FReeper Canteen ~ Hall of Heroes: Lawrence Joel ~ 26 July 2021

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[Kathy in Alaska]

 

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~ Hall of Heroes ~

Lawrence Joel

Info from here.

           

Lawrence Joel (February 22, 1928 - February 4, 1984) was a United States Army Sergeant First Class who served in the Korean and Vietnam Wars. 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-Specialist Five Lawrence Joel and his battalion of paratroopers were sent on a patrol for Viet Cong soldiers near Bien Hoa, warzone "D" 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 medic, administering first aid to wounded soldiers. Joel defied orders to stay to the ground and risked his life to help the many wounded soldiers; nearly every soldier 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 seal 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.

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 airman 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

On April 8, 1967, the city of Winston-Salem held a parade to honor Lawrence Joel. He grew up on the east side of the city, a predominantly African-American section of the city at the time. The New York Times called it the biggest tribute the city had ever staged. Watch WFMY News 2 vintage video of the parade.

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.

Besides being the recipient of the Medal of Honor, several different buildings and memorials have been named in his honor.

The first military memorial named in his honor was Joel Drive, which encircles Blanchfield Community Hospital at Fort Campbell, KY, dedicated in 1985.

But wait, there's more....

Click the picture to view the video

"8th of November" is the title of a song written and recorded by the American country music duo Big & Rich, and recorded on their 2005 album Comin' to Your City. Released in May 2006 as that album's third and final single, the song became the duo's seventh Top 40 hit on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts, where it peaked at #18, in addition to reaching #94 on the Billboard Hot 100.

The lyrics of the refrain refer specifically to "1965, the 8th of November" in describing the battle. In the album version, Kris Kristofferson provides the introduction and explains the significance of November 8, 1965. The 173d Airborne Brigade was ambushed by Viet Cong during Operation Hump. One of the wounded, Niles Harris, was among the several soldiers saved by Lawrence Joel, who later became the first living black American to receive the Medal of Honor since the Spanish-American War. Years later, Harris gave Big Kenny (one half of the duo) the top hat he often wears in public appearances.

The song itself is a mid-tempo set in triple meter, giving an account of Harris' life. In the first verse, at the age of 19, Harris joins the military to fight the Vietnamese. He ends up in Vietnam, "with the smell of napalm in the air." The thirty in his group are then ambushed, as earlier stated by Kristofferson. In the second verse, Harris, now 58, exhibits the lingering injuries he sustained during the war, but he is "strong when he talks" about his injuries and his memories of his fallen comrades.

 

Please remember the Canteen is here to honor, support and entertain our troops and their families.  This is a politics-free zone!  Thanks for helping us in our mission! 

[lightman]

Thank you for keeping his memory and all of our heroes’ memory before us!

[The Mayor]

Freep mail me to be on or off the Daily Bread ping list

July 26

Blooming for Jesus

Bible in a Year:

• Psalms 40–42
• Acts 27:1–26

A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.

John 13:34

I wasn’t truthful about the tulips. A gift from my younger daughter, the packaged bulbs traveled home with her to the US from Amsterdam after she visited there. So I made a show of accepting the bulbs with great excitement, as excited as I was to reunite with her. But tulips are my least favorite flower. Many bloom early and fade fast. The July weather, meantime, made it too hot to plant them.

Finally, however, in late September, I planted “my daughter’s” bulbs—thinking of her and thus planting them with love. With each turn of the rocky soil, my concern for the bulbs grew. Giving their plant bed a final pat, I offered the bulbs a blessing, “sleep well,” hoping to see blooming tulips in the spring.

My little project became a humble reminder of God’s call for us to love one another, even if we’re not each other’s “favorites.” Looking past each other’s faulty “weeds,” we’re enabled by God to extend love to others, even in temperamental seasons. Then, over time, mutual love blooms in spite of ourselves. “By this,” Jesus said, “everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another” (John 13:35). Pruned by Him, we’re blessed then to bloom, as my tulips did the next spring—on the same weekend my daughter arrived for a short visit. “Look what’s blooming!” I said. Finally, me.

Reflect & Pray

Whom is God asking you to love, even if that person isn’t your “favorite”? What can you do to show that person more of the love of Christ?

Dear Jesus, prune my heart so I can learn to love others in Christ.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, Mayor, and thank you for today’s sustenance for body and soul.

You and Mrs Mayor all rested and ready to take on the new week?

[PROCON]

Thanks so much for honoring tonight’s Hero, Kathy!

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, lightman...for sure, we must remember our heroes who helped make our country great.

[Kathy in Alaska]

~ Hall of Heroes: Lawrence Joel ~

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[Kathy in Alaska]

Hello Veterans, wherever you are!!

[Kathy in Alaska]

Hello, Pro...is your weather getting nicer?

Today started off cloudy and a bit chilly, but in the last couple hours it has been more sun than clouds. Sitting out on the deck was a nice respite.

[left that other site]

Hi Everybody!

(((HUGS))).

[luvie]

Lawrence Joel
February 22, 1928 - February 4, 1984
United States Army Sergeant First Class
Served in the Korean and Vietnam Wars
Received Silver Star & Medal Of Honor for bravery.
What a hero he was.
May he rest in peace.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, ML...((HUGS))...do we need to send a plumber? Are you without water til???

Sending you a prayer for your peace of mind.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, luvie...thanks for helping honor our hero.

Did you get a good nap today?

I actually was able to spend 15 minutes on the deck between clouds and catch a few rays. It was nice.

[luvie]

Howdy, Kathy! (((hugs)))

I did get a nice nap. But I had the strangest dream...which I can’t remember now. LOL!

I’m glad you had some “you time” but it would be nice if it could be for more than 15 minutes. I take it that it was a pretty day up there today.

[PROCON]

Hi Kathy, we're back in the high '90's again, fairly typical.

Son and I went out to lunch today for my 70th Birthday celebration!

[luvie]

Happy 70th!
Hope it was the BEST!

[SkyDancer]

Hai Kathy! (((HUGS))) Well back in Orlando (yet again) for my three day rest period, staying with a crew family. Nice folks. Might make it home by end of month.

[radu]

Greetings to all at the Canteen!

To all our military men and women, past and present,

[The Mayor]

Yes we are. Our daughter visited from Pittsburgh.
She left tonight and just got home. 4.5 hour drive.

[MoochPooch]

Evening, Kathy! Thanks for another bio!