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Headquarters, Department of the Army
General Orders No. 85 - 25 September 1951
Master Sergeant Leonard LaBeur, Medical Corps, United States Army, a member of the 6516th Army Service Unit, University of Washington ROTC Instructor Detachment, distinguished himself by heroism at Ketchikan, Alaska, on 19 March 1951. A fellow soldier had stumbled in the darkness and fallen over the edge of the Coast Guard dock into the water, striking his head against the side of the United States Coast Guard cutter Citrus as he fell. Without regard for his own safety, Sergeant LaBeur, without hesitation, jumped from the dock, approximately 20 feet down into the icy and debris-cluttered water, found his comrade in the darkness, and held the head of the unconscious soldier above the water until both were pulled up to safety by members of the crew of the Citrus. The prompt and courageous action taken by Sergeant LaBeur in the face of grave dancer saved the life of his comrade and reflects great credit on himself and the military service.
Headquarters, 24th Infantry Division
General Orders No. 287 - December 29, 1950
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Soldier's Medal to Sergeant Beuford J. Lackey (ASN: RA-18128636), United States Army, for heroism at the risk of life not involving conflict with an armed enemy as a member of Battery A, 52d Field Artillery Battalion, 24th Infantry Division, at Chonan, Korea, on 2 October 1950. His battalion was halted in a motor convoy when a prime mover carrying ammunition caught fire and in a few moments was blazing out of control. Completely unmindful of the grave danger from the flames and exploding ammunition Sergeant Lackey unhesitatingly rushed to the scene and aided in uncoupling the artillery piece from the prime mover thereby permitting the vehicle to be maneuvered and driven off the road. His heroic actions prevented further destruction of other vehicles in the convoy and reflect great credit on himself and the military service.
Headquarters, 2nd Infantry Division
General Orders No. 110 - 17 May 1951
Sergeant First Class Raymond J. Lammers, RA17265365, (then Sergeant), Infantry, United States Army, a member of Company M, 38th Infantry Regiment, 2d Infantry Division, displayed heroism on 3 February 1951 in the vicinity of Hoengsong, Korea. On that date, Sergeant Lammers was leader of a mortar squad which was supporting rifle elements. In the course of the firing, one of the mortar tubes came loose from the bipod just as a shell dropped into the tube. Immediately and with complete disregard for his own safety, Sergeant Lammers jumped into the mortar position and held the tube until the round had been discharged, thus protecting the lives of his comrades by his quick and courageous actions. Sergeant Lammers suffered a broken ear drum from the blast of the mortar, The heroism in a situation of grave danger displayed by Sergeant Lammers reflects great credit upon himself and the Armed Forces of the United States. Entered the military service from Iowa.
Department of the Army
General Orders No. 17 - March 08, 1954
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 2, 1926, takes pleasure in presenting the Soldier's Medal to Master Sergeant Lawrence H. Lampley (ASN: RA-18011311), United States Army, for heroism at the risk of life not involving conflict with an armed enemy as a member of Company A, 432d Engineer Construction Battalion, at Kalserslautern, Germany, on 21 August 1953. While his platoon was engaged in pouring concrete for the abutment of a railroad bridge, a crane and a 3-cubic-yard steel bucket weighing approximately 9,000 pounds when loaded were used. After the bucket was loaded with wet concrete and the crane had raised it approximately 20 feet into the air, the weight of the bucket was so great it caused the crane to fall forward. Upon seeing the crane falling toward ten of his fellow soldiers, Sergeant Lampley, with complete disregard for his safety, ran under the falling crane to regain its equilibrium and prevented serious injury and possible death to himself and ten of his fellow soldiers. Sergeant Lampley's heroic act reflects great credit on himself and is in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service.
Department of the Army
General Orders No. 17 - March 8, 1954
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 2, 1926, takes pleasure in presenting the Soldier's Medal to Private First Class Henry J. Landrum (ASN: RA-14301101), United States Army, for heroism at the risk of life not involving conflict with an armed enemy as a member of the 854th Transportation Port Company, at Camp Lloyd, Sondrestrom, Greenland, on 27 September 1953. While working on a barge unloading general cargo, a fellow soldier attempted to lift a box, lost his footing, and fell backward into the below-freezing water. Upon hearing the cry of "man overboard," Private Landrum ran from the other side of the barge, removed his heavy winter parka en route, and unhesitatingly plunged into 15 feet of icy water with complete disregard for his personal safety. His fellow soldier quickly disappeared because of the swiftness of the tide and the weight of his heavy winter clothing. Nevertheless, although unsuccessful in his attempt to save the soldier's life, Private Landrum dived repeatedly in the icy water until he was almost paralyzed and had to be pulled to safety by rescuers waiting on the barge. Private Landrum's prompt and courageous action reflects great credit on himself and the military service.
