Lawrence Norman Gardner
Corporal, U.S. Army

In March 1951, Corporal Lawrence Norman Gardner was serving with Company G, 3rd Battalion, 187th Airborne Regimental Combat Team, 11th Airborne Division, in Korea.

On 28 March, CPL Gardener's unit was engaged with enemy forces in the vicinity of Parun-ni, Korea, and Company G was assigned the mission of capturing Hill 507, a hostile strong point. As the company approached the summit of the hill, enemy soldiers began tossing hand grenades among the friendly troops. Seeing the grenades fall among his comrades, CPL Gardner, in an attempt to save the lives of his comrades, began hurling them back into the enemy positions. He succeeded in grabbing two grenades and throwing them back at the enemy and was attempting to throw a third grenade when it exploded in his hand, killing him instantly. His courage and selfless action to save others earned him the U.S. Army's second highest award for valor, the Distinguished Service Cross.

Medals, Awards and Badges

Distinguished Service Cross
Purple Heart
Army Good Conduct Medal
National Defense Service Medal
Korean Service Medal
United Nations Service Medal
Republic of Korea War Service Medal
Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation
Combat Infantryman Badge

Distinguished Service Cross Citation

The President of the United States of America, under the provisions of the Act of Congress approved July 9, 1918, takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to Corporal Lawrence N. Gardner (ASN: RA-11143331), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy of the United Nations while serving with Company G, 3d Battalion, 187th Airborne Regimental Combat Team, 11th Airborne Division. Corporal Gardner distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism in action against enemy aggressor forces in the vicinity of Parun-ni, Korea, on 28 March 1951. On that date, Company G was assigned the mission of capturing Hill 507, a hostile strong point. As the company approached the summit of the hill, the stubbornly resisting enemy began tossing hand grenades among the friendly troops. Seeing the grenades fall among his comrades, Corporal Gardner, with complete disregard for his personal safety, and with heroic determination to save the lives of his gravely endangered comrades, began hurling them back into the enemy positions. He succeeded in recovering two of the grenades and throwing them at the enemy and was attempting to throw a third grenade toward an enemy entrenchment when it exploded in his hand, killing him instantly.

General Orders: Headquarters, Eighth U.S. Army, Korea: General Orders No. 527 (July 9, 1951)

Burial

Corporal Lawrence Norman Gardner is buried at Mount Calvary Cemetery in Saint Albans, Franklin County, VT.

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