Nicholas Dockery Medal of Honor Act

This law authorizes the President to award the Medal of Honor to Nicholas Dockery, formerly known as Kareem N. Dockery, for acts of valor he performed as a member of the U.S. Army while serving in Afghanistan. The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States, recognizing extraordinary heroism and bravery in combat.

On October 2, 2012, Dockery was serving as an Infantry Rifle Platoon Leader in Kapisa Province, Afghanistan when his unit was ambushed by Taliban fighters using rifles, machine guns, and rocket-propelled grenades. During the intense firefight, Dockery repeatedly exposed himself to enemy fire to rally his soldiers, reinforce partner forces, and defend his position. He used his own body to shield a soldier from a grenade explosion and led a counterattack to clear the courtyard.

When Dockery discovered that one of his soldiers was missing, he moved into a nearby alley and found two enemy fighters dragging away an unconscious American soldier. Dockery engaged and killed both fighters in close combat, then administered CPR and first aid to save the soldier's life. For these actions, he had previously been awarded the Silver Star.

Normally, there are strict time limitations for awarding military medals. This law overrides those standard time restrictions, allowing the President to award Dockery the Medal of Honor for his actions that occurred more than a decade ago. The law recognizes his extraordinary heroism and selflessness in protecting his fellow soldiers during combat operations.