To authorize the President to posthumously award the Medal of Honor to Sergeant First Class Jorge Otero Barret for acts of valor as a member of the Army during the Vietnam War.
About This Bill
Committee
Latest Action · July 6, 2026
Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services.
This bill authorizes the President to posthumously award the Medal of Honor to Sergeant First Class Jorge Otero Barreto, a Puerto Rican Army veteran who served in the Vietnam War and passed away in October 2024 at age 87. Barreto completed five consecutive voluntary combat tours in Vietnam, participated in over 200 combat missions, and earned 38 military decorations including two Silver Stars and five Bronze Stars with valor devices. The bill highlights his exceptional heroism during Operation Carentan II in May 1968, when he single-handedly neutralized enemy machine gun positions and bunkers while protecting his fellow soldiers. The legislation waives the normal time limitations for Medal of Honor nominations, which typically must be made within a specific timeframe after the acts of valor occur. Beyond his military service, Barreto spent decades working as a veterans' counselor helping fellow veterans with post-traumatic stress and substance abuse.
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