Nicholas Dockery Medal of Honor Act
Officially: “Nicholas Dockery Medal of Honor Act” Read the full text
What it does
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1Short title
This section says the Act may be called the Kareem N. Dockery Medal of Honor Act.
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1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Kareem N. Dockery Medal of Honor Act .
2Findings
This section lays out the facts Congress finds about Kareem N. Dockery's actions. On October 2, 2012, then 2nd Lieutenant Dockery was serving as an Infantry Rifle Platoon Leader with the 2nd Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team (Light), 4th Infantry Division, supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. His platoon, along with Afghan and ITS forces, was conducting combat operations in Kapisa Province, Afghanistan, when a large group of Taliban fighters ambushed them with rifle, machine gun, and rocket-propelled grenade fire. During the ambush, Dockery moved between Afghan units with his own small element, trying to rally and reinforce the partner forces. When he heard that one of his soldiers had been wounded, he moved into a courtyard to defend a small, isolated group of US soldiers, then assaulted into the next room and killed one enemy fighter with his carbine. Surrounded by more enemy fighters, he rallied the remaining 4 US soldiers to keep defending the courtyard. As the enemy kept attacking with more RPG and grenade blasts that suppressed the fire team, Dockery led a counterattack to clear the courtyard, at one point using his own body to shield a soldier from an enemy grenade explosion. The enemy then counterattacked the compound with 10 more fighters, and RPG fire and grenades wounded the entire element and destroyed the team's last covered position. Noticing that one of his noncommissioned officers was missing, Dockery moved into a nearby alley, found 2 enemy fighters dragging away an unconscious US soldier, and killed both fighters in close combat. He then gave the soldier CPR and first aid, saving his life. To mark the element's position for friendly helicopter gunships, Dockery moved to the roof of the compound, still under enemy fire, and fired smoke grenades. For these actions, Dockery received the Silver Star for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action against the enemy, showing heroism and selflessness above and beyond the call of duty at the risk of his life. Congress finds that Dockery deserves the Medal of Honor for protecting his element from an enemy ambush and killing 3 enemy fighters while repeatedly risking his own life for his fellow soldiers.
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2. Findings Congress finds the following: (1) On October 2, 2012, then 2nd Lieutenant Kareem N. Dockery was serving as an Infantry Rifle Platoon Leader with the 2nd Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team (Light), 4th Infantry Division, in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM. (2) Dockery’s platoon and accompanying Afghan and ITS forces were conducting combat operations in Kapisa Province, Afghanistan when they were ambushed with rifle, machine gun, and rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) fire by a large group of Taliban fighters. (3) During the ambush, Dockery moved between Afghan units with his own small element, attempting to rally and reinforce partner forces with his own small element. (4) Hearing that one of his soldiers was wounded, Lieutenant Dockery moved inside a courtyard to defend the small, isolated group of United States soldiers. (5) He assaulted into the next room to kill 1 enemy fighter with his carbine. (6) Surrounded by more enemy fighters, Dockery rallied the remaining 4 United States soldiers to continue to defend the courtyard. (7) As the enemy continued its assault, additional RPG and grenade blasts suppressed the fire team. Attempting to regain the momentum, Dockery led a counterattack to clear the courtyard, at one point using his body to shield a soldier from an enemy grenade explosion. (8) The enemy again counter-attacked the compound with 10 additional fighters. RPG fire and grenades wounded the entire element and destroyed the last covered position of Lieutenant Dockery’s team. (9) Noticing that one of his NCOs was missing, Lieutenant Dockery moved into a nearby alley and found 2 enemy fighters dragging away an unconscious United States soldier. Lieutenant Dockery assaulted the 2 fighters and killed them both in close combat. (10) Dockery then administered CPR and first aid to the soldier, saving his life. (11) To mark the element’s position for friendly helicopter gunships to suppress the remaining embassy, Dockery then moved to the roof of the compound, still under enemy fire, and fired smoke grenades. (12) In recognition of his actions, Kareem N. Dockery received the Silver Star for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action against the enemy, demonstrating heroism and selflessness above and beyond the call of duty at the risk of life, keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect credit upon himself, 4th Infantry Brigade, 4th Infantry Division and the United States Army. (13) Kareem N. Dockery deserves the Medal of Honor for his extraordinary heroism and selflessness as he successfully protected his element from an enemy ambush and killed 3 enemy fighters, while repeatedly putting his life in danger for the safety of his fellow soldiers.
3Authorization for award of Medal of Honor to Kareem N. Dockery for acts of valor as a member of the Army while serving in Afghanistan
This section would authorize the President to award the Medal of Honor to Kareem N. Dockery under section 7271 of title 10, United States Code, despite the time limits in section 7274 of that title or any other time limit that would otherwise apply to awarding this kind of medal to someone who served in the armed forces. The acts of valor the medal would be awarded for are the actions described in section 2 of this Act: what Dockery did as a member of the Army on October 2, 2012, while serving in Afghanistan, for which he had previously received the Silver Star.
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3. Authorization for award of Medal of Honor to Kareem N. Dockery for acts of valor as a member of the Army while serving in Afghanistan (a) Authorization Notwithstanding the time limitations specified in section 7274 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 7271 of such title, to Kareem N. Dockery for the acts of valor described in subsection (b). (b) Acts of valor described The acts of valor described in section 2 of this Act are the actions of Kareem N. Dockery, as a member of the Army, on October 2, 2012, while serving in Afghanistan, for which he was previously awarded the Silver Star.
Where it is
In the House.