Blue Star Chronicles

Lawrence Joel received the Silver Star and the Medal of Honor for heroism during an intense battle known as Operation Hump in Vietnam on November 8, 1965. Read about his actions below, the battle, his biography and see photos and a video.

Lawrence Joel

Sergeant First Class Lawrence Joel was awarded the Medal of Honor on March 9, 1967. He was presented with the medal by President Lyndon Johnson at the White House for his service in the Vietnam War.

Joel served honorably in the Korean and Vietnam War. However, on November 8, 1965, he was serving as a medic and became involved in Operation HUMP, a violent, desperate battle under the triple canopies of the Vietnamese jungle that took the lives of 48 American men and 414 Viet Cong. The citation of his actions is included below.

He is being remembered and honored for his service to the country 43 years ago today.

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of life above and beyond the call of duty. Sp6c. 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 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, Sp6c. 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, Sp6c. 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. Sp6c. 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.

Lawrence Joel was born on February 22, 1928 in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. He attended Atkins High School there. He was in the Merchant Marines for one year. When he was 18 years old, in 1946, Joel went to New York City and enlisted in the United States Army. He became a career military man.

Joel served as a medic in both the Korean and Vietnam Wars. During the Vietnam War, he served as a specialist five with the 1st Battalion, 503rd Infantry, 173rd Airborne Brigade. This unit became famous because of a song that was written about a fierce battle they were involved in, The 8th of November. It was during that battle that Joel distinguished himself in battle, earning the Silver Star and Medal of Honor. He became the first living black man to receive the Medal of Honor since the Spanish-American War in 1898.

The Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Winston-Salem, North Carolina is named in his honor. There is a Joel Auditorium at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C. and the U.S. Army clinics at Ft. McPherson, Georgia and Ft. Bragg, North Carolina are all named in honor of Joel.

Joel died on February 4, 1984 from complications of diabetes. He was 55-years-old. He is buried in Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia, section 46, lot 15-1.

Lawrence Joel - Photos