(1) At the age of 17, Ramon Rodriguez of Wil-
mington, California, began his military career when 
he enlisted in the Army during his junior year at 
Banning High School. 
(2) While a Staff Sergeant in the Army, Ramon 
Rodriguez served in Vietnam for 32 months during 
the Vietnam War. In that time, then-Staff Sergeant 
Major Rodriguez received a total of 17 combat med-
als and awards in recognition of his heroism and 
acts of valor against hostile enemy forces. 
(3) Staff Sergeant Rodriguez’s courage in com-
bat has earned him the distinction of being one of 
the most decorated combat soldiers who served in 
Vietnam. 
(4) For fearless actions while wounded and ex-
posed to intense enemy fire, Staff Sergeant 
Rodriguez’s distinguished service was further ac-
knowledged by three Bronze Stars with V, 2 Oak 
Leaf Clusters, and five Purple Hearts. 
(5) On August 16, 1967, he volunteered to 
guide a helicopter pilot by flashlight to evacuate 
wounded platoon members. The helicopter was the 
target of concentrated enemy fire, yet Staff Sergeant 
Ramirez remained exposed until he had directed the 
aircraft into the pick-up zone. Staff Sergeant Rodri-
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guez was awarded the Army Commendation Medal 
for Heroism. 
(6) On November 8, 1967, Staff Sergeant 
Rodriguez entered a Viet Cong tunnel complex that 
he knew was occupied by the enemy. Despite the 
risk of cave-in, he employed grenades to root out the 
enemy and cover the tunnel exits to prevent their es-
cape. 
(7) On January 24, 1968, his outpost came 
under a heavy barrage of enemy mortars, followed 
by a ground assault. The platoon leader was mor-
tally wounded, and Staff Sergeant Rodriguez imme-
diately assumed command of the platoon. The enemy 
force was able to breach the perimeter and Staff 
Sergeant Rodriguez, though wounded himself, began 
moving through the trench line administering aid to 
the wounded personnel while leveling intense fire 
that killed four enemy sappers. After the casualties 
were moved to a safe area, he rallied the four re-
maining men of the platoon, and courageously man-
aged to hold off the enemy onslaught. 
(8) On February 26, 1968, Staff Sergeant 
Rodriguez’s platoon was ambushed during a search 
and clear mission. The platoon leader and the lead 
man were seriously wounded, and the platoon was 
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pinned down by enemy fire. Staff Sergeant Rodri-
guez assumed command and maneuvered the platoon 
to a location where he could place a base of fire on 
the enemy troops, and he pulled the platoon leader 
to safety. He repeated his gallant actions, although 
he was wounded by small arms fire, until all the 
wounded personnel were removed. A sweep of the 
area revealed eight mortally wounded insurgents, 
seven AK-47 rifles, and three grenade launchers. 
(9) Staff Sergeant Rodriguez attended the 
United States Ranger School and graduated with 
distinguished honors. 
(10) Staff Sergeant Rodriguez led the Special 
Forces scuba team at Ford Gulick, Canal Zone, 
Panama, and directed several rescue missions. 
(11) In 1981, Staff Sergeant Rodriguez earned 
the rank of Command Sergeant Major at the United 
States Sergeant Major Academy at Fort Bliss, 
Texas. 
(12) Command Sergeant Major Rodriguez was 
nominated for the Medal of Honor in 1982. 
(13) Command Sergeant Major Rodriguez com-
pleted two more assignments before officially retiring 
from the Army in 1983. 
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(14) On June 11, 2008, Command Sergeant 
Major Rodriguez was inducted as a member of the 
Ranger Hall of Fame. 
(15) Command Sergeant Major Rodriguez is 
known to be one of the most decorated combat sol-
diers who served in the Vietnam War. 
(16) Rodriguez currently serves as the Chair-
man of the Military and Veterans Affairs Commis-
sion for the County of Los Angeles, California. 
(17) Command Sergeant Rodriguez’s devotion 
to duty and personal courage are in keeping with the 
highest traditions of the military service and reflect 
great credit upon himself and the United States 
Army. 
(b) WAIVER
OF
TIME
LIMITATIONS.—Notwith-
standing 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 may award 
the Medal of Honor under section 7271 of such title to 
Command Sergeant Major Ramon Rodriguez of the Army 
for acts of valor, sacrifice, and courage at the risk of his 
own life beyond the call of duty during the Vietnam War. 
Æ 
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