Headquarters, EUSAK
General Orders No. 207 - 14 April 1951
Corporal Edward F. Laurie, Transportation Corps, United States Army. Corporal Laurie, a member of Company C, 716th Transportation Railway Operating Battalion, was assigned to duty as a railway switch engine operator. On 21 February 1951, Corporal Laurie and another enlisted man were directed to take their engine to the scene of a fire at the British Ordnance Depot located At __ki, Pusan, Korea. Arriving at the depot, he discovered that seven freight cars loaded with petroleum products were within 20 feet of blazing ammunition stores. Fully realizing the petroleum products would be fired at any moment if not hastily removed, Corporal Laurie, heedless of the exploding ammunition and falling debris, engineered his engine into the depot, coupled onto the loaded cars and pulled them to safety. Returning to the depot, he coupled onto sixteen more cars which were blocking the crossing, preventing fire fighting apparatus from approaching the blaze, and removed them to safety. As a result of this action, the fire was soon isolated and brought under control with a comparatively small loss of critically needed supplies. The heroism displayed by Corporal Laurie on this occasion reflects great credit on himself and the military service. Entered the federal service from Virginia.
Department of the Army
General Orders No. 30 - March 26, 1953
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 2, 1926, takes pleasure in presenting the Soldier's Medal to Private First Class Thomas E. Laws, United States Army, for heroism at the risk of life not involving conflict with an armed enemy as a member of Company B, 703d Military Police Battalion, at Bamberg, Germany, on 8 January 1953. When Private Laws heard cries for help coming from a 5-year old German boy who had fallen into the icy, turbulent waters of the Regnitz River, he recognized that the child was in dire stress. Unhesitatingly, he jumped into the cold, swift waters, fully clothed, in a heroic effort to swim to the aid of the child. He successfully accomplished the rescue of the young boy, who was helpless to extricate himself from the dangerous waters. Private Laws prompt and courageous action, without regard for his personal safety, reflects distinct credit on himself and the military service.
Headquarters, Far East Air Forces
General Orders No. 89 - February 19, 1952
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 2, 1926, takes pleasure in presenting the Soldier's Medal to Staff Sergeant Earl W. Leatherman, United States Air Force, for heroism not involving actual conflict with an enemy on 18 November 1951 while stationed with the 344th Bombardment Squadron (M), 98th Bombardment Wing (M) (ADVON). On that date, a B-29 aircraft crashed on take off, immediately bursting into flames. Sergeant Leatherman, dental technician on a crash crew, arrived on the scene after one 500-pound bomb had already exploded. Despite the threat of unexploded bombs in the burning aircraft, and exploding .50 caliber machine gun shells, Sergeant Leatherman, disregarding his personal safety, dragged one crew member to a nearby shelter ditch, where he found two other crew members and a Japanese guard. After sending the guard for an ambulance, Sergeant Leatherman left the ditch himself to continue his search for additional wounded crew, administering first-aid under extremely dangerous conditions. The exceptional courage and devotion to duty displayed by Sergeant Leatherman were in keeping with the highest traditions of the service and reflected great credit upon himself, the Far East Air Forces, and the United States Air Force.
Headquarters, Department of the Army
General Orders No. 11 - 8 February 1955
Private First Class Marshal E. Ledford, United States Army, a member of Company A, 728th Military Police Battalion, distinguished himself by heroism at Yongdung-po, Korea, on 8 August 1954. Private Ledford was leaving the company area when he heard a loud explosion in the near vicinity. Rushing to the scene of the disaster, he found a derailed Korean passenger train engulfed in flames. With complete disregard for his personal safety, Private Ledford entered the blazing cab of the engine where two Korean nationals were trapped, removed them to an adjacent rice paddy, extinguished their burning garments, and assisted them to a place of safety for further treatment. Private Ledford then hastened back to the wreckage and, despite the raging flames and intense smoke, continued to search for injured personnel. Altogether he entered the train six times to escort or carry survivors out of the danger zone. Private Ledford's calm and courageous actions were highly instrumental in saving the lives of eight Korean nationals, reflecting credit on himself and the military service.
