SERGEANT
LAWRENCE DAVID PETERS, USMC (DECEASED) 
 

Medal of Honor Citation

Lawrence David Peters, who was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for heroism in Vietnam in September 1967, was born 16 September 1946, in Johnson City, New York. He attended Benjamin Franklin Elementary and Junior High Schools there, and graduated from Binghamton North High School in Binghamton, New York, in 1964.

While still in high school, he enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve, 18 September 1963, and was assigned to the 48th Rifle Company, USMCR, Binghamton.

In September 1964, he completed recruit training with the 1st Recruit Training Battalion, Recruit Training Regiment, Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, South Carolina. In October, he completed individual combat training with the 1st Infantry Training Battalion, Marine Corps Base, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina; and advanced infantry combat training in December with the 2d Infantry Training Battalion, at the same installation.

Upon completion of his training, he returned to Binghamton, where he remained with the 48th Rifle Company until he was discharged to enlist in the Regular Marine Corps on 30 January 1966. He was promoted to private first class, 16 December 1964; to lance corporal, 1 July 1965; and to corporal, 1 January 1966.

Corporal Peters requested assignment to Fleet Marine Forces, Pacific, and in March 1966, joined Staging Battalion, Marine Corps Base, Camp Pendleton, California, for transfer overseas.

In May 1966, he joined Company D, 1st Battalion, 3d Marines, 3d Marine Division in the Republic of Vietnam, and served consecutively as fire team leader, squad leader, and non-commissioned officer in charge of the Combined Action Company. He was promoted to sergeant on 1 September 1966. In November 1966, he served on temporary additional duty as company gunnery sergeant with Headquarters Company, 7th Engineer Battalion (Combined Action Company).

That December, he was transferred to Combined Action Company, Sub Unit #1, Service Company, Headquarters Battalion, 1st Marine Division, where he served as non-commissioned officer in charge, until April 1967. He then served with the Military Police Company, attached to the 1st Marine Division, until the following July.

Sergeant Peters next served as squad leader of Company M, 3d Battalion, 5th Marines, 1st Marine Division. While serving in this capacity, on 4 September 1967, he was killed in action during Operation Swift, Quang Tin Province. For his “indomitable fighting spirit and determination against overwhelming odds,” Sergeant Peters was awarded the Medal of Honor.

A complete list of his medals and decorations include: the Medal of Honor, the Purple Heart, the Presidential Unit Citation with one bronze star, the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal with three bronze stars, the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with Palm, and the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal.

Vietnam War Medal of Honor