Spec. 4 Robert Towles, who fought in the Vietnam War nominated for Medal Of Honor

4 soldiers from past wars nominated for MoH
By Michael Hoffman - Staff writer
Posted : Monday Jan 10, 2011 5:46:25 EST
Ancestors of 1st Lt. Alonzo Cushing found the Civil War soldier’s name in the 2011 defense authorization bill along with such futuristic initiatives as the Joint Strike Fighter.

Cushing’s name appears 147 years after he died on the third day of the Battle of Gettysburg.

He and three other soldiers from past wars had their names added to the legislation, qualifying them to receive the Medal of Honor, the nation’s highest award for military valor.

Cushing is joined by Pvt. John Sipe, who also fought in the Civil War; Chaplain (Capt.) Emil Kapaun, a prisoner of war in Korea; and Spec. 4 Robert Towles, who fought in the Vietnam War.

Each military service has a time limit to submit troops for the Medal of Honor. The Army and Air Force set the deadline at two years after the action for which they are nominated, while the Navy and Marine Corps lengthen the deadline to three.

Once past the limits, Congress must approve an extension. Each year, lawmakers submit the names of service members for inclusion in the annual defense policy bill rather than as individual pieces of legislation, in hopes of winning easier approval.
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4 soldiers from past wars nominated for MoH

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A Lawmaker’s MoH Push for WWII Icon

January 11, 2011
Military.com|by Bryant Jordan
A Texas congresswoman says she will soon file legislation to waive the statute of limitations on awarding the Medal of Honor in an effort to bestow the country's supreme valor award to one of the iconic figures of World War II.

It will not be the first time Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson has filed her bill on behalf of Doris "Dorie" Miller. Miller was the African-American mess attendant who took control of the machine gun on deck of the USS West Virginia on Dec. 7, 1941, at Pearl Harbor; for some 15 minutes, he was fully exposed to the guns and bombs of attacking Japanese aircraft as he returned fire.

He was awarded the Navy Cross, but as early as 1942 lawmakers -- sensing racism played a part in the decision -- have pushed for the Medal of Honor.

Johnson believes Miller deserves the award, and she champions him as both a hometown hero and a national one.

"Doris Miller was a friend of my father's and a neighbor in Waco, Texas, when I was a little girl," said Johnson, who was 6 when Miller made his stand on the West Virginia. With so much time gone by, Johnson's bill seeks to have the time limit waived for awarding the Medal of Honor to Miller.

Miller's bill is not the only legislation seeking to have the Medal of Honor awarded to a hero of a past war.
A Lawmaker’s MoH Push for WWII Icon