H.R. 5293

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5293 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 5293

To authorize the President to award the Medal of Honor to Ret. Col. 
Robert J. Graham for acts of valor while as a member of the Air Force 
during the Vietnam War.

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IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

September 10, 2025

Mr. Bresnahan 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 Ret. Col. 
Robert J. Graham for acts of valor while 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. FINDINGS.

Congress finds the following:
(1) On May 1, 1966, during Operation Birmingham in the 
Vietnam War, then-Captain Robert J. Graham launched his F-100 
Super Sabre from an alert pad at Bien Hoa Air Base, despite 
being grounded due to driving monsoon conditions. Alongside his 
flight leader, he provided close air support to an Army fire 
base which was under heavy attack by enemy forces.
(2) During the first strike pass, Capt. Graham's plane 
sustained severe damage from enemy anti-aircraft artillery 
(AAA) to the fuel boost pumps. Despite the loss, he skillfully 
kept his engine running by relying solely on gravity fuel flow, 
forcing him to fly barely above stall speed in hazardous 
weather.
(3) As Capt. Graham attempted to return to base with his 
crippled plane, an urgent request came in for support at 
another army base, which was being attacked by over 4,000 North 
Vietnamese troops, with the enemy about to breach the 
concertina wire perimeter.
(4) Despite his battle-damaged plane and his own survival 
highly unlikely, Captain Graham carried on and executed strikes 
against enemy forces under the guns of friendly Army defenders, 
a feat never attempted in combat.
(5) With complete disregard for his own safety, Capt. 
Graham made more than 15 passes, destroying all eight North 
Vietnamese AAA gun positions, neutralizing over 1,500 enemy 
troops, and saving hundreds of American lives.
(6) His actions turned the tide of the battle and remain a 
testament to the highest ideals of service and sacrifice.
(7) For his actions in Operation Birmingham on May 1, 1966, 
Capt. Graham was awarded the Silver Star.
(8) Ret. Col. Graham served four tours in Vietnam and flew 
more than 500 combat missions. He enlisted in the United States 
Air Force in 1953 and after completing basic training and 
flight school, he continued to serve 26 years as a fighter 
pilot.
(9) Ret. Col. Robert J. Graham deserves the Congressional 
Medal of Honor for his heroic actions on May 1, 1966, going 
above and beyond the call of duty, where his undaunted courage 
in the face of danger saved the lives of hundreds of his fellow 
Americans.

SEC. 2. AUTHORIZATION FOR AWARD OF MEDAL OF HONOR TO RET. COL. ROBERT 
J. GRAHAM FOR ACTS OF VALOR DURING THE VIETNAM WAR.

(a) Waiver of Time Limitations.--Notwithstanding the time 
limitations specified in section 8298 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 
award the Medal of Honor under section 8291 of such title to Robert J. 
Graham for the acts of valor described in subsection (b).
(b) Acts of Valor Described.--The acts of valor described in this 
subsection are the actions of Robert J. Graham, as a captain in the Air 
Force, on May 1, 1966.
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