Bill > HR5993

This bill aims to award a Congressional Gold Medal to the members of the Military Assistance Command Vietnam-Studies and Observations Group (MACV-SOG), a highly specialized joint military task force that conducted covert and high-risk operations during the Vietnam War from 1964 to 1972. The bill recognizes MACV-SOG's extraordinary contributions, including deep-penetration reconnaissance, sabotage, rescue missions, and psychological operations across South Vietnam, North Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia. The proposed medal honors the unit's significant impact, which included diverting up to 50,000 North Vietnamese troops and setting standards for modern special operations forces. The legislation mandates that the Speaker of the House and Senate President pro tempore arrange the medal's presentation, with the Secretary of the Treasury responsible for designing and striking the gold medal. After the presentation, the medal will be given to the Smithsonian Institution for display and research, with the recommendation that it be made available at appropriate locations and events related to MACV-SOG. The bill also authorizes the production and sale of duplicate bronze medals to cover production costs, and specifies that the medals will be considered national medals and numismatic items under existing federal regulations. Notably, the bill highlights that 12 MACV-SOG operators have been awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor, and approximately 1,579 personnel were listed as missing or killed during their service.

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https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/5993/all-info