V 
114TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 1596 
To authorize the President to award the Medal of Honor to Special Forces 
Command Sergeant Major Ramon Rodriguez of the United States Army 
for acts of valor during the Vietnam War. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MARCH 24, 2015 
Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California 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 Special Forces Command Sergeant Major Ramon 
Rodriguez of the United States Army for acts of valor 
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 FOR AWARD OF THE MEDAL 
OF HONOR TO SPECIAL FORCES SERGEANT 
RAMON RODRIGUEZ FOR ACTS OF VALOR 
DURING THE VIETNAM WAR. 
(a) FINDINGS.—Congress makes the following find-
ings: 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
01:16 Mar 25, 2015
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1596.IH
H1596
emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with BILLS
(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. 
(3) During a mission in 1967 in Phu Bai in 
Thua Thien Province, Staff Sergeant Rodriguez was 
wounded while leading five soldiers to safety, for 
which he received a second award of the Silver Star 
in recognition of his ‘‘fearless action while exposed 
to intense enemy fire’’. 
(4) In all, Staff Sergeant Rodriguez was award-
ed the Silver Star three times within a span of 34 
days for his courageous service during the Vietnam 
War. 
(5) Staff Sergeant Rodriguez was awarded 
three Bronze Stars with V and 2 Oak Leaf Cluster 
and five Purple Hearts. 
(6) Command Sergeant Major Rodriguez re-
ceived a total of 17 combat medals and awards for 
his service in Vietnam in recognition of his heroism 
and acts of valor against hostile enemy forces. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
01:16 Mar 25, 2015
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1596.IH
H1596
emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with BILLS
(7) Staff Sergeant Rodriguez attended the 
United States Ranger School and graduated with 
distinguished honors. 
(8) Staff Sergeant Rodriguez led the Special 
Forces scuba team at Ford Gulick, Canal Zone, 
Panama, and directed several rescue missions. 
(9) In 1981, Staff Sergeant Rodriguez earned 
the rank of Command Sergeant Major at the United 
States Sergeant Major Academy at Fort Bliss, 
Texas. 
(10) Command Sergeant Major Rodriguez was 
nominated for the Congressional Medal of Honor in 
1982. 
(11) Command Sergeant Major Rodriguez com-
pleted two more assignments before officially retiring 
from the Army in 1983. 
(12) On June 11, 2008, Command Sergeant 
Major Rodriguez was inducted as a member of the 
Ranger Hall of Fame. 
(13) Command Sergeant Major Rodriguez is 
known to be one of the most decorated combat sol-
diers who served in the Vietnam War. 
(14) Rodriguez currently serves as the Chair-
man of the Military and Veterans Affairs Commis-
sion for the County of Los Angeles, California. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
01:16 Mar 25, 2015
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1596.IH
H1596
emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with BILLS
(b) WAIVER
OF
TIME
LIMITATIONS.—Notwith-
standing the time limitations specified in section 3744 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 3741 of such title to 
Command Sergeant Major Ramon Rodriguez of the 
United States Army for acts of valor, sacrifice, and cour-
age at the risk of his own life beyond the call of duty dur-
ing the Vietnam War. 
Æ 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
01:16 Mar 25, 2015
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00004
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6301
E:\BILLS\H1596.IH
H1596
emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with BILLS