# Plain Language Summary: Medal of Honor for Marcelino Serna

This bill allows the President to give the Medal of Honor—America's highest military award—to Marcelino Serna, a World War I soldier who died many years ago. The medal would be awarded after his death, which is why it's called a "posthumous" award.

Here's the story: Marcelino Serna was born in Mexico but volunteered to fight for the United States in World War I when he was just 20 years old. When he arrived in France with his Army unit, military officials discovered he wasn't yet a U.S. citizen and offered to send him home. He chose to stay and fight anyway. During the war, Serna performed extraordinary acts of bravery—he single-handedly fought enemy soldiers, killed them, and captured prisoners. His courage earned him numerous medals from the United States, France, Italy, and Britain, including the Distinguished Service Cross. He became the most decorated World War I veteran from Texas. However, he was reportedly never given the Medal of Honor, apparently because he didn't speak enough English to be promoted.

The bill argues that Serna's brave actions deserved the Medal of Honor just as much as white soldiers who received it for similar courage. By passing this bill, Congress would authorize the President to finally give Serna this recognition. This doesn't change anything in people's daily lives, but it corrects what supporters see as a historical injustice by honoring an immigrant soldier whose heroism was overlooked for over a century.

To authorize the President to posthumously award the Medal of Honor to Marcelino Serna for acts of valor as a private in the Army during World War I.

Escobar, Veronica

 <p>This bill authorizes the President to posthumously award the Medal of Honor to Marcelino Serna for acts of valor during his service in the Army during World War I, for which he was previously awarded the Distinguished Service Cross.</p>