Name: Leslie H. Sabo Jr.
Rank: Specialist Fourth Class
Branch: U.S. Army
War: Vietnam War
Unit: Company B, 3d Battalion, 506th Infantry, 101st Airborne Division
Date of Action: May 10, 1970
Location: Se San, Cambodia
Summary of Action
On 10 May 1970, Specialist Fourth Class Leslie H. Sabo Jr. distinguished himself during a reconnaissance patrol in Se San, Cambodia.
His platoon was suddenly ambushed from all sides by a large enemy force.
Without hesitation, Sabo charged an enemy position and killed several enemy soldiers.
He then attacked an enemy flanking force, deliberately drawing fire away from his fellow soldiers and forcing the enemy to fall back.
When ammunition was needed, Sabo sprinted across an open field to reach a wounded comrade.
As he began to reload, an enemy grenade landed nearby.
Sabo picked it up, threw it away, and shielded his wounded comrade with his own body.
The blast seriously wounded him, but saved the other soldier’s life.
Despite those wounds, Sabo continued the fight.
Seeing an enemy bunker inflicting severe damage on the platoon, he charged it alone under automatic-weapons fire.
Hit repeatedly and mortally wounded, he still refused to stop.
Crawling toward the bunker, he managed to get close enough to throw a grenade into the enemy position.
The explosion silenced the bunker, but cost him his life.
His courage, selflessness, and complete devotion to his platoon saved many lives and reflected the highest traditions of the United States Army.
Medal of Honor Citation
SABO, JR., LESLIE H.
Rank: Specialist Fourth Class
Organization: U.S. Army
Company: Company B, 3d Battalion
Division: 506th Infantry, 101st Airborne Division
Born: February 23, 1948, Austria
Entered Service At: Ellwood City, Pennsylvania
Date of Issue: May 16, 2012
Accredited To: Pennsylvania
Place and Date: Se San, Cambodia, May 10, 1970
Citation:
Specialist Four Leslie H. Sabo Jr. distinguished himself by conspicuous acts of gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty at the cost of his own life while serving as a rifleman in Company B, 3d Battalion, 506th Infantry, 101st Airborne Division in Se San, Cambodia, on May 10, 1970. On that day, Specialist Four Sabo and his platoon were conducting a reconnaissance patrol when they were ambushed from all sides by a large enemy force. Without hesitation, Specialist Four Sabo charged an enemy position, killing several enemy soldiers. Immediately thereafter, he assaulted an enemy flanking force, successfully drawing their fire away from friendly soldiers and ultimately forcing the enemy to retreat. In order to re-supply ammunition, he sprinted across an open field to a wounded comrade. As he began to reload, an enemy grenade landed nearby. Specialist Four Sabo picked it up, threw it, and shielded his comrade with his own body, thus absorbing the brunt of the blast and saving his comrade’s life. Seriously wounded by the blast, Specialist Four Sabo nonetheless retained the initiative and then single-handedly charged an enemy bunker that had inflicted severe damage on the platoon, receiving several serious wounds from automatic weapons fire in the process. Now mortally injured, he crawled towards the enemy emplacement and, when in position, threw a grenade into the bunker. The resulting explosion silenced the enemy fire, but also ended Specialist Four Sabo’s life. His indomitable courage and complete disregard for his own safety saved the lives of many of his platoon members. Specialist Four Sabo’s extraordinary heroism and selflessness, above and beyond the call of duty, at the cost of his life, are in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself, Company B, 3d Battalion, 506th Infantry, 101st Airborne Division, and the United States Army.
Name: Leslie H. Sabo Jr.
