Everything about Lawrence Joel totally explained
Specialist/SFC Lawrence Joel (
February 22,
1928–
February 4,
1984) was an
American military
veteran. He served in the
United States Army in both the
Korean War and the
Vietnam War. While serving in
Viet Nam, as a
medic assigned to 1st
Battalion of the 503rd Infantry 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.
Childhood
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.
Vietnam War
On
November 8,
1965 Lawrence Joel (then
Specialist Five) and his battalion of
paratroopers were sent on a patrol for
Viet Cong soldiers near
Bien Hoa in the heart of
Vietnam, conducting
Operation Hump. Joel and his battalion shortly found themselves in a Viet Cong
ambush, outnumbered six to one. Under heavy gunfire, Joel did his duty as a medical aidman (medic), administering
first aid to his wounded fellow soldiers. Joel defied orders to stay to the ground and risked his life to help the many wounded soldiers; nearly every solider in the lead squad was either wounded or killed in the battle. Even after being shot twice (once in the right
thigh and once in the right
calf), Joel continued to do his job; he bandaged his wounds and continued to help the wounded in not only his unit, but in the nearby
company as well. When his medical supplies were depleted, he hobbled around the battlefield for more, using a makeshift
crutch. Joel attended to thirteen troops and saved the life of one soldier who suffered from a severe chest wound by improvising and placing a plastic bag over the soldier's chest in order to congeal the wound until the supplies were refreshed. After the firefight which lasted over twenty four hours, Joel was hospitalized and shipped to locations including
Saigon, Vietnam and
Tokyo, Japan to recover. Shortly after, he received the
Silver Star for his activities on
November 8,
1965.
Medal of Honor citation
On
March 9,
1967 on the
White House lawn,
President Lyndon Johnson presented Joel with the
Medal of Honor for his service in the
Vietnam War. His citation reads as follows:
» 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.
Retirement
Lawrence Joel retired from military service in 1973. On
February 4,
1984, Joel died of complications from
diabetes. He is buried in Section 46 of
Arlington National Cemetery adjacent to the Memorial Amphitheater.
Honors and awards
Besides being the recipient of the Medal of Honor, several different buildings and memorials have been named in his honor.
Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum
In memory of Lawrence Joel and all
Forsyth County veterans, the Winston-Salem Board of Aldermen (now City Council) in February 1986 decided to name the city's new
coliseum the
Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum. Construction for the coliseum began one year later and opened in 1989. In 2007, a study funded by the Winston Salem City Council opened the possibility of selling the coliseum's naming rights to some corporation.
Lawrence Joel is mentioned in the song "
8th of November" by country group
Big & Rich.
Kris Kristofferson gives a prelude speech to the song in which he recognizes Joel and his heroic feats on the 8th of November, 1965 in
Vietnam.
The Joel Auditorium at
Walter Reed Army Medical Center in
Washington, D.C. is named after Lawrence Joel.
The U.S. Army clinics at FT McPherson, GA and FT Bragg, NC, are named after SP6 Joel.
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