Rank and organization: Specialist Fourth Class, U.S. Army, Company A, 4th
Battalion, 47th Infantry, 9th Infantry Division
Place and date: Kien Hoa Province, Republic of Vietnam, 22 February 1969
Entered service at: Brooklyn, New York
Born: 20 April 1947, Flushing, New York
Citation:
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life
above and beyond the call of duty. Sp4c. Lang, Company A, was serving as a squad
leader when his unit, on a reconnaissance-in-force mission, encountered intense
fire from a well fortified enemy bunker complex. Sp4c. Lang observed an
emplacement from which heavy fire was coming. Unhesitatingly, he assaulted the
position and destroyed it with hand grenades and rifle fire. Observing another
emplacement approximately 15 meters to his front, Sp4c. Lang jumped across a
canal, moved through heavy enemy fire to within a few feet of the position, and
eliminated it, again using hand grenades and rifle fire. Nearby, he discovered a
large cache of enemy ammunition. As he maneuvered his squad forward to secure
the cache, they came under fire from yet a third bunker. Sp4c. Lang immediately
reacted, assaulted his position, and destroyed it with the remainder of his
grenades. After returning to the area of the arms cache, his squad again came
under heavy enemy rocket and automatic weapons fire from 3 sides and suffered 6
casualties. Sp4c. Lang was 1 of those seriously wounded. Although immobilized
and in great pain, he continued to direct his men until his evacuation was
ordered over his protests. The sustained extraordinary courage and selflessness
exhibited by this soldier over an extended period of time were an inspiration to
his comrades and are in keeping with the highest traditions of the U.S. Army.