This bill directs Congress to present a single Congressional Gold Medal to the service members of the Military Assistance Command Vietnam–Studies and Observations Group (MACV-SOG). It recognizes their bravery and service in South Vietnam, North Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia during the Vietnam War. The Secretary of the Treasury will strike the gold medal. After the presentation, the gold medal must be given to the Smithsonian Institution for display and research. The Secretary may also strike and sell bronze duplicate medals.
If enacted, Congress will award one gold medal to MACV-SOG service members as a formal recognition of their service. The Smithsonian will hold and may display the gold medal. Bronze duplicates may be sold to cover costs. The United States Mint will produce the medals and handle sales.
The bill allows charging the costs of making the medals to the United States Mint Public Enterprise Fund. Bronze duplicates are to be sold at a price sufficient to cover production costs, including labor, materials, dies, machinery use, and overhead. Proceeds from those sales will be deposited into the Mint Public Enterprise Fund. No specific dollar amounts are provided.
The bill's findings describe MACV-SOG as a small, elite joint task force that conducted high-risk reconnaissance, direct action, rescue missions, and covert operations from 1964 to 1972. Supporters say the unit showed bravery, suffered many killed or missing, helped shape modern special operations, and was not publicly acknowledged for decades. They argue a Congressional Gold Medal is appropriate recognition.
No publicly available information.