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Corporal
Smedley's full Presidential Citation for the Medal of Honor is etched into a special plaque in front of the Orange County, Florida courthouse. It is part of a monument in memory of those Orange County, Florida residents, Corporal Smedley among them, who gave their lives for their country in
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until he was again struck by enemy fire and knocked to the ground. Gravely wounded and weak from loss of blood, he rose and commenced a one-man assault against the enemy position. Although his aggressive and singlehanded attack resulted in the destruction of the machine gun, he was struck in the
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positioned on the left flank of the squad inflicted several casualties on
Corporal Smedley's unit. Simultaneously, an enemy rifle grenade exploded nearby, wounding him in the right foot and knocking him to the ground. Corporal Smedley disregarded this serious injury and valiantly struggled to his
531:
In 2010, and with honor, the
National Vietnam War Museum in Orlando, Florida added Corporal Smedley's name to the official name of the museum. Located east of Orlando in unincorporated Orange County, the museum is located at 3400 North Tanner Road, Orlando, Florida
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chest by enemy fire and fell mortally wounded. Corporal
Smedley's inspiring and courageous actions, bold initiative, and selfless devotion to duty in the face of certain death were in keeping with the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the
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484:, in connection with operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam. On the evenings of 20–21 December 1967, Corporal Smedley led his six-man squad to an ambush site at the mouth of
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with the 1st
Recruit Training Battalion. In July 1966, he completed individual combat training with the 2nd Infantry Training Battalion, 1st Infantry Training Regiment,
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in
Orlando, Florida, the Combined Maintenance Facility for the complex supporting Army Reserve and Marine Reserve vehicles was named in Corporal Smedley's honor.
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on
September 1, 1967. While on patrol in Quảng Nam Province on December 21, 1967, he was mortally wounded in the action for which he earned the Medal of Honor.
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feet, shouting words of encouragement to his men. He fearlessly led a charge against the enemy machine gun emplacement, firing his rifle and throwing
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For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as a squad leader with
Company D,
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In July 1967, Lance
Corporal Smedley arrived in the Republic of Vietnam. He was assigned duty as a rifleman and squad radio man with Company D,
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program is located. Corporal
Smedley attended Colonial High School shortly before leaving right after he turned 17 to enlist in the USMC.
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979:"Larry Eugene Smedley, Corporal, United States Marine Corps, Arlington National Cemetery profile. Retrieved on 2006-06-26"
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In 2003, with the dedication of a new tri-service Armed Forces Reserve Center facility for the
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received the United States' highest military decoration — the
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United States Marine Corps personnel killed in the Vietnam War
962:. History Division, United States Marine Corps. Archived from
781:. History Division, United States Marine Corps. Archived from
746:"Orange County Medal of Honor recipient honored at courthouse"
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takes pride in presenting the MEDAL OF HONOR posthumously to
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Upon completion of recruit training, Pvt Smedley served as a
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on March 18, 1966, at Orlando, Florida, then reported to the
956:"Cpl Larry E. Smedley, Medal of Honor, 1967, 1/7/1, Vietnam"
775:"Cpl Larry E. Smedley, Medal of Honor, 1967, 1/7/1, Vietnam"
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and fire team leader with Companies D and C, respectively,
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Detachment #64 is named in honor of Cpl Larry E. Smedley.
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Corporal Larry E. Smedley Combined Maintenance Facility
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Larry Smedley was buried with full military honors at
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Cpl Larry E. Smedley National Vietnam War Museum Link
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List of Medal of Honor recipients for the Vietnam War
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Corporal Larry E. Smedley National Vietnam War Museum
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Larry E. Smedley, posthumous Medal of Honor recipient
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United States Marine Corps non-commissioned officers
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United States Marine Corps Medal of Honor recipients
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for service as set forth in the following CITATION:
540:Larry Eugene Smedley has his name inscribed on the
238:Larry Eugene Smedley was born on March 4, 1949, in
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608:was renamed in Corporal Smedley's honor in 2005.
588:By act of the Florida Legislature, a section of
584:Corporal Larry E. Smedley Medal of Honor Highway
527:The Larry E. Smedley National Vietnam War Museum
194:(March 4, 1949 – December 21, 1967) was a
510:. He gallantly gave his life for his country.
