Sp4 Joseph Guy Lapointe, Jr. - West Milton, OH
Posted by: 
SM741
N 39° 57.926 W 084° 19.545
16S E 728402 N 4427345
Earned The Medal of Honor During the Vietnam War For heroism June 02, 1969 at Quang Tin Province, Vietnam
Waymark Code: WMD4X
Location: Ohio, United States
Date Posted: 05/20/2006
Views: 37
Specialist Fourth Class Lapointe's patrol was advancing from the landing zone through an adjoining valley when it suddenly encountered heavy automatic weapons fire from a large enemy force entrenched in well fortified bunker positions. In the initial hail of fire, two soldiers in the formation vanguard were seriously wounded. Hearing a call for aid from one of the wounded, Specialist Fourth Class Lapointe, a medic, ran forward through heavy fire to assist his fallen comrades. To reach the wounded men he was forced to crawl directly in view of an enemy bunker. As members of his unit attempted to provide covering fire, he administered first aid to one man, shielding the other with his body. He was hit by a burst of fire from the bunker while attending the wounded soldier. In spite of his painful wounds, Specialist Fourth Class Lapointe continued his lifesaving duties until he was again wounded and knocked to the ground. Making strenuous efforts, he moved back again into a shielding position to continue administering first aid. An exploding enemy grenade mortally wounded all three men.
Armed Service: Army
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