ALBANESE, LEWIS

Rank and organization: Private First Class, U.S. Army, Company B, 5th Battalion (Airmobile), 7th Cavalry, 1st Cavalry Division

Place: Republic of Vietnam

Date: 1 December 1966

Entered service at: Seattle, Washington

Born: 27 April 1946, Venice, Italy

Citation:

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life and beyond the call of duty.

Pfc. Albanese's platoon, while advancing through densely covered terrain to establish a blocking position, received intense automatic weapons fire from close range. As other members maneuvered to assault the enemy position, Pfc. Albanese was ordered to provide security for the left flank of the platoon. Suddenly, the left flank received fire from enemy located in a well concealed ditch. Realizing the imminent danger to his comrades from this fire, Pfc. Albanese fixed his bayonet and moved aggressively into the ditch. His action silenced the sniper fire, enabling the platoon to resume movement toward the main enemy position. As the platoon continued to advance, the sound of heavy firing emanated from the left flank from a pitched battle that ensued in the ditch which Pfc. Albanese had entered. The ditch was actually a well-organized complex of enemy defenses designed to bring devastating flanking fire on the forces attacking the main position. Pfc. Albanese, disregarding the danger to himself, advanced 100 meters along the trench and killed 6 of the snipers, who were armed with automatic weapons. Having exhausted his ammunition, Pfc. Albanese was mortally wounded when he engaged and killed 2 more enemy soldiers in fierce hand-to-hand combat. His unparalled actions saved the lives of many members of his platoon who otherwise would have fallen to the sniper fire from the ditch, and enabled his platoon to successfully advance against an enemy force of overwhelming
numerical superiority. Pfc. Albanese's extraordinary heroism and supreme dedication to his comrades were commensurate with the finest traditions of the military service and remain a tribute to himself, his unit, and the U.S. Army.

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--- General / Personal ---

Last name: ALBANESE

First name: LEWIS

Home of Record (official): SEATTLE

State (official): WA

Date of Birth: Saturday, April 27, 1946

Sex: Male

Race: Caucasian

Marital Status: Single

--- Military ---

Branch: Army

Rank: PFC

Serial Number: 56390719

Component: Selective Service

Pay grade: E3

MOS (Military Occupational Specialty code): 11B20

--- Action ---

Start of Tour: Tuesday, August 2, 1966

Date of Casualty: Thursday, December 1, 1966

Age at time of loss: 20

Casualty type: (A1) Hostile, died

Reason: Gun, small arms fire (Ground casualty)

Country: South VietNam

Province: Unknown/Not Reported

The Wall: Panel 12E - Row 131

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