The Air Medal


 

             The  President  of  the United States takes pleasure  in  presenting  the   AIR MEDAL (Bronze Star for the First Award) to

CORPORAL LAWRENCE ALLEN IGL 

UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS

for service as set forth in the following

                 CITATION:

                               "For heroic achievement  in aerial  flight while  serving  with Marine  Medium  Helicopter  Squadron  364,   Marine  Aircraft  Group  Sixteen, First Marine Aircraft Wing   in connection  with  combat operations  against  the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam.  On  28 March 1968, Corporal IGL launched as an Aerial Gunner aboard the third aircraft in a flight of ten CH-46 helicopters assigned  to resupply  the Marine outpost on Hill 881 near Khe Sanh.  When one of  the aircraft  was forced to  make an  emergency  landing in enemy  controlled territory due to battle damage,  his pilot volunteered  to extract the downed crew which  was heavily  engaged with  North Vietnamese soldiers.   The first  landing was  made 100 meters from  the disabled helicopter.   As his aircraft  came under intense  hostile fire,  Corporal IGL  delivered a heavy volume of suppressive fire which  enabled  his  pilot  to  lift  the aircraft  from the area  and  maneuver  the helicopter to  a landing  within  twenty-five  meters of  the  beleaguered Marines. Ignoring  the increasing intensity of North Vietnamese fire, he continued to man his  weapon and  delivered a heavy volume of  fire against the enemy  positions,  He  fearlessly  maintained   his  exposed  position  until   he   was   subsequently wounded   in   the  face  by   hostile  fire.    Corporal  IGL's   courage,   superior professionalism  and  steadfast  devotion  to  duty  at  great  personal  risk  were instrumental in the evacuation of the downed crew members from the hazardous area and were in  keeping with  the  highest  traditions of  the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service." 

FOR THE PRESIDENT

/s/  H. W. Buse, Jr.

H. W. BUSE, JR.
LIEUTENANT GENERAL, U. S. MARINE CORPS
COMMANDING GENERAL, FLEET MARINE FORCE, PACIFIC

 

Crew of YK-4

Maj. John A. Chancey Pilot
1stLt. William O. Hopper Copilot
Sgt. Kenneth A. Altazan Crew Chief
Cpl. Lawrence A. Igl Gunner
Sgt. William M. Williams Gunner

After Action Report

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