Name: Larry G. Dahl
Rank: Specialist Fourth Class
Branch: U.S. Army
Unit: 359th Transportation Company, 27th Transportation Battalion, U.S. Army Support Command
Place: An Khe, Binh Dinh Province, Republic of Vietnam
Entered Service At: Portland, Oregon
Born: 6 October 1949, Oregon City, Oregon
Summary of Action
Sp4c. Larry G. Dahl was serving as a machine gunner on a gun truck near An Khe when his vehicle and two others were dispatched to reinforce a convoy under heavy enemy ambush.
Entering the battle zone, the gun trucks delivered intense machine gun fire into enemy positions, inflicting significant casualties and forcing the attack to subside.
As the trucks prepared to resume their escort mission, an enemy hand grenade was suddenly thrown into the truck in which Dahl was riding.
Without hesitation, he shouted a warning to his fellow soldiers and threw himself directly onto the grenade.
By absorbing the full force of the explosion, he saved the lives of the other crew members.
His courage and selfless devotion to his comrades cost him his life but preserved theirs.
Medal of Honor Citation
DAHL, LARRY G.
Rank and organization: Specialist Fourth Class, U.S. Army, 359th Transportation Company, 27th Transportation Battalion, U.S. Army Support Command.
Place and date: An Khe, Binh Dinh Province, Republic of Vietnam, 23 February 1971.
Entered service at: Portland, Oreg.
Born: 6 October 1949, Oregon City, Oreg.
Citation:
Sp4c. Dahl distinguished himself by conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity while serving as a machine gunner on a gun truck near An Khe, Binh Dinh Province. The gun truck in which Sp4c. Dahl was riding was sent with 2 other gun trucks to assist in the defense of a convoy that had been ambushed by an enemy force. The gun trucks entered the battle zone and engaged the attacking enemy troops with a heavy volume of machine gun fire, causing a large number of casualties. After a brief period of intense fighting the attack subsided. As the gun trucks were preparing to return to their normal escort duties, an enemy hand grenade was thrown into the truck in which Sp4c. Dahl was riding. Instantly realizing the great danger, Sp4c. Dahl called a warning to his companions and threw himself directly onto the grenade. Through his indomitable courage, complete disregard for his safety, and profound concern for his fellow soldiers, Sp4c. Dahl saved the lives of the other members of the truck crew while sacrificing his own. Sp4c. Dahl’s conspicuous gallantry, extraordinary heroism, and intrepidity at the cost of his life, above and beyond the call of duty, are in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit on himself, his unit and the U.S. Army.
Name: Larry G. Dahl
