Gordon Joseph Lippman
Lieutenant Colonel, U.S. Army

On 27 November 1950, then-First Lieutenant Gordon Joseph Lippman was serving with Company A, 1st Battalion, 24th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division, in Korea. During the early morning hours, near Ipsok, Korea, a strong hostile force attacked the supply train of 1LT Lippman's 1st Battalion. Despite exposure to intense hostile fire, he organized the supply troops in a perimeter defense and led the machine gun crew to vantage points from which they could direct effective counterfire on the attacking enemy. Advancing through a deadly small arms and mortar barrage, he contacted the supply area of an adjacent unit which enabled the two forces to combine their strength and repel the hostile incursion. 1LT Lippman's valorous actions earned him the U.S. Army's third highest award for valor, the Silver Star Medal.

On 11 April 1951, then-Captain Lippman was serving as Commanding Officer of Company A, 1st Battalion, 24th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division in the vicinity of Do Chung, Korea. CPT Lippman was leading his men across the Hantan River in the predawn darkness in an attempt to secure the high ground on the opposite shore from a well-entrenched hostile force. When his men were in the middle of the river, an enemy outpost discovered the operation and directed machine-gun fire on the wading troops. Quickly deploying his men, CPT Lippman led a charge against the hostile emplacement, destroying it and enabling the Company to finish the crossing with a minimum of casualties. He then reorganized the Company and led his men across a flat, exposed area toward the objective. The enemy, emplaced in a strong perimeter defense on the crest of the hill, directed such a devastating volume of fire on the friendly troops that only a platoon of the Company reached the base of the objective with CPT Lippman. The remainder of Company A was pinned down by the intense fire. He realized that the platoon would be forced to launch a frontal assault against the enemy positions unless some method was used to divert the hostile fire from the attacking troops. Armed only with a pistol and grenades, he quickly moved up the slope and attacked the enemy emplacements. For forty-five minutes, he maneuvered to within a few yards of these positions, harassing the hostile troops and drawing their concentrated fire. His courageous action enabled the platoon to work its way to a position from which an assault was launched that routed the enemy. CPT Lippman's courage and heroism earned him the U.S. Army's second highest award for valor, the Distinguished Service Cross.

On 11 December 1965, Lieutenant Colonel Lippman was serving as Executive Officer of Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 3rd Brigade, 1st Infantry Division. That day, Viet Cong snipers infiltrated his camp perimeter near Lai Khe, South Vietnam, and LTC Lippman was trying to locate the snipers. While he was moving across an open area, he was shot and killed.

Medals, Awards and Badges

Distinguished Service Cross
Silver Star Medal
Legion of Merit
Bronze Star Medal with Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster
Purple Heart with 2 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters
Air Medal
Army Commendation Medal with Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster
Army Good Conduct Medal
American Campaign Medal
European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with 4 Bronze Stars
World War II Victory Medal
Army of Occupation Medal (Germany)
National Defense Service Medal with Bronze Service Star
Korean Service Medal with Bronze Service Star
Vietnam Service Medal with Bronze Service Star
United Nations Service Medal
Vietnam Campaign Medal
Republic of Korea War Service Medal
Army Presidential Unit Citation
Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation
Combat Infantryman Badge with 2 Stars (Third Award)
Master Parachutist Badge with Combat Jump Star

Distinguished Service Cross Citation

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Captain (Infantry) Gordon Joseph Lippman (ASN: 0-60536), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy of the United Nations while serving as Commanding Officer of Company A, 1st Battalion, 24th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division. Captain Lippman distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism in action against enemy aggressor forces in the vicinity of Do Chung, Korea, on 11 April 1951. Captain Lippman was leading his men across the Hantan River in the pre-dawn darkness in an attempt to secure the high ground on the opposite shore from a well-entrenched hostile force. When the friendly troops were in the middle of the river, an enemy outpost discovered the operation and directed machine-gun fire on the wading troops. Quickly deploying his men, Captain Lippman led a charge against the hostile emplacement, destroying it and enabling the company to finish the crossing with a minimum of casualties. He then reorganized the company and led his men across a flat, exposed area toward the objective. The enemy, placed in a strong perimeter defense on the crest of the hill, directed such a devastating volume of fire on the friendly troops that only a platoon of the company reached the base of the objective with Captain Lippman, the remainder being pinned down by the intense fire. He realized that he platoon would be forced to launch a frontal assault against the enemy positions, risking annihilation, unless some method was employed to divert the hostile fire from the attacking troops. He immediately moved up the slope and, armed with a pistol and grenades, attacked the enemy emplacements. For forty-five minutes he maneuvered to within a few yards of these positions, harassing the hostile troops and drawing their concentrated fire. This courageous action enabled the platoon to work its way to a position from which an assault was launched that routed the enemy.

General Orders: Headquarters, Eighth U.S. Army, Korea: General Orders No. 784 (October 19, 1951)

Silver Star Medal Citation

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to First Lieutenant (Infantry) Gordon Joseph Lippman (ASN: 0-60536), United States Army, for gallantry in action as a member of Company A, 1st Battalion, 24th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division. During the early morning hours of 27 November 1950 near Ipsok, Korea, a strong hostile force attacked the supply train of Lieutenant Lippman's battalion. Despite exposure to intense hostile fire, he organized the supply troops in a perimeter defense and led the machine gun crew to vantage points from which they could direct effective counterfire on the attacking enemy. Advancing through a deadly small arms and mortar barrage, he contacted the supply area of an adjacent unit, thus enabling the two forces to combine their strength and repel the hostile incursion. Lieutenant Lippman's valorous actions are in keeping with the high traditions of the United States Armed Forces.

General Orders: Headquarters, 25th Infantry Division, General Orders No. 186 (March 311951)

Honors

The name Gordon J Lippman is located on Panel 4E Line 12 of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall.

Burial

Lieutenant Colonel Gordon Joseph Lippman is buried at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Arlington County, VA, in Section 3, Site 4140-F.

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