This bill authorizes the President to award the Medal of Honor to Captain Thomas H. Griffin for extraordinary valor displayed as an Army advisor during the Vietnam War.
Jimmy Panetta
Representative
CA-19
This bill authorizes the President to award the Medal of Honor to Captain Thomas H. Griffin for his extraordinary valor during the Vietnam War in March 1969. It recognizes his repeated acts of heroism, including leading assaults and saving wounded soldiers under heavy fire. The legislation bypasses standard time limits to ensure his distinguished service is recognized with the nation's highest military decoration.
Congress Moves to Upgrade Silver Star to Medal of Honor for Vietnam War Hero Captain Thomas Griffin
This legislation aims to authorize the President to award the Medal of Honor to Captain Thomas Helmut Griffin for his extraordinary valor during the Vietnam War, specifically for actions taken between March 1 and March 3, 1969. The bill is essentially a legislative fix, overriding the standard statutory time limits that usually apply to these awards (SEC. 3), based on new evidence that suggests his original recognition—the Silver Star—was insufficient.
The Backstory: From Silver Star to Highest Honor
Think of this as correcting the record for a soldier whose heroism was initially understated. Captain Griffin, serving as a Senior Advisor, led his battalion against a deeply entrenched North Vietnamese Army regiment near Quang Ngai City. The bill details acts of almost unbelievable bravery: he crossed 50 meters of open, heavily shot-at ground 20 times to coordinate air support and even charged an enemy machine gun bunker, taking it out with a counterpart (SEC. 1). He then used the captured enemy weapons to rally his unit and push them forward.
What It Means for the Record
This isn't just about a medal; it’s about recognizing the full scope of sacrifice. The bill highlights that Captain Griffin repeatedly carried wounded allied soldiers to safety, shielding them with his own body from incoming fire—and did this five times. Even after being shot three times in the chest during the final assault, he kept leading until the mission was complete. His actions are credited with saving the lives of over 300 allied soldiers and securing a major victory (SEC. 1).
Why Congress Needs to Step In
Normally, there are strict deadlines for upgrading military awards. However, Section 2 of the bill explains that new evidence—specifically a 2013 letter from his retired Commanding Officer, Colonel Dean E. Hutter—proves that the full extent of Griffin's heroism wasn't known when the Silver Star was first awarded. Colonel Hutter argued that Griffin’s consistent and varied acts of combat bravery clearly meet the criteria for the Medal of Honor. Because the standard deadlines have passed, Congress must pass this specific law (SEC. 3) to allow the President to make the award, ensuring this level of valor gets the highest possible recognition.