Sergeant First Class Lawrence Joel (February 22, 1928–February 4, 1984) was a United States military veteran. He served in the United States Army in both the Korean War and the Vietnam War. While serving in Vietnam, as a medic with the rank of specialist five assigned to 1st Battalion of the 503rd Infantry Regiment in the 173rd Airborne Brigade, Joel received the Silver Star and the Medal of Honor for his heroism in a battle with the Viet Cong th...
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Sergeant First Class Lawrence Joel (February 22, 1928–February 4, 1984) was a United States military veteran. He served in the United States Army in both the Korean War and the Vietnam War. While serving in Vietnam, as a medic with the rank of specialist five assigned to 1st Battalion of the 503rd Infantry Regiment in the 173rd Airborne Brigade, Joel received the Silver Star and the Medal of Honor for his heroism in a battle with the Viet Cong that occurred on November 8, 1965. He was the first living black American to receive this medal since the Spanish-American War in 1898.
He is buried in Arlington National Cemetery Arlington, Virginia. His grave can be found in section 46, lot 15-1.
Born in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, Joel attended city public schools, including Atkins High School, and joined the Merchant Marines for one year. In 1946, at age 18, Joel decided to join the United States Army, making a career out of it. He enlisted in New York City.
On November 8, 1965 then...
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