Medic Lawrence Joel

[DaFadda]

I was going through the latest "song game" songs and saw the song "8th of November." Good song... but I wanted to know more. So I did a search on Medic Lawrence Joel, who is buried at Arlington. Here is his citation, an a copy of the song that was written about that day. Hero? I'll bet he would dispute it. He did his duty. May God Bless him and his family.

The Medal of Honor Citation:

On March 9, 1967 on the White House lawn, President Lyndon Johnson presented Joel with the Medal of Honor for his service in the Vietnam War. His citation reads as follows:
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 one 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.[2]

The Song:

[MajO]

The auditorium at the, now closed, Walter Reed Army Medical Center was named after SFC Joel.

[NAMVET72]

Thanks Michael, alot of people still don't know what that War did to alot of Men and Woman...................

[Snipersnest]

Thanks Mike. The Corpsmen and Medics were brave individuals dashing into enemy gun fire to save their Brothers who were wounded. Thank you "Doc"!

[MajO]

Originally Posted by Snipersnest

Thanks Mike. The Corpsmen and Medics were brave individuals dashing into enemy gun fire to save their Brothers who were wounded. Thank you "Doc"!

+1

[douglas_knott]

Very cool Michael. Thanks for the info.