H.R. 3175 — To authorize the President to award the Medal of Honor to Thomas H. Griffin for acts of valor as a member of the Army during the Vietnam War.

This section recognizes acts of valor by Army Captain Thomas Helmut Griffin during a three-day battle from March 1-3, 1969, against a North Vietnamese Army regiment threatening Quang Ngai City, Vietnam. It describes Griffin's leadership of the 4/5 Infantry Battalion of the Army of the Republic of Vietnam—including multiple exposures to enemy fire to direct strikes, assaulting a machine gun bunker, evacuating five wounded soldiers under fire, and continuing to lead despite three chest wounds—which resulted in 93 enemy killed and over 300 allied lives saved.

This section states congressional findings regarding the Silver Star award to Thomas Helmut Griffin, including that (1) his chain of command was unaware of the full extent of his valorous actions above and beyond the call of duty; (2) he was struck three times by enemy fire, surrounded by the enemy, and continued to fight and lead his battalion against overwhelming enemy fire; (3) his commanding officer, Colonel Dean E. Hutter (ret.), sent a letter dated November 6, 2013, to the Department of the Army citing additional evidence and supporting a Medal of Honor upgrade; and (4) Colonel Hutter sent a letter dated September 15, 2011, to former Representative Sam Farr expressing similar support.

This section authorizes the President to award the Medal of Honor to Thomas Helmut Griffin under 10 U.S.C. 7271 for acts of valor as an Army captain during the Vietnam War from March 1 through March 3, 1969 (for which he was previously awarded the Silver Star), notwithstanding the time limitations in 10 U.S.C. 7274 (i.e., generally requiring the award within five years of the qualifying act, a recommendation statement within three years, and supporting departmental records).