Sergeant First Class Jorge Otero Barreto Medal of Honor Act

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 9595 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 9595

To authorize the President to posthumously award the Medal of Honor to
Sergeant First Class Jorge Otero Barreto for acts of valor as a member
                  of the Army during the Vietnam War.

_______________________________________________________________________

                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                              July 6, 2026

Mr. Hernandez (for himself and Ms. Velazquez) introduced the following
      bill; which was referred to the Committee on Armed Services

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL

To authorize the President to posthumously award the Medal of Honor to
Sergeant First Class Jorge Otero Barreto for acts of valor as a member
                  of the Army during the Vietnam War.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Sergeant First Class Jorge Otero
Barreto Medal of Honor Act''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    Congress finds the following:
            (1) Sergeant First Class Jorge Otero Barreto of the United
        States Army, born in Vega Baja, Puerto Rico, served the United
        States with extraordinary distinction, unwavering courage, and
        unparalleled dedication throughout his military career from
        1959 to 1970.
            (2) Sergeant First Class Jorge Otero Barreto distinguished
        himself as the first Puerto Rican graduate of the Army Air
        Assault School and went on to serve five consecutive voluntary
        tours of duty in the Republic of Vietnam, reflecting
        exceptional courage, sacrifice, and devotion to the United
        States.
            (3) Throughout his five combat tours, Sergeant First Class
        Jorge Otero Barreto participated in more than 200 combat and
        aerial missions, demonstrating extraordinary courage and
        resilience under fire while protecting his fellow soldiers and
        carrying out missions with distinction as a member of the 101st
        Airborne Division and the 82nd Airborne Division.
            (4) Sergeant First Class Jorge Otero Barreto earned 38
        military decorations in recognition of his extraordinary valor,
        service, and sacrifice during the Vietnam War, including two
        Silver Stars, five Bronze Star Medals with ``V'' Device for
        valor, five Purple Hearts awarded for wounds sustained in
        combat, and seven Air Medals.
            (5) On May 1, 1968, during Operation Carentan II near Hu=,
        Sergeant First Class Jorge Otero Barreto's platoon was
        subjected to a fierce, multi-wave assault by an overwhelming
        North Vietnamese Army force. Sergeant First Class Otero Barreto
        single-handedly neutralized a fortified enemy machine gun
        emplacement and its three-man crew, then led his squad in
        clearing three additional enemy bunkers, saving the lives of
        his fellow soldiers.
            (6) Sergeant First Class Jorge Otero Barreto passed away on
        October 14, 2024, at the age of 87, leaving behind an enduring
        legacy of service that extended far beyond the battlefield,
        including decades of work as a veterans' counselor helping
        fellow veterans overcome post-traumatic stress and substance
        abuse.
            (7) The extraordinary heroism, gallantry, and selflessness
        demonstrated by Sergeant First Class Jorge Otero Barreto merit
        the highest honor that the United States can bestow upon a
        member of the Armed Forces.

SEC. 3. AUTHORIZATION FOR POSTHUMOUS AWARD OF MEDAL OF HONOR TO
              SERGEANT FIRST CLASS JORGE OTERO BARRETO FOR ACTS OF
              VALOR AS A MEMBER OF THE ARMY DURING THE VIETNAM WAR.

    Notwithstanding the time limitations specified in section 7274 of
title 10, United States Code, or any other time limitation with respect
to the awarding of certain medals to persons who served in the Armed
Forces, the President is authorized to posthumously award the Medal of
Honor, under section 7271 of such title, to Sergeant First Class Jorge
Otero Barreto for acts of valor as a member of the Army during the
Vietnam War.
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