Compiled and Edited By C. Douglas Sterner
Download 2.59 Mb.
|
Home Town: Fort Wayne, Indiana Landry, Robert M. Citation: The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Robert M. Landry, First Lieutenant (Infantry), U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam, while serving with Company D, 3d Battalion, 21st Infantry, 196th Infantry Brigade, Americal Division. First Lieutenant Landry distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 8 and 9 January 1968. While in pursuit of a group of North Vietnamese Army soldiers, his company came under heavy mortar, automatic weapons and small arms fire. Lieutenant Landry immediately regrouped his scattered troops, and then went forward alone to reconnoiter the area. Finding no suitable avenue of attack against the enemy, he began to withdraw his men. As they maneuvered toward the company command post, he spotted a sizeable enemy force penetrating deep into the company's flank. After directing his troops to cover, he called in artillery strikes and directed them until the aggressors were dispersed. He then reorganized his men and proceeded to the command post. The commanding officer had been killed in the attack, and Lieutenant Landry reorganized the company and secured a landing zone for an evacuation helicopter. Personally directing mortar fire and his maneuver elements, he repeatedly exposed himself to intense hostile fire to supervise the evacuation of his wounded. His unit next joined forces with another company for an assault on the enemy positions. As they attacked, the North Vietnamese opened fire with mortars, automatic weapons, and small arms. Lieutenant Landry ordered his men to withdraw while he stayed in his position, relaying changes in artillery deflection to the forward observer. He returned to his unit only after both companies had safely reached their defensive positions. On the morning on 9 January, Lieutenant Landry was in charge of a reserve force. Two sister companies came under intensive enemy fire, and one sustained heavy casualties on its left flank. He maneuvered his troops across an open rice paddy, plugged the gap in the unit's flank, and drove the attackers back. Constantly exposing himself to a continuing hostile barrage, he directed supporting fires until the battered company had safely broken all contack. Depite concentrated fire directed at him, Lieutenant Landry held his position until both sister companies had established defensive positions and all his own men had withdrawn. Through his leadership he maintained the integrity of his unit throughout the twenty-four hours of sustained heavy combat. First Lieutenant Landry's extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.
*Lane, John Timothy Citation: The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to John Timothy Lane, Private First Class, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam, while serving with Company B, 4th Battalion, 9th Infantry, 1st Brigade, 25th Infantry Division. Private First Class Lane distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 6 May 1968 while serving as a rifleman during an operation near Duc Hoa. His unit had just established its night defensive position when an enemy force began to infiltrate the friendly lines. Private Lane and three men with him moved to a secondary defensive position situated in a small depression. An enemy soldier hurled a grenade into their location. With complete disregard for his safety, Private Lane threw himself on the grenade as it detonated. The explosion killed him instantly and wounded one of his comrades. By his self-sacrifice, Private Lane saved the lives of his fellow soldiers at the cost of his own. Private First Class Lane’s extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty, at the cost of his life, were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.
Home Town: Brewster, Washington *Lasater, Luther McKind, III Synopsis: The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Luther Mckind Lasater, III, Captain (Corps of Engineers), U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam, while serving with the Troop F, 9th Cavalry, 3d Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division. Captain Lasater distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 13 February 1972. His extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty, at the cost of his life, were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.
Home Town: Garland, Texas Lawrence, Stephen E. Citation: The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Stephen E. Lawrence, Chief Warrant Officer (W-2), U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action in connection with military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam, while serving with 135th Aviation Company (Assault Helicopter), 22d Aviation Battaliion (Combat), 1st Aviation Brigade. Chief Warrant Officer Lawrence distinguished himself while serving as aircraft commander of a light fire team supporting medical evacuation operations at Fire Support Base Pace and Fire Support Base Alpha. In response to an emergency call from another helicopter going down in flames as the result of enemy anti-aircraft fire, Chief Warrant Officer Lawrence, without regard for his personal safety, decided to attempt a rescue of the downed crew. The area near the burning aircraft was one of known enemy concentration, but his expertise in handling the aircraft enabled him to land safely. While on the ground, he and his crew exposed themselves to enemy ground fire in an attempt to locate the downed crew. Enemy fire forced him to take-off prematurely, but he returned to the area a second time to pick up the crew. The aircraft continued to receive a heavy concentration of small arms fire while the downed crew boarded; and, it increased as he piloted his helicopter from the area. Chief Warrant Officer Lawrence's extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit and the United States Army.
