I 
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 Representa-
tives 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: 
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(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 Infan-
try 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 in-
fantry 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 erec-
tion 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 le-
thal 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 re-
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gained consciousness, he crawled to safe ground 
twenty meters to be able to be treated by medics. 
(5) Sergeant Perez’s personal leadership in in-
tense 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 find-
ings: 
(1) When awarding him the Distinguished Serv-
ice 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 le-
thal explosion of a hand grenade, once he regained 
consciousness, he continued to move with his bat-
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talion against devastating and overwhelming enemy 
fire. 
(c) AUTHORIZATION.—Notwithstanding the time lim-
itations 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 Jo-
seph 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 pre-
viously awarded the Distinguished Service Cross. 
Æ 
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