Leonard L. Alvarado

Covered his wounded comrades under fire in Phuoc Long jungle

Leonard L. Alvarado was born on 13 February 1947 in Bakersfield, California. He served as a specialist fourth class and rifleman with Company D, 2nd Battalion, 12th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile).

On 12 August 1969 in Phuoc Long Province, Vietnam, his reaction force was moving to assist a trapped platoon when it came under attack. Alvarado advanced through machine-gun fire and, despite repeated wounds, pulled several comrades inside the perimeter. He moved forward alone, silenced enemy positions and maintained covering fire. His comrades found that he had died of his wounds after the enemy withdrew.

President Barack Obama presented his posthumous Medal of Honor to his daughter at the White House on 18 March 2014. Alvarado is buried in Greenlawn Memorial Park in Bakersfield.

Medal of Honor citation

Specialist Four Leonard L. Alvarado distinguished himself by acts of gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty while serving as a Rifleman with Company D, 2d Battalion, 12th Cavalry, 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile) during combat operations against an armed enemy in Phuoc Long Province, Republic of Vietnam on August 12, 1969. On that day, as Specialist Four Alvarado and a small reaction force moved through dense jungle en route to a beleaguered friendly platoon, Specialist Four Alvarado detected enemy movement and opened fire. Despite his quick reaction, Specialist Four Alvarado and his comrades were soon pinned down by the hostile force that blocked the path to the trapped platoon. Specialist Four Alvarado quickly moved forward through the hostile machinegun fire in order to engage the enemy troops. Suddenly, an enemy grenade exploded nearby, wounding and momentarily stunning him. Retaliating immediately, he killed the grenadier just as another enemy barrage wounded him again. Specialist Four Alvarado crawled forward through the fusillade to pull several comrades back within the hastily-formed perimeter. Realizing his element needed to break away from the hostile force, Specialist Four Alvarado began maneuvering forward alone. Though repeatedly thrown to the ground by exploding satchel charges, he continued advancing and firing, silencing several emplacements, including one enemy machinegun position. From his dangerous forward position, he persistently laid suppressive fire on the hostile forces, and after the enemy troops had broken contact, his comrades discovered that he had succumbed to his wounds. Specialist Four Alvarado’s extraordinary heroism and selflessness at the cost of his own life, above and beyond the call of duty, are in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit and the United States Army.