Lester R. Stone Jr.

He kept his machine gun firing to protect his hurt comrades.

Lester Raymond Stone Jr. was born at Binghamton, New York, on 4 June 1947 and was associated with the nearby community of Harpursville. He entered the Army through Syracuse in 1967 and served in Vietnam with Company B, 1st Battalion, 20th Infantry, 11th Infantry Brigade, Americal Division.

By March 1969 he was a sergeant and squad leader in the 1st Platoon. On 3 March, the platoon was patrolling west of Landing Zone Liz when a concealed company-sized force opened heavy automatic-weapons and grenade fire. A machine gunner fell critically wounded.

Stone remained in the exposed position to provide covering fire while another soldier pulled the wounded man towards safety. When the machine gun malfunctioned and could no longer fire automatically, Stone worked on it under fire. He restored the weapon and resumed effective fire, allowing the rescue to continue.

Enemy soldiers then charged his position. Stone rose to his knees and engaged them at close range. He continued firing until he was mortally wounded. His resistance protected the wounded and prevented the rescue party from being overrun.

He was twenty-one. President Richard Nixon presented the posthumous Medal of Honor to his family at the White House on 7 April 1970. Stone was buried in Chenango Valley Cemetery at Binghamton.

His name was recorded on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial and commemorated in his home region. A New York highway was named in his honour, keeping the connection between the young soldier from the Binghamton area and the platoon he protected during the fighting near Landing Zone Liz.

Official Medal of Honor citation

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. Sgt. Stone distinguished himself while serving as squad leader of the 1st Platoon. The 1st Platoon was on a combat patrol mission just west of Landing Zone Liz when it came under intense automatic-weapons and grenade fire from a well-concealed company-size force of North Vietnamese regulars. Observing the platoon machine gunner fall critically wounded, Sgt. Stone remained in the exposed area to provide cover fire for the wounded soldier who was being pulled to safety by another member of the platoon. With enemy fire impacting all around him, Sgt. Stone had a malfunction in the machine gun, preventing him from firing the weapon automatically. Displaying extraordinary courage under the most adverse conditions, Sgt. Stone repaired the weapon and continued to place on the enemy positions effective suppressive fire which enabled the rescue to be completed. In a desperate attempt to overrun his position, an enemy force left its cover and charged Sgt. Stone. Disregarding the danger involved, Sgt. Stone rose to his knees and began placing intense fire on the enemy at point-blank range, killing six of the enemy before falling mortally wounded. His actions of unsurpassed valor were a source of inspiration to his entire unit, and he was responsible for saving the lives of a number of his fellow soldiers. His actions were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military profession and reflect great credit on him, his unit, and the U.S. Army.