Introduction of A Bill to Award the Medal of Honor to Command Sergeant Major Ramon Rodriguez

Floor Speech

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Mr. CORREA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce a bill 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.

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 Ramon Rodriguez served as a Staff Sergeant in Vietnam for 32 months, becoming one of the most decorated combat soldiers to serve in the Vietnam War.

In recognition of his heroism and fearless actions even when wounded, Staff Sergeant Rodriguez received many medals and awards--including three Bronze Stars with V, two Oak Leaf Clusters, and five Purple Hearts.

There are many examples of Staff Sergeant Rodriguez's bravery, but I will highlight four of them. On August 16, 1967, he volunteered to guide a helicopter by flashlight to evacuate wounded platoon members. Despite being the target of enemy fire, Staff Sergeant Rodriguez remained exposed until the helicopter reached the pick-up zone. On November 8, 1967, he entered a tunnel complex despite the presence of enemy combatants and the risk of a cave-in. Staff Sergeant Rodriguez employed grenades to root out the enemy and prevent then escape. On January 24, 1968, his outpost came under a heavy ground assault. The platoon leader was mortally wounded so Staff Sergeant Rodriguez assumed command. He administered aid and brought the wounded to safety, despite being wounded himself--all while fending off attackers. Staff Sergeant Rodriguez then rallied the remaining men in the platoon and fought off the enemy onslaught. On February 26, 1968, his platoon was ambushed during a search and clear mission. Staff Sergeant Rodriguez assumed command after the platoon leader was wounded. He maneuvered the platoon to return fire and removed all wounded personnel from danger.

After the war, Staff Sergeant Rodriguez graduated from the U.S. Ranger School with distinguished honors, led the Special Forces scuba team at Fort Gulick, Panama, and in 1981, earned the rank of Command Sergeant Major at the United States Sergeant Mann Academy in Fort Bliss, Texas.

Command Sergeant Major Rodriguez officially retired from the Army in 1983 and was inducted into the Ranger Hall of Fame on June 11, 2008. Rodriguez currently serves as the Chairman of the Military and Veterans Affairs Commission for the County of Los Angeles, California.

I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring this brave hero Command Sergeant Major 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.

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