Bill Seeks Medal of Honor for Vietnam Vet Thomas H. Griffin, Bypassing Time Limits

This proposed legislation gives the President the green light to award the Medal of Honor to Thomas Helmut Griffin for his actions as an Army Captain during the Vietnam War. Specifically, it recognizes his heroism between March 1 and March 3, 1969, where he led his battalion against a North Vietnamese Army regiment near Quang Ngai City. The bill essentially says his previous Silver Star for these actions didn't fully capture the extent of his bravery and allows the Medal of Honor award despite rules that usually impose time limits.

A Closer Look at Courage

So, what exactly did Captain Griffin do? According to the bill (Section 1), he repeatedly put his life on the line under heavy fire. We're talking about directing strikes while exposed, personally taking out a machine gun bunker, carrying wounded soldiers to safety, and continuing to lead even after being wounded himself multiple times. The text notes his leadership resulted in significant enemy losses (93 killed) and saved over 300 allied soldiers. Section 2 highlights findings that support upgrading his award, including letters from a retired Colonel arguing the initial Silver Star fell short based on the evidence of Griffin's selfless risk-taking.

Bending the Rules for Recognition

Normally, there are strict deadlines for awarding high military honors like the Medal of Honor, outlined in Section 7274 of Title 10, U.S. Code. Decades have passed since 1969, so awarding the medal now wouldn't typically be possible. This bill directly addresses that by including a provision (Section 3) that specifically authorizes the President to award the medal to Griffin notwithstanding those time limits. It's a legislative workaround designed to ensure extraordinary valor, recognized later through further review, can still receive the nation's highest military decoration, acknowledging that the full story sometimes takes time to emerge.