Larry Joseph Loncon
Specialist 4, U.S. Army

Special Note: The military headstone for Larry Joseph Loncon has his name spelled as LANCON, an obvious error. His father's last name is Loncon, that is the name Larry used while serving in the U.S. Army, and that is the name used by his wife, Barbara. Loncon is also the name inscribed on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall. A second error on the headstone is the listing of the DSM (Distinguished Service Medal) as one of his medals. He was the recipient of the DSC (Distinguished Service Cross) which is awarded for Valor and is second only to the Medal of Honor.

Larry Joseph Loncon was born on 22 December 1950, the son of Stanley Loncon and Adline E. Owens.

On 8 May 1968, Specialist 4 Larry Joseph Loncon was serving with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile), in South Vietnam.

On that day, SPC4 Loncon was a medical aidman during combat operations in Phuoc Long Province. SPC4 Loncon was accompanying a friendly force up a steep, densely-vegetated hill when the lead element came under an intense fire from a well-entrenched enemy force. SPC4 Loncon advanced through the hostile fire until he reached a seriously wounded soldier in the lead element. While under enemy fire he applied first aid to the soldier's wounds and assisted him to a rear position. SPC4 Loncon then returned to the forward area of contact to treat 2 comrades who had been seriously wounded. Although seriously wounded by enemy fire while treating the 2 casualties, he continued treating his comrades and assisting them to safety until he collapsed. SPC4 Loncon'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.

Medals, Awards and Badges

Distinguished Service Cross
Bronze Star Medal (Merit)
Purple Heart
Air Medal
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 Specialist Fourth Class Larry Joseph Loncon, 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, 8th Cavalry, 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile). Specialist Four Loncon distinguished himself while serving as a medical aidman during combat operations in Phuoc Long Province. Specialist Loncon was accompanying a friendly force up a steep, densely vegetated hill when the lead element came under an intense volley of fire from a well entrenched enemy force. Without hesitation, Specialist Loncon advanced through the hostile fire until he reached a seriously wounded soldier in the lead element. While under enemy fire; he skillfully applied first aid to the soldier's wounds and assisted him to a rear position. The Specialist then returned to the forward area of contact to treat two comrades who had been seriously wounded. Although seriously wounded by enemy fire as he treated the two casualties, he continued to treat his comrades and assist them to safety until he collapsed. Specialist Four Loncon'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. 4063 (August 31, 1970)

Honors

The name Larry J Loncon is located on Panel 11W Line 59 of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall.

Burial

Specialist 4 Larry Joseph Loncon is buried at Memorial Park Cemetery in New Iberia, Iberia Parish, LA.

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