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Medal of Honor recipient Army Sp4 Larry G. Dahl
Congressional Medal of Honor
Gun trunk Brutus
Episode 2829 of the Vietnam Veteran News Podcast will feature Army Sp4 Larry G. Dahl and his Congressional Medal of Honor award. Information featured in this episode comes from an essay that appeared on the History Link website. It is titled: Vice President Gerald Ford awards posthumous Medal of Honor to Larry Dahl on August 8, 1974. The essay was submitted by Duane Colt Denfeld, Ph.D. This essay made possible by: The Cultural Resources Program, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Seattle Office of Arts & Culture, King County
Larry G. Dahl was born in Oregon City, Oregon. He attended grade school in Oregon City. Then the family moved to Seattle where Larry attended Franklin High School and was on the track team. While at Franklin he met and married his wife, Michelle. After high school Dahl worked at Sea-Tac International Airport and then at Boeing. On September 5, 1969, he enlisted in the army. He had basic training at Fort Lewis followed by automotive training as a heavy-vehicle driver at Fort Benning in Georgia.
Dahl requested combat duty in Vietnam three times and finally received orders for combat duty there. He flew to Vietnam in June 1970, and eventually became a Specialist Fourth Class in the 359th Transportation Company, 27th Transportation Battalion, 8th Transportation Group. In the fall of 1970 Dahl was working in the transportation motor pool and became friends with the four-man crew on a gun truck they had named Brutus.
On August 8, 1974, Larry Dahl received the Medal of Honor for his heroic sacrifice. Vice President Gerald Ford presented the Medal to to his widow, Michelle Dahl.
Larry G. Dahl is buried in the Willamette National Cemetery in Portland, Oregon. In January 1975 a headquarters building at Fort Eustis, Virginia, was named in his honor. In October 1998 a United States Navy cargo ship carrying his name was launched.
Listen to episode 2829 and discover more about Army Sp4 Larry G. Dahl and his Congressional Medal of Honor award.
