Thomas John Loback
Corporal, U.S. Army

On 19 February 1968, then-Private First Class Thomas John Loback was serving with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion (Mechanized), 5th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade, 25th Infantry Division, in South Vietnam.

On that day, PFC Loback was a medical aidman for an infantry platoon conducting a reconnaissance-in-force operation near Hoc Mon. His platoon had just moved into a hedgerow when it was subjected to intense small arms, automatic weapons, and rocket fire from a North Vietnamese Army battalion in well-fortified positions. One squad was pinned down by the barrage and sustained several casualties. Hearing a call for medical aid, PFC Loback crawled forward through a hail of bullets and flying shrapnel, treated 5 wounded men, and then assisted them to a position of relative safety. Ignoring the hostile fusillade, he ran across a rice field and treated another wounded man. The wounded soldier he treated then began moving toward cover when he was hit again by enemy sniper fire. Exposing himself to a heavy machine gun fire, PFC Loback rushed back to the casualty and treated him a second time. Refusing to abandon his life-saving mission, he began to pull the seriously wounded soldier to safety, but was killed instantly by automatic weapons fire. PFC Loback's extraordinary heroism, at the cost of his life, earned him the U.S. Army's second highest award for valor, the Distinguished Service Cross.

Loback received a posthumous promotion to the rank of Corporal.

Medals, Awards and Badges

Distinguished Service Cross
Purple Heart
Army Good Conduct Medal
National Defense Service Medal
Vietnam Service Medal
Vietnam Campaign Medal
Combat Medical Badge

Distinguished Service Cross Citation

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918 (amended by act of July 25, 1963), takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to Private First Class Thomas John Loback (ASN: US-52753134), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam, while serving with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion (Mechanized), 5th Infantry, 2d Brigade, 25th Infantry Division. Private First Class Loback distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 19 February 1968 as medical aidman for an infantry platoon conducting a reconnaissance-in-force operation near Hoc Mon. His platoon had just moved into a hedgerow when it was subjected to intense small arms, automatic weapons, and rocket fire from a North Vietnamese Army battalion in well fortified positions. One squad was immediately pinned down by the savage barrage and sustained several casualties. Hearing a call for medical aid, Private Loback unhesitatingly crawled forward through a withering hail of bullets and flying shrapnel, treated five wounded troops and assisted them to a position of relative safety. Continuing to brave the ravaging hostile fusillade, he raced across a bullet-swept rice field to the side of another wounded comrade and skillfully treated him. The soldier had begun moving toward cover when he was hit again by enemy sniper fire. Exposing himself to a curtain of raking machine gun fire, Private Loback fearlessly rushed back to the casualty and treated him a second time. Refusing to abandon his life-saving mission, he began to pull his seriously wounded patient to safety. Private Loback was instantly killed by enemy automatic weapons fire while gallantly placing the welfare of a fellow soldier above his own in the heat of battle. Private First Class Loback's extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty, at the cost of his life, were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.

General Orders: Headquarters, U.S. Army, Vietnam, General Orders No. 1820 (April 19, 1969)

Honors

The name Thomas J Loback is located on Panel 40E Line 24 of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall.

Burial

Corporal Thomas John Loback is buried at the Long Island National Cemetery in East Farmingdale, Suffolk County, NY, in Section 2G, Site 2437A.