Born: at Virginia Beach, Virginia Home Town: Clearwater, Florida Lawrence, William, Jr.
The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to William Lawrence, Jr., Sergeant First Class, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam, while serving with Company C, 2d Battalion, 501st Infantry, 101st Airborne Division (Airmobile). Platoon Sergeant Lawrence distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 19 June 1969 while serving as leader of a platoon securing Fire Support Base Tomahawk south of Hue. Shortly after midnight, the entire base perimeter was subjected to fierce attack by a reinforced battalion of North Vietnamese. During the initial mortar and rocket barrage, Sergeant Lawrence was wounded in the face from shrapnel, but despite his wound, he ran from bunker to bunker, directing fire, administering first aid and engaging enemy sappers with grenade and rifle fire. After repelling the sappers who had penetrated the perimeter, Sergeant Lawrence undertook the mission of resecuring an outpost which had been completely overrun and occupied by the enemy force. He quickly organized a small squad and began assaulting the outpost located on a hilltop approximately one hundred meters from the perimeter. As his men began moving up the slope, they came under heavy rocket-propelled grenade fire. Despite wounds in both arms, he continued to lead his squad in a final charge to recapture the outpost. He then set up a hasty defense around the hilltop, had the casualties returned to the main perimeter for evacuation, and held the outpost against additional hostile assaults. Platoon Sergeant Lawrence’s extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.
Lawton, John P. Citation: The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to John P. Lawton, Captain (Infantry), U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam, while serving with Company A, 2d Battalion (Airborne), 327th Infantry, 1st Brigade, 101st Air Cavalry Division. Captain Lawton distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 8 October 1967 as the commander of an infantry company during a mission near Chu Lai. He received word that his second platoon had been heavily attacked in an open rice field by an estimated North Vietnamese Army company firing automatic weapons and mortars and had suffered many casualties. He maneuvered another of his platoons to a position from which he could observe the battle and, after a quick estimate of the situation, called for a relief force from a sister company. Not waiting for its arrival, he personally led one squad of his force toward the beleaguered platoon while the remaining squads set up a base of fire to cover the movement. Upon reaching a woodline flanking the rice field, Captain Lawton could see that the trapped platoon’s casualties were exposed to an extremely intense cross fire from three enemy machine guns and realized that they had to be recovered immediately. Despite the withering fire and exploding mortar rounds he charged across fifty meters of open rice paddy. As he ran toward the injured men, he received multiple wounds in the leg, arm and chest from a hail of enemy machine gun bullets. Disregarding his severe wounds, he continued to crawl to the casualties, only to discover that they were all either dead or so seriously wounded that they couldn’t be moved easily. For a full forty-five minutes he single handedly held the attackers at bay and prevented them from searching the dead or capturing the wounded. He than began directing his men in an attempt to rescue as many of the surviving casualties as possible. He placed suppressive fire on the insurgents to cover his troops’ maneuver until he ran out of ammunition and his position was overrun. Captain Lawton, with a burst of reserve energy, lunged forward to grab a weapon from on the enemy, but was wounded for the fourth time and left for dead. Through his courageous actions he had delayed the enemy force to such an extent that when the relief force arrived moments later the attackers were caught in the open and were quickly routed, suffering heavy casualties. Captain Lawton’s extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit and the United States Army.
