[118th Congress Public Law 161]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[[Page 2571]]
EVERETT ALVAREZ, JR. CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDAL ACT OF 2023
[[Page 138 STAT. 2572]]
Public Law 118-161
118th Congress
An Act
To award a Congressional Gold Medal to Everett Alvarez, Jr., in
recognition of his service to the Nation. <<NOTE: Dec. 23, 2024 - [H.R.
1097]>>
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled, <<NOTE: Everett Alvarez,
Jr. Congressional Gold Medal Act of 2023.>>
SECTION 1. <<NOTE: Determination.>> SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Everett Alvarez, Jr. Congressional
Gold Medal Act of 2023''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress finds the following:
(1) Commander (CDR) Everett Alvarez, Jr., served with
distinction in the Vietnam war and made historic sacrifices for
the United States as the first United States pilot to be shot
down and captured during the Vietnam war and the second-longest
prisoner of war in United States history, surviving over eight
and half years in captivity.
(2) CDR Alvarez was born in Salinas, California, in 1937,
and was the grandchild of Mexican immigrants.
(3) CDR Alvarez attended Salinas Union High School and
Hartnell College and received a bachelor of science degree from
Santa Clara University.
(4) In 1960, CDR Alvarez joined the United States Navy and
was commissioned as Ensign.
(5) After receiving his commission, CDR Alvarez attended
flight training at the Naval Air Basic Training Command in
Pensacola, Florida.
(6) In June 1961, CDR Alvarez was transferred to the Naval
Auxiliary Air Station in Kingsville, Texas, where he trained
until December 1961.
(7) CDR Alvarez was promoted to Lieutenant (junior grade) in
April 1962.
(8) In June 1962, CDR Alvarez joined Attack Squadron 144,
nicknamed the ``Roadrunners'', which was deployed to the Gulf of
Tonkin prior to the United States entrance in the Vietnam war in
August 1964.
(9) On August 5, 1964, while flying Operation Pierce Arrow
from the USS Constellation near the Vietnam-China border, CDR
Alvarez's A-4 Skyhawk was shot down and he was captured by a
Vietnamese fishing vessel.
(10) Upon capture, CDR Alvarez was taken to the Hoa Lo
Prison in Hanoi, known to many former prisoners as the ``Hanoi
Hilton''.
[[Page 138 STAT. 2573]]
(11) CDR Alvarez spent his first thirteen months, eight
days, and five hours in isolation.
(12) While at Hoa Lo, CDR Alvarez was repeatedly beaten and
tortured and was fed inedible meals and suffered malnourishment.
(13) In September 1965, CDR Alvarez was moved to the
``Briarpatch'', a prison camp west of Hanoi, with no electricity
or running water.
(14) Despite torture and interrogation, CDR Alvarez remained
loyal to the United States and assisted other American prisoners
of war.
(15) CDR Alvarez, with his own actions, encouraged and
inspired fellow prisoners of war to ``Return with Honor'', which
meant keeping their integrity in the face of torture and not
cooperating with or divulging information to the enemy, so they
could return home having remained loyal to the United States.
(16) At great risk, CDR Alvarez helped spread the means of
communication, including the tap code and the mute hand code, to
keep up spirits and stay organized.
(17) On July 6, 1966, CDR Alvarez and 51 other American
prisoners of war were forced to march in the ``Hanoi Parade''
where he was abused and attacked by mobs.
(18) CDR Alvarez was released February 12, 1973, after
spending 3,113 days in captivity, or eight years and six months.
(19) Following his release and hospitalization, CDR Alvarez
resumed his Naval service, returning to Naval Air Station
Kingsville for refresher flight training.
(20) CDR Alvarez attended the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School
in Monterey, California, and received a master's degree in
Operations Research and Systems Analysis in 1976.
(21) CDR Alvarez was inducted into the U.S. Naval
Postgraduate School's Alumni Hall of Fame on March 27, 2015.
(22) CDR Alvarez served in Program Management at the Naval
Air Systems command in Washington, DC, from October 1976 until
his retirement.
(23) CDR Alvarez retired from the Navy on June 30, 1980,
completing a 20-year Naval career.
(24) In 1983, CDR Alvarez earned his juris doctor from the
George Washington School of Law and has been admitted to the
District of Columbia bar.
(25) In April 1981, President Ronald Reagan appointed CDR
Alvarez as Deputy Director of the Peace Corps, where he served
until 1982.
(26) In July 1982, President Reagan nominated CDR Alvarez to
be Deputy Administrator of the Veterans Administration, now
known as the Department of Veterans Affairs, serving until 1986.
(27) In February 1987, President Reagan appointed CDR
Alvarez to the Board of Regents of the Uniformed Services
University of the Health Sciences, where he served for nearly 21
years.
(28) For his service, CDR Alvarez was awarded the Silver
Star Medal, two Legions of Merit, the Distinguished Flying
Cross, two Bronze Star Medals, two Purple Hearts, and the
Prisoner of War Medal.
[[Page 138 STAT. 2574]]
(29) On September 18, 2012, the United States Navy Memorial
awarded CDR Alvarez the ``Lone Sailor Award''.
(30) The people of the United States honor the sacrifices of
CDR Alvarez and his service to our Nation.
SEC. 3. CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDAL.
(a) Presentation Authorized.--The Speaker of the House of
Representatives and the President pro tempore of the Senate shall make
appropriate arrangements for the presentation, on behalf of Congress, of
a gold medal of appropriate design to Everett Alvarez, Jr., in
recognition of his service to the Nation.
(b) <<NOTE: Determination.>> Design and Striking.--For purposes of
the presentation referred to in subsection (a), the Secretary of the
Treasury (referred to in this Act as the ``Secretary'') shall strike a
gold medal with suitable emblems, devices, and inscriptions, to be
determined by the Secretary. The design shall bear an image of, and
inscription of the name of, Everett Alvarez, Jr.
SEC. 4. DUPLICATE MEDALS.
The Secretary may strike and sell duplicates in bronze of the gold
medal struck under section 3, at a price sufficient to cover the costs
of the medals, including labor, materials, dies, use of machinery, and
overhead expenses.
SEC. 5. STATUS OF MEDALS.
(a) National Medals.--Medals struck under this Act are national
medals for purposes of chapter 51 of title 31, United States Code.
(b) Numismatic Items.--For purposes of section 5134 of title 31,
United States Code, all medals struck under this Act shall be considered
to be numismatic items.
SEC. 6. AUTHORITY TO USE FUND AMOUNTS; PROCEEDS OF SALE.
(a) Authority To Use Fund Amounts.--There is authorized to be
charged against the United States Mint Public Enterprise Fund such
amounts as may be necessary to pay for the costs of the medals struck
under this Act.
(b) Proceeds of Sale.--Amounts received from the sale of duplicate
bronze medals authorized under section 4 shall be deposited into the
United States Mint Public Enterprise Fund.
Approved December 23, 2024.
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY--H.R. 1097:
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CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 170 (2024):
May 21, considered and passed House.
Dec. 10, considered and passed Senate.
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