Authorizes and requests the President to award the Medal of Honor to Joseph T. Getherall of Hacienda Heights, California, for acts of valor on December 22, 1966, while serving in the Marine Corps during the Vietnam War.
[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 974 Introduced in House (IH)]
110th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 974
To authorize and request the President to award the Medal of Honor to
Joseph T. Getherall, of Hacienda Heights, California, for acts of valor
in the Republic of Vietnam on December 22, 1966, while serving in the
Marine Corps during the Vietnam War.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
February 8, 2007
Mrs. Napolitano introduced the following bill; which was referred to
the Committee on Armed Services
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To authorize and request the President to award the Medal of Honor to
Joseph T. Getherall, of Hacienda Heights, California, for acts of valor
in the Republic of Vietnam on December 22, 1966, while serving in the
Marine Corps 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. AUTHORIZATION AND REQUEST FOR AWARD OF MEDAL OF HONOR TO
JOSEPH T. GETHERALL, OF HACIENDA HEIGHTS, CALIFORNIA, FOR
ACTS OF VALOR DURING THE VIETNAM WAR.
(a) Authorization.--The President is authorized and requested to
award the Medal of Honor under section 6241 of title 10, United States
Code, to Joseph T. Getherall, of Hacienda Heights, California, for the
acts of valor during the Vietnam War described in subsection (b).
(b) Action Described.--The acts of valor referred to in subsection
(a) are the actions of Joseph T. Getherall in the Republic of Vietnam
on December 22, 1966, while serving as a squad leader in Company M of
the Third Battalion, Twenty-Sixth Marines, Third Marine Division,
during ``Operation Chinook''. Company M was occupying a night defensive
position in the area of the Co Bi-Than Tan Corridor, Thua Thien
Province, when the Marines came under intense small arms and mortar
fire from the 802nd Viet Cong Battalion. Unhesitatingly exposing
himself to intense small arms, automatic weapons, and mortar fire,
Sergeant Getherall repeatedly moved across open terrain to effectively
direct his squad. Sergeant Getherall was seriously wounded in both legs
and arms by an exploding mortar round. Despite his painful injuries,
Sergeant Getherall refused medical evacuation and continued to pinpoint
enemy targets, direct fire, resupply his men with ammunition, and
ensure the integrity of the perimeter defense, which spread across
fifty meters of open terrain. With most of the enemy ground assaults
throughout the night concentrated in front of his squad's position,
Sergeant Getherall continually exposed himself to enemy fire. He
personally killed several of the enemy attackers with his own rifle
fire. During one of the enemy assaults, a Marine was wounded in the
open, and Sergeant Getherall fearlessly moved across the hazardous open
terrain under intense enemy fire and moved the Marine to cover. During
another assault, Sergeant Getherall observed a Viet Cong about to throw
a grenade and killed him with rifle fire, but not before the enemy
soldier threw the grenade, which landed among Sergeant Getherall's
squad. Sergeant Getherall shouted a warning to his men and with
complete disregard for his own life and under heavy enemy fire, he was
able to get to the grenade and jump on it. He then picked it up and
threw it back at the enemy where it exploded a few meters away,
wounding Sergeant Getherall for a second time in one of his legs. By
his prompt and courageous action in the face of almost certain death,
he saved several of his squad members from death or serious injury.
During the remainder of the night, he moved among his men, encouraging
them and ensuring that there was maximum security and firepower to
repulse subsequent attacks. Inspired by his selfless courage and
aggressive fighting spirit, his squad members repulsed a number of
savage attacks, while inflicting heavy casualties on a determined and
numerically superior enemy force. By his outstanding leadership,
resolute determination, and unfaltering devotion to duty in the face of
grave personal danger, Sergeant Getherall upheld the highest traditions
of the Marine Corps. Six of Sergeant Getherall's squad members and his
commanding officer have submitted sworn affidavits attesting to his
heroic actions. The Platoon Commander at the time, Gary Loveridge,
recommended Sergeant Getherall for a Silver Star, but his
recommendation was lost by the Marine Corps. In a letter dated April
14, 2004, Mr. Loveridge wrote that his original Silver Star
recommendation be upgraded to a Navy Cross. This letter was written
before Mr. Loveridge was made aware of the fact that Sergeant Getherall
jumped on an enemy grenade. In June 2004 at a reunion, two of Sergeant
Getherall's former squad members told Mr. Loveridge for the first time
about the action of Sergeant Getherall in jumping on the enemy grenade
to save their lives during the battle. This updated information caused
Mr. Loveridge to rewrite his Summary of Action and Citation to include
this additional action.
(c) Waiver of Time Limitations.--The award under subsection (a) may
be made without regard to the time limitations specified in section
6248 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
Navy or Marine Corps.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services.
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR 2/12/2007 E303-304)
Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.
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