Larry L . Maxam Corporal Larry Leonard Maxam ( January 9 , 1948 - February 2 , 1968 ) was a United States Marine who posthumous ly received the United States ' highest military honor — the Medal of Honor — for heroism in the Vietnam War in February 1968 , Biography . Larry Maxam was born on January 9 , 1948 , in Glendale , California . He attended Emerson Primary School , John Muir Junior High and Burbank High School , in Burbank , California , leaving the latter in 1964 . Maxam was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter - day Saints . He enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in Los Angeles on March 8 , 1965 . After completing recruit training with the 3rd Recruit Training Battalion at Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego in June 1965 , he served briefly with the Casual Section of the 2nd Infantry Training Regiment at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton , California . He then completed individual combat training with Company A , at Camp Pendleton , in July 1965 . From August 1965 until February 1966 , he served with the Marine Aviation Detachment , Naval Air Technical Training Center Jacksonville . Transferred to the 2nd Battalion 8th Marines , 2nd Marine Division , at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune , he served as a rifleman with Company H . In November 1966 , he joined the rolls of Company E , but served on temporary additional duty as a fireman with Headquarters and Service Company , Officer Candidates School at Marine Corps Base Quantico , and as a rifleman attached to Camp Garcia , Force Troops , Vieques , Puerto Rico . He was promoted to private first class on April 1 , 1966 , and to Lance Corporal on January 1 , 1967 . Lance Corporal Maxam next served as a rifleman with Company F , Battalion Landing Team 2 / 8 , in the Caribbean , until May 1967 . In July 1967 , he arrived in the Republic of Vietnam , and served as a rifleman , radioman , and squad leader with Company D , 1st Battalion 4th Marines , 3rd Marine Division . He was promoted to Corporal on October 1 , 1967 . While participating in Operation Kentucky on February 2 , 1968 , he was killed in action at Cam Lộ District Headquarters in Quảng Trị Province , Vietnam . Cpl Maxam was buried in the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific , Oahu , Hawaii . Awards and honors . Maxam ' s medals and decorations include : The name Larry L . Maxam is inscribed on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial ( " The Wall " ) on Panel 36E , Row 078 . Medal of Honor citation . The President of the United States in the name of The Congress takes pride in presenting the MEDAL OF HONOR posthumously to CORPORAL LARRY L . MAXAM UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS for service as set forth in the following CITATION : For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as a Fire Team Leader with Company D , First Battalion , Fourth Marines , Third Marine Division in the Republic of Vietnam . On 2 February 1968 , the Cam Lo District Headquarters came under extremely heavy rocket , artillery , mortar , and recoilless rifle fire from a numerically superior enemy force , destroying a portion of the defensive perimeter . Corporal Maxam , observed the enemy massing for an assault into the compound across the remaining defensive wire , instructed his Assistant Fire Team Leader to take charge of the fire team , and unhesitatingly proceeded to the weakened section of the perimeter . Completely exposed to the concentrated enemy fire , he sustained multiple fragmentation wounds from exploding grenades as he ran to an abandoned machine gun and commenced to deliver effective fire on the advancing enemy . As the enemy directed maximum fire power against the determined Marine , Corporal Maxam ' s position received a direct hit from a rocket propelled grenade , knocking him backwards and inflicting severe fragmentation wounds to his face and right eye . Although momentarily stunned and in intense pain , Corporal Maxam courageously resumed his firing position and subsequently was struck again by small arms fire . With resolute determination , he gallantly continued to deliver intense machine gun fire , causing the enemy to retreat through the defensive wire to positions of cover . In a desperate attempt to silence his weapon , the North Vietnamese threw hand grenades and directed recoilless rifle fire against him inflicting two additional wounds . Too weak to reload his machine gun , Corporal Maxam fell to a prone position and valiantly continued to deliver effective fire with his rifle . After one and a half hours , during which he was hit repeatedly by fragments from exploding grenades and concentrated small arms fire , he succumbed to his wounds , having successfully defended nearly one half of the perimeter single - handedly . Corporal Maxam ' s aggressive fighting spirit , inspiring valor and selfless devotion to duty reflected great credit upon himself and the Marine Corps and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service . He gallantly gave his life for his country . / S / RICHARD M . NIXON