Lawrence Joel's Lifesaving Actions in Vietnam

During the Vietnam War SP6 Lawrence Joel’s unit came under sudden attack by a numerically superior and well-concealed Viet Cong force, which left nearly every man in the lead squad dead or wounded, Joel immediately sprang into action. His determination and skill as a medic were tested as he rushed to treat those hit in the initial barrage of gunfire. Despite the chaos, he moved forward, risking his life to reach others who had fallen while advancing toward their objective.

As Joel moved from soldier to soldier, delivering aid under constant fire, he was struck in the right leg by machine gun fire. Despite his painful wound, his commitment to helping his fellow soldiers overpowered any concern for his own safety. He bandaged his own leg and administered morphine to numb the pain, enabling him to continue his mission. Throughout this ordeal, he shouted words of encouragement to his comrades, urging them to hold on.

Ignoring warnings from others about the intense danger, Joel repeatedly exposed himself to enemy fire, kneeling to hold plasma bottles high while focused on saving lives. Even after being shot a second time, with a bullet lodged in his thigh, he dragged himself across the battlefield to reach more wounded soldiers. He treated 13 additional men before his medical supplies ran out. Demonstrating ingenuity, Joel saved the life of one soldier by using a plastic bag to seal a severe chest wound, preventing further blood loss.

As one of the platoons pursued the Viet Cong, another ambush left many more soldiers injured. Undeterred, Joel replenished his medical supplies and crawled through a hail of gunfire to reach the new casualties, continuing to offer encouragement as he worked. For 24 grueling hours, the battle raged on, leaving 410 Viet Cong dead, while snipers continued to harass the U.S. troops. Throughout the entire engagement, Joel never wavered from his role as a medic, treating and comforting the wounded until his own evacuation was ordered. His unwavering dedication and life-saving efforts under the most perilous conditions not only saved many lives but served as an inspiring testament to courage and duty in the face of overwhelming odds.