Department of the Army
General Orders No. 11 - February 8, 1955
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 2, 1926, takes pleasure in presenting the Soldier's Medal to Sergeant Vincent Leechi, United States Army, for heroism at the risk of life not involving conflict with an armed enemy as a member of Detachment No. 3, 1262d Army Service Unit, at Fort Dix New Jersey, on 7 November 1952. Sergeant Leechi, upon hearing an explosion rushed to the impact area of a rifle-grenade range and discovered that a detail of men had entered the impact area while proceeding to the scene of a brush fire. Being fully cognizant of the density of unexploded grenades in the area and without regard for his personal safety, he proceeded into the area where he administered first aid to three wounded men, prevented panic, and led the detail from the impact area to safety. While leading the men out to safety, a second explosion occurred. Sergeant Leechi found four men were injured and the range officer killed by the explosion. He again administered first aid, prevented panic, and led the remaining men of this group to a place of safety. The prompt, courageous, and determined action taken by Sergeant Leechi in twice entering a hazardous area, preventing panic, administering first aid to the wounded and guiding uninjured men from the impact area, reflect distinct credit on himself and the military service.
Department of the Army
General Orders No. 53 - July 9, 1954
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 2, 1926, takes pleasure in presenting the Soldier's Medal to First Lieutenant (Infantry) Robert W. Looby, United States Army, for heroism at the risk of life not involving conflict with an armed enemy as a member of Company M, 129th Infantry Regiment, 44th Infantry Division, during field exercises at Yakima Firing Center, Yakima, Washington, on 14 May 1954. In the early morning hours, a mess truck of his unit suddenly caught fire caused by gasoline accidentally emitting from a M1937 fire unit, seriously injuring and rendering unconscious the cook on duty. Lieutenant Looby immediately rushed to the scene and with other members of the company attempted to remove the injured man. Seeing that the foot of the injured man was lodged between the ice chest and the truck bed, Lieutenant Looby unhesitatingly jumped onto the flame-enveloped vehicle; with his bare hands, he grasped the burning fire unit near the injured soldier, pushed it aside to free the soldiers foot, and assisted in the removal of the unconscious man from the truck. Still in the burning vehicle, Lieutenant Looby then grasped a flaming five-gallon can of gasoline and flung it clear of the vehicle to prevent further injury and damage. Though himself suffering from serious burns, he refused medical aid until the injured cook had been treated and evacuated to a hospital. The prompt and heroic action of Lieutenant Looby is in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflects great credit on himself and the United States Army.
Headquarters, 25th Infantry Division
General Orders No. 558 - November 3, 1951
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 2, 1926, takes pleasure in presenting the Soldier's Medal to Captain (Field Artillery) Richard D. Lowman (ASN: 0-27380), United States Army, for heroism at the risk of life not involving conflict with an armed enemy while serving with Battery B, 8th Field Artillery Battalion, 25th Infantry Division. Near Mongsa, Korea, on 21 September 1951, Lieutenant Lowman's unit was bombarding hostile positions in support of a task force advance. When a sudden fire started in an ammunition pile, quickly secured a fire extinguisher and, although exposed to the hot artillery rounds, attempted to put out the blaze. After emptying the extinguisher, he grasped a water can and continued fighting the blaze until it was under control. His valorous actions were instrumental in preventing damage to the howitzer and casualties to the men of the unit. Lieutenant Lowman's inspirational courage and unwavering devotion to duty are in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Army.
Department of the Army
General Orders No. 107 - December 14, 1951
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 2, 1926, takes pleasure in presenting the Soldier's Medal to Sergeant [then Corporal] Lawrence K. Lustig, United States Army, for heroism at the risk of life not involving conflict with an armed enemy as a member of Company D, 364th Infantry Regiment, at Fort Dix New Jersey, on 26 May 1951. While engaged as an instructor on a hand grenade range, one of the students pulled the pin from a grenade and accidentally let it drop to the ground. Sergeant Lustig heard the fuse go off and turned and saw his comrade standing with the activated grenade at his feet. With complete disregard for his personal safety, he threw the student to the ground and dropped down in front of him , thereby receiving the full blast of the grenade. As a result, he received multiple injuries and his fellow soldier received only minor injuries. Sergeant Lustig's alert and courageous action in the face of grave danger saved his comrade from serious injury or possible death and reflects distinct credit on himself and the military service.
Citation not found. Sergeant Edgar D. Lynch, United States Army, was awarded the Soldier's Medal for heroism at the risk of life not involving conflict with an armed enemy while serving with the 25th Quartermaster Company, 25th Infantry Division, in Korea.