
The President of the United States
in the name of The Congress
takes pleasure in presenting the
Medal of Honor
to
LANG, GEORGE C.
Rank and organization: Specialist Fourth
Class, U.S. Army, Company A, 4th Battalion, 47th Infantry, 9th Infantry Division. Place
and date: Kien Hoa province, Republic of Vietnam, 22 February 1969. Entered
service at: Brooklyn, N.Y. Born: 20 April 1947, Flushing, N.Y .
Citation:
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and
beyond the call of duty. Sp4c. Lang, Company A, was serving as a squad leader when his
unit, on a reconnaissance-in-force mission, encountered intense fire from a well fortified
enemy bunker complex. Sp4c. Lang observed an emplacement from which heavy fire was coming.
Unhesitatingly, he assaulted the position and destroyed it with hand grenades and rifle
fire. Observing another emplacement approximately 15 meters to his front, Sp4c. Lang
jumped across a canal, moved through heavy enemy fire to within a few feet of the
position, and eliminated it, again using hand grenades and rifle fire. Nearby, he
discovered a large cache of enemy ammunition. As he maneuvered his squad forward to secure
the cache, they came under fire from yet a third bunker. Sp4c. Lang immediately reacted,
assaulted this position, and destroyed it with the remainder of his grenades. After
returning to the area of the arms cache, his squad again came under heavy enemy rocket and
automatic weapons fire from 3 sides and suffered 6 casualties. Sp4c. Lang was 1 of those
seriously wounded. Although immobilized and in great pain, he continued to direct his men
until his evacuation was ordered over his protests. The sustained extraordinary courage
and selflessness exhibited by this soldier over an extended period of time were an
inspiration to his comrades and are in keeping with the highest traditions of the U.S.
Army.
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