[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 3531 Introduced in House (IH)]
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119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 3531
To posthumously award a Congressional Gold Medal to Sergeant Alfredo
``Freddy'' Gonzalez, in recognition of his heroism in the Vietnam War
in February 1968.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
May 21, 2025
Ms. De La Cruz introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Financial Services
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To posthumously award a Congressional Gold Medal to Sergeant Alfredo
``Freddy'' Gonzalez, in recognition of his heroism in the Vietnam War
in February 1968.
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 Alfredo `Freddy' Gonzalez
Congressional Gold Medal Act''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress finds the following:
(1) Alfredo Gonzalez was posthumously awarded the Medal of
Honor for heroism in the Vietnam War in February 1968.
(2) Gonzalez was born May 23, 1946, in Edinburg, Texas. He
graduated from Lamar Grammar School, 1955, and from Edinburg
High School, 1965.
(3) Gonzalez enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve at
San Antonio, Texas, June 3, 1965, and was discharged to enlist
as an active-duty Marine, July 6, 1965.
(4) He completed recruit training with the 3d Recruit
Training Battalion, Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego,
September 1965, and individual combat training with the 2d
Battalion, 2d Infantry Training Regiment, Marine Corps Base,
Camp Pendleton, California, October 1965.
(5) After completing individual combat training, he became
a rifleman with Headquarters and Service Company, 1st
Reconnaissance Battalion, 1st Marine Division, and served in
that capacity until January 1966. Following this, he saw a one-
year tour of duty as a rifleman and squadron leader with
Company L, 3d Battalion, 4th Marines, 3d Marine Division. He
was promoted to private first class on Jan. 1, 1966, to lance
corporal on Oct. 1, 1966, and to corporal on Dec. 1, 1966.
(6) Upon returning to the United States in February 1967,
he joined to 3d Replacement Company, Staging Battalion, Marine
Corps Base, Camp Pendleton, for transfer to the Far East.
(7) On July 1, 1967, he was promoted to sergeant, and later
that month arrived in the Republic of Vietnam. He served as a
squad leader and platoon sergeant with the 3d Platoon, Company
A, 1st Battalion, 1st Marines, 1st Marine Division.
(8) While serving as platoon commander, 3d Platoon, Company
A, on 31 January 1968, during the initial phase of Operation
Hue City, Sgt. Gonzalez' unit was formed as a reaction force
and deployed to Hue to relieve the pressure on the beleaguered
city. While moving by truck convoy along Route No. 1, near the
village of Lang Van Lrong, the marines received a heavy volume
of enemy fire. Sgt. Gonzalez aggressively maneuvered the
marines in his platoon, and directed their fire until the area
was cleared of snipers. Immediately after crossing a river
south of Hue, the column was again hit by intense enemy fire.
One of the marines on top of a tank was wounded and fell to the
ground in an exposed position. With complete disregard for his
safety, Sgt. Gonzalez ran through the fire-swept area to the
assistance of his injured comrade. He lifted him up and though
receiving fragmentation wounds during the rescue, he carried
the wounded marine to a covered position for treatment. Due to
the increased volume and accuracy of enemy fire from a
fortified machine-gun bunker on the side of the road, the
company was temporarily halted. Realizing the gravity of the
situation, Sgt. Gonzalez exposed himself to the enemy fire and
moved his platoon along the east side of a bordering rice paddy
to a dike directly across from the bunker. Though fully aware
of the danger involved, he moved to the fire-swept road and
destroyed the hostile position with hand grenades. Although
seriously wounded again on 3 February, he steadfastly refused
medical treatment and continued to supervise his men and lead
the attack. On 4 February, the enemy had again pinned the
company down, inflicting heavy casualties with automatic-
weapons and rocket fire. Sgt. Gonzalez, utilizing a number of
light antitank assault weapons, fearlessly moved from position
to position firing numerous rounds at the heavily fortified
enemy emplacements. He successfully knocked out a rocket
position and suppressed much of the enemy fire before falling
mortally wounded. The heroism, courage, and dynamic leadership
displayed by Sgt. Gonzalez reflected great credit upon himself
and the Marine Corps and were in keeping with the highest
traditions of the U.S. Naval Service. He gallantly gave his
life for his country.
(9) His complete list of medals and decorations include:
the Medal of Honor, the Purple Heart, the Presidential Unit
Citation, the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam
Service Medal with two bronze stars, the Vietnamese Cross of
Gallantry with star, the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with
palm, the Military Merit Medal and the Republic of Vietnam
Campaign Medal. He also serves as the namesake for USS Gonzalez
(DDG 66).
SEC. 3. CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDAL.
(a) Award Authorized.--The Speaker of the House of Representatives
and the President pro tempore of the Senate shall make appropriate
arrangements for the award, on behalf of the Congress, of a gold medal
of appropriate design dedicated to Sergeant Alfredo Gonzalez, in
recognition of his heroism in the Vietnam War in February 1968.
(b) Design and Striking.--For the purposes of the award referred to
in subsection (a), the Secretary of the Treasury (referred to in this
Act as the ``Secretary'') shall strike the gold medal with suitable
emblems, devices, and inscriptions, to be determined by the Secretary.
(c) Museum of South Texas History.--Following the award of the gold
medal described in subsection (a), the gold medal shall be given to the
Museum of South Texas History, where it shall be displayed as
appropriate and made available for research.
SEC. 4. DUPLICATE MEDALS.
The Secretary may strike and sell duplicates in bronze of the gold
medals struck under section 3, at a price sufficient to cover the costs
thereof, including labor, materials, dies, use of machinery, and
overhead expenses.
SEC. 5. STATUS OF MEDALS.
(a) National Medals.--The medals struck under this Act are national
medals for purposes of chapter 51 of title 31, United States Code.
(b) Numismatic Items.--For purposes of sections 5134 and 5136 of
title 31, United States Code, all medals struck under this Act shall be
considered to be numismatic items.
SEC. 6. AUTHORITY TO USE FUND AMOUNTS; PROCEEDS OF SALE.
(a) Authority To Use Fund Amounts.--There is authorized to be
charged against the United States Mint Public Enterprise Fund such
amounts as may be necessary to pay for the costs of the medals struck
under this Act.
(b) Proceeds of Sale.--Amounts received from the sale of duplicate
bronze medals authorized under section 3 shall be deposited into the
United States Mint Public Enterprise Fund.
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