H.R. 4580

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4580 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 4580

To authorize the President to award the Medal of Honor to retired 
Colonel Philip J. Conran for acts of valor in Laos as a member of the 
Air Force during the Vietnam War.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

July 21, 2025

Mr. Carbajal introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
Committee on Armed Services

_______________________________________________________________________

A BILL

To authorize the President to award the Medal of Honor to retired 
Colonel Philip J. Conran for acts of valor in Laos as a member of the 
Air Force 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. AUTHORITY TO AWARD THE MEDAL OF HONOR TO RETIRED COLONEL 
PHILIP J. CONRAN FOR ACTS OF VALOR IN LAOS DURING THE 
VIETNAM WAR.

(a) Findings.--Congress finds the following:
(1) While a Major in the Air Force, Philip J. Conran 
demonstrated extraordinary heroism in military operations 
against an opposing armed force as Aircraft Commander of a CH-
3E helicopter of the 21st Special Operations Squadron, 56th 
Special Operations Wing, Nakhon Phanom Royal Thai Air Base, 
Thailand, in action in Laos on October 6, 1969.
(2) The military referred to Laos as ``a classified 
location in Southeast Asia'' until decades after the Vietnam 
War ended when the role of the United States in Laos was 
declassified.
(3) While attempting to rescue the crew of a downed 
helicopter, Major Conran's aircraft was hit by intense hostile 
ground fire, yet despite the hostile ground fire, Major Conran 
continued the rescue operation and landed in the vicinity of 
the downed crewmen.
(4) Once on the ground, he successfully evacuated his 
aircraft and assumed a major role in defending the crash site 
against an overwhelming hostile force until rescue was possible 
six hours later.
(5) Major Conran repeatedly exposed himself to heavy 
barrages of enemy automatic weapons fire to extract essential 
equipment from the downed helicopters.
(6) In spite of receiving a severe leg wound while exposed 
to enemy fire and trying to strengthen their position, Major 
Conran continued to encourage the others and did not mention 
his wound until he had lost all feeling in his leg.
(7) Major Conran's decision to come to the aid of his 
downed comrades, his heroic actions above and beyond the call 
of duty while under severe hostile fire, and his positive 
attitude throughout the ordeal were instrumental in enabling 
the two helicopter crews and 44 friendly troops to withstand 
superior odds until a rescue could be made.
(b) Authorization.--Notwithstanding the time limitations specified 
in section 9274 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 award 
the Medal of Honor under section 9271 of such title to retired Colonel 
Philip J. Conran for the acts of valor in Laos described in subsection 
(a) for which he was previously awarded the Air Force Cross.
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