# Plain Language Summary of H.R. 2399

This bill gives the President permission to award the Medal of Honor to Thomas H. Griffin, a retired Army captain, for his actions during the Vietnam War. Griffin originally received the Silver Star—a lower military decoration—for his service, but this bill allows that award to be upgraded to the Medal of Honor, which is the highest military decoration a soldier can receive.

Here's what Griffin did to earn this recognition. In March 1969, during a three-day battle near Quang Ngai City in Vietnam, Griffin's battalion faced an entrenched North Vietnamese Army regiment. Griffin repeatedly exposed himself to intense enemy fire—running across open ground about 50 times while bullets, rockets, and automatic weapons fire surrounded him—to direct his troops and coordinate air and artillery strikes. At one point, he charged directly into heavy enemy fire with a Vietnamese counterpart to assault a machine gun bunker. After destroying it, he used the captured weapons to rally his soldiers out of the kill zone and continue their assault. When his Vietnamese counterpart was wounded, Griffin carried him to safety while shielding him with his own body. He then rescued four more wounded soldiers the same way, returning repeatedly through devastating fire. During the final attack, Griffin was shot three times in the chest but kept fighting and leading until the mission was complete. His actions resulted in 93 enemy soldiers killed and over 300 allied soldiers saved.

The bill notes that when Griffin originally received the Silver Star, his commanding officers didn't know the full extent of his heroism. New evidence later emerged showing just how extraordinary his actions were. His former commanding officer has since written letters supporting an upgrade to the Medal of Honor, calling Griffin's actions "compelling" examples of combat valor that deserve the nation's highest recognition. This bill simply removes the time restrictions that normally prevent such upgrades and authorizes the President to make this award.

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.

Panetta, Jimmy

 <p>This bill authorizes the President to award the Medal of Honor to Thomas Helmut Griffin for acts of valor as a captain in the Army during the Vietnam War, for which he was previously awarded the Silver Star.</p>