[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 3175 Introduced in House (IH)]
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119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 3175
To authorize the President to award the Medal of Honor to Thomas H.
Griffin for acts of valor as a member of the Army during the Vietnam
War.
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IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
May 1, 2025
Mr. Panetta introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Armed Services
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A BILL
To authorize the President to award the Medal of Honor to Thomas H.
Griffin for acts of valor as a member of the Army during the Vietnam
War.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. ACTS OF VALOR DESCRIBED.
Congress recognizes the following acts of valor by Thomas Helmut
Griffin:
(1) Thomas Helmut Griffin distinguished himself by valorous
actions against overwhelming odds while serving as a captain in
the Army, Senior Advisor, 4/5 Infantry Battalion, 2nd Infantry
Division, Army of the Republic of Vietnam.
(2) From March 1, 1969 through March 3, 1969, during the
Vietnam War, such battalion was ordered to forestall an
imminent attack on Quang Ngai City threatened by units of the
North Vietnamese Army (hereinafter, ``NVA''). The 4/5 Battalion
engaged unabatedly with an entrenched NVA regiment over the
course of three days. Captain Griffin (hereinafter, ``CPT
Griffin'') risked his life and disregarded his personal safety,
all above and beyond his duty, on some 20 occasions, to lead
his battalion in the fight as well as direct gunships, air, and
artillery strikes on the enemy positions.
(3) During the initial phase of battle, CPT Griffin made
numerous trips across 50 meters of open ground, while under
heavy automatic weapon, rocket, and small arms fire, to advise
on the conduct of the battle and better direct strikes against
enemy forces. Fearing slaughter of his soldiers, CPT Griffin,
with one of his counterparts from the Army of the Republic of
Vietnam (hereinafter, ``ARVN''), charged directly into heavy
enemy fire and assaulted a machine gun bunker. CPT Griffin
continued these runs, despite the enemy shooting the heels off
CPT Griffin's boots.
(4) After taking out the NVA bunker, CPT Griffin brandished
the captured machine gun and rocket launcher to exhort his
battalion out of the kill zone and continue the assault into
the enemy entrenchments while remaining exposed to heavy fire.
CPT Griffin's raw and intense close combat leadership
galvanized his battalion to move out of the kill zone and
continue their mission.
(5) CPT Griffin's ARVN counterpart was struck by close
fire, and CPT Griffin unhesitatingly carried the wounded
commander to safety while shielding him with his own body
against rocket and artillery fire. CPT Griffin proceeded to
carry four more wounded soldiers to safety while protecting
them with his own body, returning each time against devastating
enemy fire. While leading the final attack, CPT Griffin was hit
three times in the chest by enemy small arms fire, yet
continued to lead at the forefront of his battalion until the
mission was completed. Under CPT Griffin's command and
leadership, the 4/5 Battalion continued to reduce the enemy
regiment's fighting capacity.
(6) CPT Griffin's personal leadership in intense close
combat resulted in a major win for his battalion against
overwhelming odds, killing 93 enemy soldiers and saving the
lives of over 300 allied soldiers by galvanizing and leading
them out of the kill zone.
(7) CPT Griffin'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.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress finds the following with regards to the original decision
to award a Silver Star to Thomas Helmut Griffin:
(1) When awarding him the Silver Star, CPT Griffin'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) Congress notes that although CPT Griffin was struck
three times by enemy fire, and at one point was completely
surrounded by the enemy, he continued to fight and lead his
battalion against devastating and overwhelming enemy fire.
(3) Congress notes that CPT Griffin's Commanding Officer,
Colonel Dean E. Hutter (ret.), sent a letter to the Department
of the Army dated November 6, 2013, in which he accounts for
the revelation of additional, substantive and material evidence
not known at the time of the decision to award the Silver Star,
and in which he describes as compelling ``the justice of
upgrading CPT Griffin's sustained and varied acts of combat
valor to their rightful level of recognition, the Medal of
Honor''.
(4) Congress further notes that Colonel Hutter issued a
letter to former United States Representative Sam Farr on
September 15, 2011, noting his support for an upgrade from a
Silver Star to a Medal of Honor, having recognized CPT
Griffin's acts of valor as, ``numerous, selfless demonstrations
of personal risk in pressing a close-combat attack against a
well-entrenched element of a battalion-size enemy formation''.
SEC. 3. AUTHORIZATION OF AWARD OF MEDAL OF HONOR TO THOMAS HELMUT
GRIFFIN FOR ACTS OF VALOR AS A MEMBER OF THE ARMY DURING
THE VIETNAM WAR.
(a) Authorization.--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 is authorized to award
the Medal of Honor, under section 7271 of such title, to Thomas Helmut
Griffin for the acts of valor described in subsection (b).
(b) Acts of Valor Described.--The acts of valor described in this
subsection are the actions of Thomas H. Griffin during the period of
March 1 through March 3, 1969, while serving as a captain in the Army
during the Vietnam War, for which he was previously awarded the Silver
Star.
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