Lawrence N. Gardner

The President of the United States takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to Lawrence N. Gardner (RA11143331), Corporal, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy of the United Nations while serving with Company G, 3d Battalion, 187th Airborne Regimental Combat Team, 11th Airborne Division. Corporal Gardner distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism in action against enemy aggressor forces in the vicinity of Parun-ni, Korea, on 28 March 1951. On that date, Company G was assigned the mission of capturing Hill 507, a hostile strong point. As the company approached the summit of the hill, the stubbornly resisting enemy began tossing hand grenades among the friendly troops. Seeing the grenades fall among his comrades, Corporal Gardner, with complete disregard for his personal safety, and with heroic determination to save the lives of his gravely endangered comrades, began hurling them back into the enemy positions. He succeeded in recovering two of the grenades and throwing them at the enemy and was attempting to throw a third grenade toward an enemy entrenchment when it exploded in his hand, killing him instantly.
Headquarters, Eighth U.S. Army, Korea: General Orders No. 527 (July 9, 1951)