over northern Vietnam; 

Whereas Petty Officer Guerra’s plane was shot down and 

crashed, and, due to heavy terrain and hostile territory, 

he was pronounced Killed in Action and his remains were 

not recovered; 

Whereas Petty Officer Guerra was decorated with the National Defense Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, and the 

Vietnam Campaign Medal; 

Whereas Petty Officer Guerra was promoted to Journalist 

3rd Class posthumously; 

Whereas, in 2007, the Whitter Daily News reported ‘‘Local 

Navy Seaman’s Remains Found’’, which was the start of 

a long process to return Petty Officer Guerra’s remains 

to the United States; 

Whereas Petty Officer Guerra’s former classmates, Ruben 

Valencia and Donna and Gary Peterson, formed the 

Bring Raul Home Committee; 

Whereas, for over 12 years, the Bring Raul Home Committee 

diligently spread the news and the story of Petty Officer 

Guerra to fellow veterans and their communities, 

searched for family members, and held several meetings 


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with the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (hereinafter ‘‘DPAA’’); 

Whereas, in February 2019, the DPAA notified the Bring 

Raul Home Committee that Petty Officer Guerra’s remains would finally return home; 

Whereas, in March 2019, the United States Navy made the 

final arrangements for Petty Officer Guerra’s remains; 

Whereas, on April 25, 2019, Petty Officer Guerra was finally 

laid to rest after 52 years; and 

Whereas Petty Officer Guerra made the ultimate sacrifice defending the United States with honor: Now, therefore, be 

it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

2 (1) extends its deepest sympathies to the 

3 friends and loved ones of fallen Petty Officer Raul 

4 Guerra of Montebello, California, in their bereave5 ment; 

6 (2) honors the courage and character of this 

7 brave Petty Officer for protecting the United States 

8 and defending the freedom of all Americans; and 

9 (3) recognizes the dedication and years of work 

10 shown by the Bring Raul Home Committee to finally 

11 have Petty Officer Raul Guerra laid to rest in Cali12 fornia. 

Æ 


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