To authorize the President to award the Medal of Honor to Special Forces Command Sergeant Major Ramon Rodriguez of the Army for acts of valor during the Vietnam War.

Bill: 118-hr-9114
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Correa, J. Luis [D-CA-46]
Introduced: 2024-07-23
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Private Legislation
Latest action: action_date: 2024-07-23
text: Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services.

Summaries:
action_date: 2024-07-23
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p>This bill authorizes the President to award the Medal of Honor to Command Sergeant Major Ramon Rodriguez for acts of valor during his service in the Army during the Vietnam War.</p>

tv_txt: V 118th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 9114 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES July 23, 2024 Mr. Correa 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 Army for acts of valor during the Vietnam War.

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 findings: (1) At the age of 17, Ramon Rodriguez of Wilmington, 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 medals and awards in recognition of his heroism and acts of valor against hostile enemy forces. (3) Staff Sergeant Rodriguez’s courage in combat 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 exposed to intense enemy fire, Staff Sergeant Rodriguez’s distinguished service was further acknowledged 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 Rodriguez 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 escape. (7) On January 24, 1968, his outpost came under a heavy barrage of enemy mortars, followed by a ground assault. The platoon leader was mortally wounded, and Staff Sergeant Rodriguez immediately 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 remaining men of the platoon, and courageously managed 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 pinned down by enemy fire. Staff Sergeant Rodriguez 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 completed two more assignments before officially retiring from the Army in 1983. (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 soldiers who served in the Vietnam War. (16) Rodriguez currently serves as the Chairman of the Military and Veterans Affairs Commission 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 Notwithstanding 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.