Lawrence Joel

Lawrence Joel
Born(1928-02-22)February 22, 1928
Winston-Salem, North Carolina, U.S.
DiedFebruary 4, 1984(1984-02-04) (aged 55)
Winston-Salem, North Carolina, U.S.
Buried
Arlington National Cemetery
AllegianceUnited States
BranchUnited States Army
Service years1946–1973
RankSergeant first class
Unit1st Battalion (Airborne), 503rd Infantry
173rd Airborne Brigade
ConflictsKorean War
Vietnam War (WIA)
AwardsMedal of Honor
Silver Star
Purple Heart

Lawrence Joel (February 22, 1928 – February 4, 1984) was a United States Army soldier who served in the Korean and Vietnam Wars. While serving in South Vietnam as a medic with the rank of specialist five 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 medic to earn the Medal of Honor during the Vietnam War and the first living black American to receive this medal since the Spanish–American War in 1898.

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