Larry E. Smedley
United States Marine Corps Medal of Honor recipient (1949-1967)
Corporal Larry Eugene Smedley (March 4, 1949 – December 21, 1967) was a United States Marine who posthumously received the United States' highest military decoration — the Medal of Honor — for his actions in December 1967 in Quảng Nam Province, Republic of Vietnam. The Corporal Larry E. Smedley National Vietnam War Museum in Florida is named for him.
Biography
Larry Eugene Smedley was born on March 4, 1949, in Front Royal, Virginia. He attended elementary schools in Berryville, Virginia; Augusta, Georgia; Union Park, Florida; Howard Junior High School in Orlando, Florida, and Colonial High School, leaving the latter in 1966 a few days after he turned 17. Although he did not graduate from high school, in 2008 the school board awarded him an honorary high school diploma posthumously.
He enlisted in the United States Marine Corps on March 18, 1966, at Orlando, Florida, then reported to the Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, South Carolina, and underwent recruit training with the 1st Recruit Training Battalion. In July 1966, he completed individual combat training with the 2nd Infantry Training Battalion, 1st Infantry Training Regiment, Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.
Upon completion of recruit training, Pvt Smedley served as a rifleman and fire team leader with Companies D and C, respectively, 1st Battalion, 8th Marines, 2nd Marine Division, Camp Lejeune. He was promoted to private first class on September 1, 1966, and to lance corporal on January 1, 1967.
In July 1967, Lance Corporal Smedley arrived in the Republic of Vietnam.
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