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fatnhappy
11-08-2014, 11:21 PM
49 years ago rather.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/31/Lawrence_Joel.jpg

Nov 8, 1965:
Lawrence Joel earns Medal of Honor
For action this day in the Iron Triangle northwest of Saigon, Specialist Five Lawrence Joel, a medic with the 1st Battalion, 503rd Airborne Infantry, 173rd Airborne Brigade earns the Medal of Honor, becoming the first living African American since the Spanish-American War to receive the nation's highest award for valor.
When his unit was outnumbered in an attack by an enemy force, Specialist Joel, who suffered a severe leg wound in the early stages of the battle, continued to administer aid to his wounded comrades. Wounded a second time—with a bullet lodged deep in his lungs—Joel continued to treat the wounded, completely disregarding the battle raging around him and his own safety. Even after the 24-hour battle had subsided, Joel, a 38-year-old father of two, continued to treat and comfort the wounded until his own evacuation was ordered.
President Johnson presented the Medal of Honor to Specialist Joel on March 9, 1967, in ceremonies held on the South Lawn of the White House.
Also on this day: Edward W. Brooke (R-Massachusetts) becomes the first African American elected to Senate. In California (http://castboolits.gunloads.com/topics/california), former movie actor Ronald Reagan (http://castboolits.gunloads.com/topics/ronald-reagan) was elected governor.

Bzcraig
11-09-2014, 01:58 AM
Thank God for SPC5 Joel! A book titled 365 Days chronicles a couple stories of Army Medics in Viet Nam that brought me to tears.

MtGun44
11-09-2014, 04:42 PM
It is difficult to even imagine the selfless bravery of these men.

God bless them all.

Bill

Artful
11-10-2014, 12:51 AM
Thanks for posting

John Guedry
11-10-2014, 11:46 AM
Looks like he's a spec.6.

Moonie
11-10-2014, 12:22 PM
Next town over, Winston-Salem has a coliseum named for him, he was born in Winston-Salem.

scarry scarney
11-10-2014, 12:37 PM
It never ceases to amaze me, what these fine men and women did for their brothers and sisters. I have had the honor to meet two Medal Recipients. It was a real pleasure to meet such heroes, and I get so frustrated, to see all the trash on TV from people who think they are someone because they "act" or they are "elected."

kfarm
11-10-2014, 05:56 PM
Didn't see many spec 6's. I made 5 and next step would have been Sgt. But had to get home to farm. I often wonder what staying would have been like. My job was taking pictures of guy's like that getting awards or re-uping. Every thing I did was B&W we had no color unless we went to town and bought it with our own money. For the medal of honor I know I'd have bought it. What an honor just to take his photo would have been, most of mine were things like "best mess" and guys in green uniforms in green trucks.