941:. History Division, United States Marine Corps
8:
1028:Vietnam War recipients of the Medal of Honor
935:"Larry E. Smedley, Medal of Honor recipient"
206:— for his actions in December 1967 in
613:Corporal Larry E. Smedley's Memorial Plaque
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15:
643:between Page and Warren County, Virginia.
635:Corporal Larry E. Smedley Memorial Bridge
744:Sturgeon, Marjorie (December 19, 2013).
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271:Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island
716:"Colonial High should bear hero's name"
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1013:Burials at Arlington National Cemetery
7:
544:("The Wall") on Panel 32E Line 040.
242:. He attended elementary schools in
234:Grave at Arlington National Cemetery
960:Marines Awarded the Medal of Honor
924:from websites or documents of the
870:"Fall Fourcast Vol3 No2_DRFT.indd"
779:Marines Awarded the Medal of Honor
438:Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal
14:
1033:People from Front Royal, Virginia
939:Who's who in Marine Corps history
688:List of Medal of Honor recipients
649:Corporal Larry E. Smedley Hallway
1038:Military personnel from Virginia
920: This article incorporates
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803:Larry Smedley, CPL, Marine Corps
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617:World War I, World War II, the
254:; Howard Junior High School in
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452:President of the United States
427:National Defense Service Medal
342:Cpl Smedley's awards include:
283:Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune
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308:on September 1, 1966, and to
819:Cpl Larry E. Smedley Det #64
1043:Colonial High School alumni
508:United States Naval Service
332:Arlington National Cemetery
83:Arlington National Cemetery
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926:United States Marine Corps
828:. Retrieved on 2006-06-26.
592:(I-4) between the city of
465:UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS
420:Presidential Unit Citation
317:1st Battalion, 7th Marines
294:1st Battalion, 8th Marines
267:United States Marine Corps
145:1st Battalion, 7th Marines
111:United States Marine Corps
542:Vietnam Veterans Memorial
462:CORPORAL LARRY E. SMEDLEY
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606:Seminole County, Florida
94:United States of America
446:Medal of Honor citation
334:, Arlington, Virginia.
922:public domain material
598:Orange County, Florida
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338:Awards and decorations
323:, and was promoted to
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482:First Marine Division
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434:with one bronze star
432:Vietnam Service Medal
304:. He was promoted to
240:Front Royal, Virginia
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117:Years of service
51:Front Royal, Virginia
655:Colonial High School
590:Interstate Highway 4
576:Marine Corps Reserve
312:on January 1, 1967.
260:Colonial High School
244:Berryville, Virginia
196:United States Marine
192:Larry Eugene Smedley
20:Larry Eugene Smedley
554:Marine Corps League
549:Marine Corps League
321:1st Marine Division
306:private first class
298:2nd Marine Division
265:He enlisted in the
252:Union Park, Florida
212:Republic of Vietnam
149:1st Marine Division
72:Republic of Vietnam
824:2007-03-12 at the
285:, North Carolina.
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222:is named for him.
208:Quảng Nam Province
68:Quảng Nam Province
602:Altamonte Springs
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61:December 21, 1967
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982:. Retrieved
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415:Purple Heart
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302:Camp Lejeune
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200:posthumously
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183:Purple Heart
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155:Battles/wars
63:(1967-12-21)
1008:1967 deaths
1003:1949 births
653:Located at
639:Located on
623:Vietnam War
498:machine gun
160:Vietnam War
143:Company D,
997:Categories
970:2006-06-26
945:2007-11-29
910:References
886:2008-04-28
855:2008-04-28
789:2006-06-26
760:2018-03-11
730:2018-03-11
625:, and the
619:Korean War
90:Allegiance
44:1949-03-04
521:Memorials
226:Biography
190:Corporal
120:1966–1967
822:Archived
666:See also
627:Iraq War
537:The Wall
503:grenades
325:corporal
290:rifleman
134:Corporal
100:Service/
659:AFJROTC
594:Orlando
494:mortars
220:Florida
167:†
621:, the
532:32826.
258:, and
214:. The
175:Awards
163:
102:branch
880:(PDF)
873:(PDF)
849:(PDF)
842:(PDF)
699:Notes
986:2010
574:and
552:The
514:/S/
492:and
450:The
198:who
140:Unit
125:Rank
58:Died
53:, US
38:Born
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