Valor 24: Spc. 4 Leonard Alvarado

(UNDISCLOSED LOCATION)

03.21.2014

Courtesy Photo

Army Communications and Outreach Office

Medal of Honor candidate Spc. 4 Leonard Alvarado was born in Bakersfield, Calif., Feb. 13, 1947. Alvarado is being recognized for his valorous actions on Aug. 12, 1969, while serving as a rifleman during a mission to relieve a sister platoon in Phuoc Long Province, Vietnam. Alvarado was responsible for recognizing and disrupting an enemy raid while his team was assisting a trapped platoon. Despite his quick reaction, he and his comrades were quickly pinned down by the hostile force that blocked the path to the trapped platoon. Alvarado quickly moved forward through the hostile machine-gun fire in order to engage the enemy troops. Suddenly, an enemy grenade exploded nearby, wounding and momentarily stunning him. Retaliating immediately, he killed the grenadier just as another enemy barrage wounded him again. He crawled forward through the fusillade to pull several comrades back within the hastily-formed perimeter. Realizing that his element must break away from the hostile force, he began maneuvering forward alone. Though repeatedly thrown to the ground by exploding satchel charges, he continued advancing and firing, silencing several emplacements, including one enemy machine-gun position. From his dangerous forward position, he persistently laid suppressive fire on the hostile forces, and after the enemy troops had broken contact, his comrades discovered that he had succumbed to his wounds. Alvarado was killed in action after disrupting an enemy raid and saving the lives of several comrades, leaving behind his wife and young daughter.
Lenora M. Alvarado will accept the Medal of Honor award from President Barack Obama on March 18, 2014, on behalf of her father. Alvarado was 10 months old when her father passed away and has few memories of him. At age eight, Lenora’s family told her about her father. A few years later, she finally visited her father’s grave and was in her early 20s when she found out about his heroic actions during the Vietnam War. Today, Lenora is a member of Sons and Daughters of Vietnam Veterans.

• Date Taken: 03.21.2014
• Date Posted: 03.21.2014 12:33
• Photo ID: 1192341
• VIRIN: 140321-A-ZZ999-001
• Resolution: 756x836
• Size: 199.2 KB
• Location: (UNDISCLOSED LOCATION)