US PARAS 2 Martin, Larry

Strike and Hold : A Memoir of the 82d Airborne in World War II
Strike and Hold : A Memoir of the 82d Airborne in World War II
by T. Moffatt Burriss
Secret Green Beret Commandos in Cambodia: A Memorial History of MACV-SOG's Command and Control Detachment South (CCS), and Its Air Partners, Republic
Secret Green Beret Commandos in Cambodia: A Memorial History of MACV-SOG's Command and Control Detachment South (CCS), and Its Air Partners, Republic
By Fred Lindsey
John Robertson

John Robertson

Administrator
Staff member
  • SURNAME
Martin​
  • FORENAME
Larry​
  • UNIT
503 Infantry Regiment (Airborne) (Company D,1 Bn)​
  • RANK
Sergeant​
  • NUMBER
16840149​
  • DATE OF DEATH
11th November 1967​
  • AGE
19​
  • GRAVESITE
Fort Sheridan Post Cemetery,Highwood,Lake County,Illinois​
  • ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
from Chicago,Illinois ​
born 6.12.1947​
single​
attended Tilden Technical High School,Chicago​
2 years service​
award D.S.C. (posthumous)​
KIA Dak To,Kontum Province,South Vietnam​
Vietnam Veterans Memorial,Washington,D.C. Panel 29E Line 74​
​
 

DATE OF DEATH:

11-Nov-1967

CITATION:

Distinguished Service Cross : The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918 (amended by act of July 25, 1963), takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to Sergeant Larry Martin (ASN: RA-16840149), United States 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.
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