V 
110TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. R. 974 
To authorize and request the President to award the Medal of Honor to 
Joseph T. Getherall, of Hacienda Heights, California, for acts of valor 
in the Republic of Vietnam on December 22, 1966, while serving in 
the Marine Corps during the Vietnam War. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
FEBRUARY 8, 2007 
Mrs. NAPOLITANO introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
Committee on Armed Services 
A BILL 
To authorize and request the President to award the Medal 
of Honor to Joseph T. Getherall, of Hacienda Heights, 
California, for acts of valor in the Republic of Vietnam 
on December 22, 1966, while serving in the Marine 
Corps during the Vietnam War. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
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SECTION 1. AUTHORIZATION AND REQUEST FOR AWARD 
OF 
MEDAL 
OF 
HONOR 
TO 
JOSEPH 
T. 
GETHERALL, OF HACIENDA HEIGHTS, CALI-
FORNIA, FOR ACTS OF VALOR DURING THE 
VIETNAM WAR. 
(a) AUTHORIZATION.—The President is authorized 
and requested to award the Medal of Honor under section 
6241 of title 10, United States Code, to Joseph T. 
Getherall, of Hacienda Heights, California, for the acts 
of valor during the Vietnam War described in subsection 
(b). 
(b) ACTION DESCRIBED.—The acts of valor referred 
to in subsection (a) are the actions of Joseph T. Getherall 
in the Republic of Vietnam on December 22, 1966, while 
serving as a squad leader in Company M of the Third Bat-
talion, Twenty-Sixth Marines, Third Marine Division, dur-
ing ‘‘Operation Chinook’’. Company M was occupying a 
night defensive position in the area of the Co Bi-Than Tan 
Corridor, Thua Thien Province, when the Marines came 
under intense small arms and mortar fire from the 802nd 
Viet Cong Battalion. Unhesitatingly exposing himself to 
intense small arms, automatic weapons, and mortar fire, 
Sergeant Getherall repeatedly moved across open terrain 
to effectively direct his squad. Sergeant Getherall was seri-
ously wounded in both legs and arms by an exploding mor-
tar round. Despite his painful injuries, Sergeant Getherall 
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refused medical evacuation and continued to pinpoint 
enemy targets, direct fire, resupply his men with ammuni-
tion, and ensure the integrity of the perimeter defense, 
which spread across fifty meters of open terrain. With 
most of the enemy ground assaults throughout the night 
concentrated in front of his squad’s position, Sergeant 
Getherall continually exposed himself to enemy fire. He 
personally killed several of the enemy attackers with his 
own rifle fire. During one of the enemy assaults, a Marine 
was wounded in the open, and Sergeant Getherall fear-
lessly moved across the hazardous open terrain under in-
tense enemy fire and moved the Marine to cover. During 
another assault, Sergeant Getherall observed a Viet Cong 
about to throw a grenade and killed him with rifle fire, 
but not before the enemy soldier threw the grenade, which 
landed among Sergeant Getherall’s squad. Sergeant 
Getherall shouted a warning to his men and with complete 
disregard for his own life and under heavy enemy fire, he 
was able to get to the grenade and jump on it. He then 
picked it up and threw it back at the enemy where it ex-
ploded a few meters away, wounding Sergeant Getherall 
for a second time in one of his legs. By his prompt and 
courageous action in the face of almost certain death, he 
saved several of his squad members from death or serious 
injury. During the remainder of the night, he moved 
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among his men, encouraging them and ensuring that there 
was maximum security and firepower to repulse subse-
quent attacks. Inspired by his selfless courage and aggres-
sive fighting spirit, his squad members repulsed a number 
of savage attacks, while inflicting heavy casualties on a 
determined and numerically superior enemy force. By his 
outstanding leadership, resolute determination, and 
unfaltering devotion to duty in the face of grave personal 
danger, Sergeant Getherall upheld the highest traditions 
of the Marine Corps. Six of Sergeant Getherall’s squad 
members and his commanding officer have submitted 
sworn affidavits attesting to his heroic actions. The Pla-
toon Commander at the time, Gary Loveridge, rec-
ommended Sergeant Getherall for a Silver Star, but his 
recommendation was lost by the Marine Corps. In a letter 
dated April 14, 2004, Mr. Loveridge wrote that his origi-
nal Silver Star recommendation be upgraded to a Navy 
Cross. This letter was written before Mr. Loveridge was 
made aware of the fact that Sergeant Getherall jumped 
on an enemy grenade. In June 2004 at a reunion, two 
of Sergeant Getherall’s former squad members told Mr. 
Loveridge for the first time about the action of Sergeant 
Getherall in jumping on the enemy grenade to save their 
lives during the battle. This updated information caused 
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Mr. Loveridge to rewrite his Summary of Action and Cita-
tion to include this additional action. 
(c) WAIVER
OF TIME LIMITATIONS.—The award 
under subsection (a) may be made without regard to the 
time limitations specified in section 6248 of title 10, 
United States Code, or any other time limitation with re-
spect to the awarding of certain medals to persons who 
served in the Navy or Marine Corps. 
Æ 
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