Laurence C. Swank

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star Medal to Laurence C. Swank (0-5424508), First Lieutenant (Field Artillery), U.S. Army, for gallantry in action against a hostile force on 8 February 1968 in the Republic of Vietnam. First Lieutenant Swank distinguished himself by exceptionally valiant actions while serving as a Forward Observer with Company A, 1st Battalion, 6th Infantry Regiment, 198th Infantry Brigade, Americal Division. On that date, the company was crossing an open rice paddy near the village of Log Giang (1) during a sweep mission when they came under intense fire from a reinforced battalion of North Vietnamese Army Regulars. Lieutenant Swank was moving with the command group when the insurgents opened fire and, almost immediately his radio and telephone operator was wounded. Without regard for his own safety, Lieutenant Swank exposed himself to hostile fire to aid the wounded soldier. He then dragged the injured man a distance of 400 meters to the safety of the weapons platoon perimeter. Lieutenant Swank rushed to the nearest radio and commenced adjusting the artillery fire which had been called in by the acting company commander. He continuously exposed himself to hostile fire as he moved out in the open rice paddy to accurately adjust the supporting artillery fire. First Lieutenant Swank’s unquestionable valor in close combat with a numerically superior hostile force is in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflects great credit upon himself, the Americal Division, and the United States Army.
Headquarters, Americal Division, General Orders No. 3032 (June 5, 1968)