COLONEL JOHN P. LAWTON

Colonel John P. Lawton is inducted into the Ranger Hall of Fame for his extraordinary valor and service to this great nation of ours as a Ranger and soldier of thirty seven and one half years. His service with the Biet Dong Quan as an advisor to the Vietnamese 41st Ranger Battalion as company commander of Company N (Ranger), 75th Infantry provided examples of personal determination to all who served with him. For extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam, he was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, Silver Star with Oak Leaf Cluster, Bronze Star with "V" device and five Oak Leaf Clusters, Air Medal with "V" device and three Oak Leaf clusters, Purple Heart with four Oak Leaf clusters, Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with Bronze and Silver Star, and the Combat Infantryman's Badge. In addition to his wartime service, a grateful nation has awarded him the Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal with Oak Leaf cluster, Soldier's Medal and Army Commendation Medal. He has also been awarded the Senior Parachutist Badge, the Vietnamese Ranger Badge, and the coveted Ranger Tab. Colonel (CPT) Lawton distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions as the company commander of an Infantry company during a mission near Chu Lai. He received word that his second platoon had been heavily attacked in an open rice paddy by an estimated North Vietnamese Army company firing automatic weapons and mortars and had suffered many casualties. Captain Lawton evaluated the situation and led a squad across 50 meters of open ground. He received multiple fragment wounds as he advanced. Disregarding his severe wounds, he continued to crawl to the casualties, only to discover they were all either dead or could not be moved. For a full 45 minutes he single-handedly held the attackers at bay and prevented them from capturing the wounded. He placed suppressive fire on the insurgents until he ran out of ammunition and his position was overrun. With a burst of reserve energy he lunged forward to grab a weapon from one of the enemy, but was wounded for a fourth time and left for dead. Through his courageous actions he had delayed the enemy force to such an extent that when the relief force arrived moments later, the attackers were caught in the open and were quickly routed, suffering heavy casualties. For this action Colonel Lawton was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross. Colonel Lawton has always demonstrated that he will energetically meet the enemy of his country and defeat them on the field of battle, fight with all his might and never leave a fallen comrade. Colonel Lawton is a Ranger!