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.
[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 3658 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
117th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 3658
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.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
June 1, 2021
Ms. Escobar (for herself, Mr. Vargas, Mr. Doggett, Ms. Barragan, Mr.
Castro of Texas, Mrs. Napolitano, Mr. Garcia of Illinois, and Mr.
Cardenas) 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
Marcelino Serna for acts of valor as a private in the Army during World
War I.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. FINDINGS.
Congress finds the following:
(1) Military service is one of the most admired and
respected vocations any one can embark upon knowing that their
commitment is to something far greater than oneself, and we
value such military service because it is dedicated to
upholding, defending, and preserving the constitution.
(2) While historically many were drafted into service
before the military became an all-volunteer service in 1973,
there were still individuals who volunteered to serve without
being drafted, and people of all walks of life, including new
immigrants, have sought to demonstrate their love, commitment,
and loyalty to this country by volunteering their lives to
service.
(3) Private Marcelino Serna was one such immigrant seeking
to demonstrate his love, commitment, and loyalty to his
country; born in Chihuahua, Mexico, Private Serna is part of a
legacy of immigrant soldiers fighting for the United States,
eager to pursue the American Dream; in 1917, without
hesitation, he volunteered to serve in the U.S. Armed Forces
against Germany at the age of 20.
(4) Private Serna was placed in the 355th Infantry of the
89th Division, and upon his arrival in France, when it was
discovered that he was not a U.S. citizen, he was given the
option to return home, however, Private Serna made the valiant
decision to serve the United States, his adoptive home.
(5) In recognition of his courageous actions, Private Serna
became the most decorated World War I veteran in Texas, with
awards from the United States, France, Italy and the United
Kingdom, which include: the World War I Victory Medal, two
Purple Hearts, the French Medaille Militaire, two French Croix
de Guerre, a French Medaille commemorative, the British War
Medal, the Italian Croce al Merito di Guerra, the French
Verdun, and the St. Mihiel Medals, as well as being
posthumously awarded Texas' Lone Star Medal of Valor in 2016.
(6) The aforementioned awards recognize Private Serna's
demonstrated bravery and remarkable service to his country in
World War I, during which time, as detailed in the military's
official citation for his receipt of the Distinguished Service
Cross and in the Texas Handbook Online, Private Serna
singlehandedly fought, killed, and captured enemy fighters in
the French theater.
(7) White contemporaries of Private Serna who engaged in
similar courageous acts during World War I have been rightfully
recognized for their valor with the Medal of Honor; however
Private Serna was reportedly passed over for the Medal of Honor
because he did not know enough English to be promoted.
(8) On May 7, 2021, recognizing that acts of valor
performed by minority service members like Private Serna have
gone unrecognized, a bipartisan Texas State House and Senate
Committee voted to unanimously award Private Serna the Texas
Legislative Medal of Honor.
(9) For his conspicuous gallantry, unwavering commitment,
and heroic actions above and beyond the call of duty to the
United States of America, Private Marcelino Serna has long
earned the Medal of Honor, an award that would allow his
descendants, fellow Texans, and Americans everywhere to
recognize his heroic deeds.
SEC. 2. AUTHORIZATION FOR AWARD OF THE MEDAL OF HONOR TO MARCELINO
SERNA FOR ACTS OF VALOR DURING WORLD WAR I.
(a) Authorization.--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 may posthumously award
the Medal of Honor under section 7272 of such title to Marcelino Serna
for the acts of valor described in the subsection (b).
(b) Acts of Valor Described.--The acts of valor described in this
subsection are the actions of Marcelino Serna as a private in the Army
during World War I, for which he was previously awarded the
Distinguished-Service Cross.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services.
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