8th of November
It was the 8th of November, 1965 when Specialist Lawrence Joel proved his mettle near Bien Hoa, conducting Operation Hump with his fellow paratroopers of the 1/503rd of the 173rd Airborne Brigade. From his citation for the Medal of Honor;
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of life above and beyond the call of duty. Sp6c. Joel demonstrated indomitable courage, determination, and professional skill when a numerically superior and well-concealed Viet Cong element launched a vicious attack which wounded or killed nearly every man in the lead squad of the company. After treating the men wounded by the initial burst of gunfire, he bravely moved forward to assist others who were wounded while proceeding to their objective. While moving from man to man, he was struck in the right leg by machine gun fire. Although painfully wounded his desire to aid his fellow soldiers transcended all personal feeling. He bandaged his own wound and self-administered morphine to deaden the pain enabling him to continue his dangerous undertaking. Through this period of time, he constantly shouted words of encouragement to all around him. Then, completely ignoring the warnings of others, and his pain, he continued his search for wounded, exposing himself to hostile fire; and, as bullets dug up the dirt around him, he held plasma bottles high while kneeling completely engrossed in his life saving mission. Then, after being struck a second time and with a bullet lodged in his thigh, he dragged himself over the battlefield and succeeded in treating 13 more men before his medical supplies ran out. Displaying resourcefulness, he saved the life of 1 man by placing a plastic bag over a severe chest wound to congeal the blood. As 1 of the platoons pursued the Viet Cong, an insurgent force in concealed positions opened fire on the platoon and wounded many more soldiers. With a new stock of medical supplies, Sp6c. Joel again shouted words of encouragement as he crawled through an intense hail of gunfire to the wounded men. After the 24 hour battle subsided and the Viet Cong dead numbered 410, snipers continued to harass the company. Throughout the long battle, Sp6c. Joel never lost sight of his mission as a medical aidman and continued to comfort and treat the wounded until his own evacuation was ordered. His meticulous attention to duty saved a large number of lives and his unselfish, daring example under most adverse conditions was an inspiration to all. Sp6c. Joel’s profound concern for his fellow soldiers, at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty are in the highest traditions of the U.S. Army and reflect great credit upon himself and the Armed Forces of his country.
Big & Rich wrote a song about him;
SFC Joel retired in 1973, but we finally lost him in 1984, but we’ll never forget him.
Category: Real Soldiers
May we NEVER forget the real and true heroes of our Past!
Got nothin. I remember.
Others were there waiting to welcome him home.
Lawrence continued to serve his country working at the VA Regional office in Winston-Salem, NC. I was part of the dedication of the Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Civic Center in Winston. A proud day. Fred “Zab” Zabitosky also worked at the same RO after Lawrence. I am proud to say I knew and worked with both men though not at the same time. Lawrence was one of my inspirations and had his Life and Time magazine reports in my old scrap book before enlisting in 1968. RIP to two proud Paratroopers who continued to serve their brothers for the short remainder of their lives.
One of the Troop Medical Clinics at Ft Bragg is named after Lawrence Joel. The back side of the clinic is now the primary SRC site for Bragg. I’ve spent more than a few hours near the bronze plaque of his bust and citation.
The Troop Medical Clinic FrostyCWO mentioned is in the COSCOM area–or at least, that’s how it was refered to wehn I was stationed there. They also had the auditorium named after him in the Walter Reed Army Medical Center’s main (“new”) hospital building.
Frosty and Don, thanks for those updates. I also just learned they named a street after Zab at Bragg also.
Honor and Courage!