*Lechuga, Martin Citation: The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Martin Lechuga, Specialist Fourth Class, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam, while serving with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion (Mechanized), 5th Infantry, 25th Infantry Division. Specialist Four Lechuga distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 11 April 1969 while serving as a rifleman with a platoon operating in Hau Nghia Province. His platoon was carrying out an intelligence mission when the lead man detected an enemy ambush in time to warn his comrades. A fire fight erupted, and the hostile forces were routed. Wishing to maintain contact with the fleeing enemy, the platoon pressed forward. On entering a wooded area, the friendly element cam under an enfilade from automatic weapons, rifle grenades, and mortars. On identifying the source of enemy fire to the left flank, Specialist Lechuga and a comrade began moving toward the emplacement. Just as they silenced the enemy position, they received heavy fire from another enemy fortification, which seriously wounded Specialist Lechuga's comrade. Realizing that the hostile fusillade prevented his pulling the wounded man to safety, he placed himself in front of his comrade and began returning a hail of rifle fire. As a result of his attempt to save his fellow soldier's life, he was fatally wounded by enemy fire. Specialist Four Lechuga's extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty, at the cost of his life, were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.
Home Town: San Antonio, Texas Ledbetter, William, Jr. Citation: The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to William Ledbetter, Jr., Master Sergeant, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam, while serving with Detachment B-20, Company B, 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne), 1st Special Forces. Master Sergeant Ledbetter distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions from 16 to 19 May 1970 while advising a Vietnamese mobile strike force element during search and clear operations in Kontum Province. After six days of searching for suspected enemy activity in mountainous jungle terrain surrounding Dak Seang Special Forces camp, an element of the mobile strike force came into contact with a large, well entrenched enemy force. Reacting immediately, Sergeant Ledbetter led a group of reinforcements to the contact area to support the embattled allies. During the ensuing engagement, the sergeant crawled twenty-five meters across fire swept terrain to rescue a seriously wounded comrade. After contact was broken, Sergeant Ledbetter deployed his men to a night defensive position and directed the helicopter evacuation of the wounded. The following morning, the enemy launched an intense attack on the allied position that lasted for over two days. Throughout this attack, Sergeant Ledbetter exposed himself to intense enemy fire in order to personally direct the defensive efforts of his men. During the violent enemy ground assaults that characterized the attack, the sergeant was continuously at the point of heaviest contact encouraging his men and engaging the enemy with all resources available to him. When the allies ran perilously low on ammunition, Sergeant Ledbetter directed a helicopter resupply operation and exposed himself to intense hostile fire in order to unload and distribute the ammunition to his men. On the final day of contact, the allies broke through the enemy encirclement and Sergeant Ledbetter assumed rear security responsibilities. Directing allied artillery strikes to within thirty meters of his position, the sergeant held the enemy at bay while his men moved toward Camp Dak Seang. Then, when the lead allied element was contacted by another enemy force, the sergeant skillfully maneuvered his men around the enemy’s flank in order to reach the safety of the Special Forces camp. Master Sergeant Ledbetter’s extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.
Ledfors, Frederick D. Citation: The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Frederick D. Ledfors, Captain (Infantry), U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam. Captain Ledfors distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 11 July 1972 while flying his light observation helicopter on a voluntary rescue mission behind enemy lines north of Quang Tri City, Republic of Vietnam, on 11 July 1972. Captain Ledfors was serving as the scout team leader of an emergency rescue mission when he and his wingman were engaged by extremely intense small arms, automatic weapons, 23-mm. and 37-mm. antiaircraft fires, and heat seeking missiles. In spite of the intensity and ferocity of the voluminous hostile fire, he continued his flight in search of the downed American crewmen. During his search, Captain Ledfors continually returned fire for fire with the hostile ground forces in the area. He successfully located the crash survivors in a bomb crater, descended into the confined area and hovered to their position, skillfully maneuvering his aircraft to avoid the hostile fire coming from a known North Vietnamese Army regimental stronghold surrounding the survivors’ position. After three of the survivors were placed aboard his aircraft, Captain Ledfors attempted to depart the landing zone. However, finding his aircraft excessively overloaded, he instructed his wingman to depart ahead of him so that should he not be able to clear the area, at least his wingman would get clear. Utilizing extraordinary skill and experience, Captain Ledfors was able to coax every bit of power from his straining engine and fly clear of the battle area, again breaching the barricade of intense hostile fire. Immediately realizing that he would be unable to remain airborne with his excessive load, he accomplished an extremely hazardous night landing into a relatively secure rice paddy and transferred the survivors to another aircraft. Through his indomitable courage, total disregard for personal safety and inspiring leadership, Captain Ledfors was responsible for the successful rescue of five American aircrewmen and one Vietnamese marine all of whom were severely burned or wounded and prevented their certain capture or death at the hands of the enemy. Captain Ledfors’ consipcous gallantry, extraordinary heroism and intrepidity at the risk of his own life, above and beyond the call of duty, are in the highest traditions of the United States Army and reflect great credit upon himself and the Armed Forces of his country.
