His Story Lorenzo Felder

Lorenzo Felder was born in Saint Petersburg, Florida, on August 15, 1922. In 1938 he relocated to Baltimore, enrolling in the Booker T. Washington Junior High School, and graduated from Douglass High School in 1942. After graduation he attended Morgan State College until December 1942, when he enlisted in the Marine Corps. He was assigned to the all-black 51st Defense Battalion and promoted to platoon Sergeant and Chief of Fire Control for a battery of four 90-mm. antiaircraft guns.

After the war Felder graduated from Morgan State and attended law school until his National Guard unit was called back to active duty during the Korean conflict. In 1950 he married his childhood sweetheart, Norma, and began a career at the Aberdeen Proving Ground as an instructor, where he remained until his retirement in 1983 with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.

Profile of Courage: Samuel Boone, Jr.

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star Medal to Corporal Samuel Boone. Jr. United States Marine Corps for service as set forth in the following

"For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as a Squad Leader with Company B. First Battalion. Twenty-Sixth Marines, Third Marine Division in connection with operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam. On 30 March 1968, during Operation Scotland, Company B was conducting a patrol near the Khe Sanh Combat Base, when the Marines came under intense mortar and automatic weapons fire from a numerically superior, well entrenched North Vietnamese Army force and sustained numerous casualties. Realizing the seriousness of the situation, Corporal Boone rapidly deployed his men and unhesitatingly launched a determined assault against the enemy positions. Disregarding his own safety, he boldly moved to the front of his unit and fearlessly maneuvered across· the fire-swept terrain, delivering a heavy volume of suppression fire upon the fortified emplacements. Ignoring the hostile rounds impacting near him, he quickly destroyed two enemy bunkers and when his men advanced to his position, he skillfully maneuvered them from one hostile emplacement to another, effectively silencing the enemy fire. Ordered to break contact when the intensity of the hostile mortar fire increased, Corporal Boone repeatedly exposed himself to enemy fire as he moved about the hazardous area, providing covering fire while his comrades evacuated the casualties and withdrew to more advantageous terrain. His heroic actions and bold leadership inspired all who observed him and were instrumental in his unit accounting for 115 North Vietnamese soldiers confirmed killed.

By his courage, aggressive fighting spirit and steadfast devotion to duty In the face of extreme personal danger, Corporal Boone upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service."