Larry G. Dahl

Infobox Military Person
name=Larry G. Dahl
born= 1949Sources are inconsistent on Dahl's date of birth. His Medal of Honor citation gives October 6 1949 ( [http://www.army.mil/cmh-pg/html/moh/vietnam-a-l.html] ), while his government-issued headstone gives June 10 1949 ( [http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=pis&GRid=7028133&PIgrid=7028133&PIcrid=39562&PIpi=1753317&] ).]
died= death date|1971|02|23
placeofbirth=Oregon City, Oregon
placeofdeath=near An Khe, Binh Dinh Province, Republic of Vietnam
placeofburial=


caption=Medal of Honor
nickname=
allegiance=United States of America
branch=United States Army
serviceyears=
rank=Specialist Four
commands=
unit=359th Transportation Company, 27th Transportation Battalion
battles=Vietnam War
awards=Medal of Honor
relations=
laterwork=

Larry G. Dahl (1949 – February 23 1971) was a United States Army soldier and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration—the Medal of Honor—for his actions in the Vietnam War.

Biography

Dahl joined the Army from Portland, Oregon, and by February 23 1971 was serving as a specialist four in the 359th Transportation Company, 27th Transportation Battalion, U.S. Army Support Command. On that day, near An Khe in Binh Dinh Province, Republic of Vietnam, Dahl smothered the blast of an enemy-thrown hand grenade with his body, sacrificing himself to protect those around him.

Dahl, aged 21 at his death, was buried in Willamette National Cemetery, Portland, Oregon.

Medal of Honor citation

Specialist Dahl's official Medal of Honor citation reads:

:Spec. 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 Spec. 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 Spec. Dahl was riding. Instantly realizing the great danger, Spec. 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, Spec. Dahl saved the lives of the other members of the truck crew while sacrificing his own. Spec. 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.

ee also

*List of Medal of Honor recipients
*List of Medal of Honor recipients for the Vietnam War
*USNS "Dahl" (T-AKR-312), named in his honor.

Notes

References

*findagrave|7028133 Retrieved on 2007-07-30
*cite web
publisher = U.S. Army Center of Military History
title = Medal of Honor Recipients - Vietnam (A-L)
work = Medal of Honor Citations
date = July 16 2007
url = http://www.army.mil/cmh/html/moh/vietnam-a-l.html
accessdate = 2007-07-30

Persondata
NAME= Dahl, Larry G.
ALTERNATIVE NAMES=
SHORT DESCRIPTION= United States Army Medal of Honor recipient
DATE OF BIRTH=
PLACE OF BIRTH=
DATE OF DEATH=
PLACE OF DEATH=