MARTIN, LARRY
MARTIN, LARRY
Sergeant, U.S. Army
Company D, 1st Battalion, 503d Infantry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade,
Date of Action: November 11, 1967
Citation:
The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Larry
Martin, Sergeant, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with
military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force in the
Republic of Vietnam, while serving with Company D, 1st Battalion, 503d Infantry,
173d Airborne Brigade. Sergeant Martin distinguished himself by exceptionally
valorous actions on 11 November 1967 while serving as squad leader of an
airborne infantry company during the battle at Dak To. His squad was serving as
point element for the company as it attempted to join a battalion. As Sergeant
Martin quickly led his squad to join the beleaguered company, withering machine
gun fire wounded two of his men. He dashed to aid the injured troops and was hit
himself, but he ignored his wound and carried one man to the relative safety of
the defensive perimeter. After integrating his troops with the main force, he
fought furiously to repel repeated fierce assaults by the North Vietnamese
soldiers. He was wounded a second time by a mortar air burst, but he continued
to refuse aid and moved among the bullet-swept positions to direct the fires of
his men. When the order to counterattack came, he led his squad in an assault up
the enemy-controlled hill. He was again wounded by an exploding enemy rocket,
but he fearlessly continued his advance on a hostile machine gun position. In
the face of ravaging enemy hand grenades and machine gun fire, he unhesitantly
assaulted the gun emplacement and suppressed its fire while one of his men
destroyed the position with a grenade. He was mortally wounded while gallantly
leading his men in the heat of battle. His fearless and courageous actions
inspired his men to defeat the North Vietnamese forces and reach their
objective. Sergeant Martin's extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty, at the
cost of his life, were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military
service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States
Army.
HQ US
Army, Vietnam, General Orders No. 698 (February 15, 1968)
Home Town: Chicago, Illinois
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