*Lehew, Donald Lee Citation: The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Donald Lee Lehew, Sergeant First Class, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam, while serving with Detachment A-430, 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne), 1st Special Forces. Sergeant First Class Lehew distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 26 August 1966 as intelligence sergeant of a Special Forces unit conducting a mission on Phu Quoc Island. Following a sweeping action on a fortified hill, Sergeant Lehew skillfully deployed his troops to break up an enemy ambush. Under intense small arms fire, he helped move a wounded comrade to a safe position where he administered first aid to the man. While helping his detachment commander evacuate the dead and wounded from the battlefield after the engagement, he detected a hidden enemy bunker. A Viet Cong soldier began firing from the position, and Sergeant Lehew pushed his commander to the ground, saving the officer’s life. As his unit maneuvered to join a relief force, he placed himself among the force’s leading elements. After moving a short distance, two Viet Cong companies opened fire from entrenched positions, momentarily disorganizing his troops. Sergeant Lehew, by exemplary leadership, was able to rally his men and direct a tremendous volume of fire into the attackers. Refusing to pull back to a less exposed position, he instead charged alone into the enemy fusillade, deliberately assaulting the main insurgent position. He was mortally wounded while fearlessly and unselfishly placing the welfare of his men above his own in the heat of battle. His quick action threw the Viet Cong off balance long enough for air support to arrive and prevent the friendly force from being overwhelmed. Sergeant First Class Lehew’s extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty, at the cost of his life, where in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.
Home Town: Salem, New Jersey Lemonds, Gary L. Citation: The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Gary L. Lemonds, Sergeant, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam, while serving with Company F, 75th Infantry, 25th Infantry Division. Sergeant Lemonds distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 9 April 1968. His extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.
LePeilbet, Andrew R. Citation: The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Andrew R. LePeilbet, First Lieutenant (Infantry), U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam, while serving with Company A, 1st Battalion, 8th Infantry, 4th Infantry Division. Lieutenant Lepeilbet distinguished himself while serving as platoon leader in the Plei Trap Valley in the Central Highlands. On 12 March 1969, two platoons of his unit came under a devastating barrage of small arms, automatic weapons, and grenade fire from a North Vietnamese force concealed in well constructed bunkers. As his element sustained heavy casualties, Lieutenant Lepeilbet courageously moved forward to engage the nearest bunker with grenade fire. Suddenly an enemy grenade landed a few feet from him and his radio operator. Without hesitation, he placed himself between his radio operator and the device, taking the full force of the explosion which hurled him to the ground and inflicted crippling leg and back wounds. Under orders to join with the main element, Lieutenant Lepeilbet organized and integrated the platoon, supervised construction of litters for the wounded and, meter by meter, maneuvered his men through two hundred meters of bullet-strafed terrain. Under his dauntless direction, his men suppressed the enemy, but the communists massed to launch an all-out attack. As the enemy sought to over-run the element, Lieutenant Lepeilbet tenaciously checked the perimeter, supervised the evacuation of the wounded to places of safety, and redeployed his men. Through his determination, the enemy was repelled. First Lieutenant Lepeilbet's extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.
|