Served as a Rifleman in Company B, 3d Battalion, 506th Infantry, 101st Airborne Division
WASHINGTON, DC—On May 16, President Barack Obama will award Specialist Leslie H. Sabo, Jr., U.S. Army, the Medal of Honor for conspicuous gallantry.
Specialist Sabo will receive the Medal of Honor
posthumously for his heroic actions in combat on May 10, 1970, while serving as
a rifleman in Company B, 3d Battalion, 506th Infantry, 101st Airborne Division
in Se San, Cambodia.
On that day, when he and his platoon were
ambushed by a large enemy force, Specialist Sabo immediately charged the enemy
position, killing several enemy soldiers. He then assaulted an enemy
flanking force, successfully drawing their fire away from friendly soldiers and
ultimately forcing the enemy to retreat.
While securing a re-supply of ammunition, an
enemy grenade landed nearby. Specialist Sabo picked it up, threw it, and
shielded a wounded comrade with his own body - absorbing the brunt of the blast
and saving his comrade's life.
Although wounded by the grenade blast, he
continued to charge the enemy's bunker. After receiving several serious
wounds from automatic weapons fire, he crawled towards the enemy emplacement
and, when in position, threw a grenade into the bunker.
The resulting explosion silenced the enemy fire,
but also ended Specialist Sabo’s life. His indomitable courage and
complete disregard for his own safety saved the lives of many of his platoon
members.
Specialist Sabo's widow, Rose Mary Sabo-Brown
and his brother, George Sabo, will join the President at the White House
to commemorate his example of selfless service and sacrifice.
Photo courtesy of http://woundedtimes.blogspot.com
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