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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, SP6 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, SP6 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. SP6 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.
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348:, outnumbered six to one. Under heavy gunfire, Joel did his duty as a medic, administering first aid to wounded soldiers. Joel defied orders to stay to the ground and risked his life to help the many wounded soldiers; nearly every soldier in the lead squad was either wounded or killed in the battle. Even after being shot twice (once in the right thigh and once in the right calf), Joel continued to do his job; he bandaged his wounds and continued to help the wounded in not only his unit, but in the nearby company as well. When his medical supplies were depleted, he hobbled around the battlefield for more, using a makeshift
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For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of life above and beyond the call of duty. SP6 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
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and Purple Heart for his actions. Joel attended to thirteen troops and saved the life of one soldier who had a severe chest wound by improvising and placing a plastic bag over the soldier's chest in order to seal the wound until the supplies were refreshed. After the firefight which lasted over
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On April 8, 1967, Winston-Salem held a parade, the first time the city had ever held a military parade to recognize a single individual, to honor
Lawrence Joel. He grew up on the east side of the city, a predominantly African-American section of Winston-Salem at the time.
453:. Construction for the coliseum began one year later and opened in 1989. In 2007, a study funded by the Winston-Salem City Council opened the possibility of selling the coliseum's naming rights to some corporation.
288:, the third of 16 children. Due to the extreme poverty of his family, from the age of 8 to 18, Joel was raised by a neighboring family, the Samuels. Joel attended city public schools, including
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that occurred on
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veterans, the
Winston-Salem Board of Aldermen (now City Council) in February 1986 decided to name the city's new coliseum the
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Lantz, Ragni (July 1967). "Dixie Town Fetes War Hero: Medal of Honor Winner
Lawrence Joel is Hailed By Winston-Salem".
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Lantz, Ragni (July 1967). "Dixie Town Fetes War Hero: Medal of Honor Winner
Lawrence Joel is Hailed By Winston-Salem".
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The first military memorial named in his honor was Joel Drive, which encircles
Blanchfield Community Hospital at
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while SP4 Randy
Eickhoff ran ahead of him and provided covering fire. Eickhoff was later awarded the
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twenty-four hours, Joel was hospitalized and shipped to locations including
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US Army Sgt 1st Class, Medal of Honor, Silver Star, Purple Heart (1928–1984)
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to recover. Shortly after, he received the Silver Star for his activities.
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in
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for one year. In 1946, at age 18, Joel decided to join the
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called it the biggest tribute the city had ever staged.
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List of Medal of Honor recipients for the Vietnam War
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On February 4, 1984, Joel died of complications from
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Lawrence Joel retired from military service in 1973.
794:. Arlington National Cemetery profile. June 27, 2006
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962:United States Army personnel of the Vietnam War
344:. They shortly found themselves in a Viet Cong
957:United States Army personnel of the Korean War
701:Watch WFMY News 2 vintage video of the parade.
816:United States Army Center of Military History
640:United States Army Center of Military History
220:(February 22, 1928 – February 4, 1984) was a
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947:United States Army Medal of Honor recipients
942:Vietnam War recipients of the Medal of Honor
557:Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation
300:, making a career out of it. He enlisted in
562:Presidential Unit Citation (United States)
29:
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992:Deaths from diabetes in the United States
977:People from Winston-Salem, North Carolina
836:"LJVM Coliseum - Lawrence Joel Biography"
808:"Lawrence Joel, Medal of Honor recipient"
788:"Lawrence Joel, Medal of Honor recipient"
632:"Lawrence Joel, Medal of Honor recipient"
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475:, North Carolina, are named after Joel.
451:Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum
320:Joel with Medal of Honor and Certificate
131:1st Battalion (Airborne), 503rd Infantry
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987:Burials at Arlington National Cemetery
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792:Arlington National Cemetery Biography
264:for his heroism in a battle with the
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316:President Johnson presenting a then-
445:In memory of Lawrence Joel and all
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590:List of Medal of Honor recipients
392:. His citation reads as follows:
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531:Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
272:to receive this medal since the
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967:United States Merchant Mariners
458:Walter Reed Army Medical Center
442:, Kentucky, dedicated in 1985.
818:. June 8, 2009. Archived from
642:. June 8, 2009. Archived from
526:National Defense Service Medal
464:is named after Lawrence Joel.
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982:Recipients of the Silver Star
286:Winston-Salem, North Carolina
67:Winston-Salem, North Carolina
51:Winston-Salem, North Carolina
952:United States Army soldiers
712:Arlington National Cemetery
521:World War Two Victory Medal
428:Arlington National Cemetery
77:Arlington National Cemetery
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665:Lantz, Ragni (June 1967).
552:United Nations Korea Medal
328:were sent on a patrol for
224:soldier who served in the
210:Presidential Unit Citation
467:The U.S. Army clinics at
373:On March 9, 1967, on the
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856:"Stripe - Lawrence Joel"
516:Army of Occupation Medal
490:Senior Parachutist Badge
384:presented Joel with the
876:"Winston-Salem Journal"
510:Army Good Conduct Medal
456:The Joel Auditorium at
388:for his service in the
369:Medal of Honor citation
547:Vietnam Campaign Medal
399:
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254:173rd Airborne Brigade
140:173rd Airborne Brigade
749:"Joel Clinic Mission"
541:Vietnam Service Medal
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104:Years of service
902:on February 19, 2013
842:on December 28, 2010
543:with one Silver star
536:Korean Service Medal
485:Combat Medical Badge
402:Winston-Salem parade
274:Spanish–American War
256:, Joel received the
121:Sergeant first class
232:. While serving in
878:. January 27, 2007
862:on January 1, 2005
505:Purple Heart Medal
426:. He is buried in
409:The New York Times
336:, War Zone "D" in
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298:United States Army
290:Atkins High School
222:United States Army
98:United States Army
812:Vietnam War (A-L)
682:Missing or empty
636:Vietnam War (A-L)
500:Silver Star Medal
434:Honors and awards
292:, and joined the
284:Joel was born in
240:with the rank of
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915:
904:. Retrieved
900:the original
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892:"Larry Joel"
880:. Retrieved
864:. Retrieved
860:the original
844:. Retrieved
840:the original
824:. Retrieved
820:the original
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796:. Retrieved
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326:paratroopers
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201:Purple Heart
146:Battles/wars
63:(1984-02-04)
937:1984 deaths
932:1928 births
826:December 5,
798:December 5,
724:"Home Page"
650:December 5,
390:Vietnam War
375:White House
354:Silver Star
308:Vietnam War
258:Silver Star
192:Silver Star
154:Vietnam War
926:Categories
781:References
759:2007-12-05
734:2007-10-08
473:Fort Bragg
469:Fort Moore
415:Retirement
150:Korean War
84:Allegiance
44:1928-02-22
379:President
330:Viet Cong
280:Childhood
276:in 1898.
266:Viet Cong
246:Battalion
107:1946–1973
669:: 27–36.
568:See also
424:diabetes
334:Bien Hoa
260:and the
92:Service/
252:in the
248:of the
156: (
479:Awards
377:lawn,
359:Saigon
350:crutch
346:ambush
226:Korean
174:Awards
94:branch
72:Buried
53:, U.S.
916:Ebony
667:Ebony
618:Ebony
601:Notes
363:Tokyo
238:medic
236:as a
908:2010
884:2010
868:2010
848:2010
828:2007
800:2007
688:help
652:2007
361:and
228:and
127:Unit
112:Rank
58:Died
38:Born
460:in
159:WIA
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