Specialist Four George C. Lang, United States Army: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his own life above and beyond the call of duty. Specialist Four George C. Lang, Company A, 4th Battalion, 47th Infantry, 9th Infantry Division, was serving as a squad leader on 22 February 1969, in Kien Hoa Province in the Republic of Vietnam, when his unit, on a reconnaissance-in-force mission, encountered intense fire from a well-fortified enemy bunker complex. Specialist 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, Specialist Lang jumped across a canal, moved through heavy enemy fire to within a few feet of the position, and eliminated it, again using his 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. Specialist Lang immediately reacted, assaulted this 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 three sides and suffered six casualties. Specialist Lang was one 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 United States Army.

Mr. Lang joined the Legion of Valor in 2004 and lived in New York.