Lawrence Joel

How far can a medic go to save his fellow soldiers when his own life is on the line? On 8 November 1965, during Operation Hump near Bien Hoa, Vietnam, Specialist Five Lawrence Joel answered that question through extraordinary courage and selflessness. Serving as a medical aidman with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion (Airborne), 503rd Infantry, 173rd Airborne Brigade, Joel moved through intense enemy fire to treat wounded paratroopers during a devastating Viet Cong ambush. After being shot in the leg, he bandaged his own wound, administered morphine to himself and continued treating casualties. When a second bullet struck his thigh, he dragged himself across the battlefield to reach 13 more wounded soldiers. Even after exhausting his medical supplies, he improvised by placing a plastic bag over a soldier's severe chest wound, helping save his life. Throughout the 24-hour battle, Joel continued encouraging and treating his comrades until his own evacuation was ordered.

For his extraordinary heroism, Lawrence Joel received the Medal of Honor, the United States' highest military decoration for valor. His official citation, General Orders No. 15, dated 5 April 1967, recognized his indomitable courage, determination, professional skill and profound concern for his fellow soldiers. President Lyndon B. Johnson presented the medal to him at the White House on 9 March 1967. Joel became the first medical aidman to receive the Medal of Honor during the Vietnam War and the first living African American to receive it since the Spanish-American War. He also received the Purple Heart for his combat wounds. His other recorded service awards include the Army Good Conduct Medal, World War II Victory Medal, Army of Occupation Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Korean Service Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, United Nations Service Medal for Korea and Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal. His battalion was also recognized with the Distinguished Unit Citation, First Oak Leaf Cluster, for extraordinary heroism during the same Battle of Bien Hoa. Its Vietnam service was further recognized through the Meritorious Unit Commendation and Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm. During his later Vietnam tour, Joel served with the 25th Medical Battalion, whose unit honours also included Meritorious Unit Commendations, Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm citations and the Republic of Vietnam Civil Actions Honor Medal, First Class.

Born on 22 February 1928 in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, Joel spent a year in the Merchant Marine before enlisting in the United States Army in 1946. His military career included postwar occupation service in France, Germany and Italy, assignments during the Korean War era, service in Lebanon and Alaska, and two tours in Vietnam. Despite becoming a national hero, Joel voluntarily returned to Vietnam in late 1969, believing there was still a job to do and that he could continue serving his country. During his later tour, he worked as a senior medic with medical civic-action teams, bringing treatment and assistance to Vietnamese communities. He retired from the Army in 1973 with the rank of Sergeant First Class. On 4 February 1984, he died in Winston-Salem and was laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery. His legacy lives on through the Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum in his hometown and the Lawrence Joel Health and Dental Clinic at Fort Bragg. Lawrence Joel's story is not simply one of battlefield bravery. It is the story of a soldier who refused to abandon the wounded, even when he himself was bleeding, and whose compassion under fire became an enduring example of courage, humanity and military service.