The Wall › Panel 10E › Arizona › Billy Lane Lauffer
BILLY LANE LAUFFER
Private First Class · U.S. Army
October 20, 1945 – September 21, 1966
Medal of Honor StoryPortrait: U.S. armed forces, via Wikimedia Commons.
Billy Lane Lauffer, of Tucson, Arizona, served as a Private First Class in the U.S. Army. He died on September 21, 1966, in South Vietnam, at age 20. His name is inscribed on Panel 10E, Line 129 of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.
Medal of Honor · awarded posthumously
For conspicuous gallantry
Billy Lane Lauffer received the Medal of Honor, the nation’s highest award for valor, for his actions on September 21, 1966. The official citation reads:
Private Lauffer's official Medal of Honor citation reads:
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. Pfc. Lauffer's squad, a part of Company C, was suddenly struck at close range by an intense machine gun crossfire from 2 concealed bunkers astride the squad's route. Pfc. Lauffer, the second man in the column, saw the lead man fall and noted that the remainder of the squad was unable to move. Two comrades, previously wounded and being carried on litters, were lying helpless in the beaten zone of the enemy fire. Reacting instinctively, Pfc. Lauffer quickly engaged both bunkers with fire from his rifle, but when the other squad members attempted to maneuver under his covering fire, the enemy fusillade increased in volume and thwarted every attempt to move. Seeing this and his wounded comrades helpless in the open, Pfc. Lauffer rose to his feet and charged the enemy machine gun positions, firing his weapon and drawing the enemy's attention. Keeping the enemy confused and off balance, his 1-man assault provided the crucial moments for the wounded point man to crawl to a covered position, the squad to move the exposed litter patients to safety, and his comrades to gain more advantageous positions. Pfc. Lauffer was fatally wounded during his selfless act of courage and devotion to his fellow soldiers. His gallantry at the cost of his life served as an inspiration to his comrades and saved the lives of an untold number of his companions. His actions are in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the U.S. Army.
Citation text as reproduced in Wikipedia’s article on Billy Lane Lauffer; Medal of Honor citations are official U.S. government records. See also the Congressional Medal of Honor Society and all Medal of Honor recipients on the Wall.
On the Wall
Panel 10E · Line 129
Names are inscribed in the order of loss, starting at Panel 1E at the apex and ending at Panel 1W. At the Memorial, find the panel number at the base and count down from the top line.
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Service
- Branch
- U.S. Army
- Rank
- Private First Class (PFC)
- Service
- Regular
- Occupation
- Infantryman (11B)
- Unit (as recorded)
- 1 CAV DIV AIRMOBILE
- Born
- October 20, 1945
- Home of record
- Tucson, Arizona (Pima County)
Casualty
- Date of death
- September 21, 1966
- Age
- 20
- Country
- South Vietnam
- Casualty type
- Hostile
- Category
- Killed in Action
- Circumstance
- Grenade
Context · from the records
What was happening
22 names on the Wall carry the date September 21, 1966. In September 1966, 533 Americans whose names are on the Wall died in the war.
The 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile), his unit in the record, lost 51 of its members that month.
Also on Panel 10E, Line 129
- JOHN WILLIAM JOLLEY JRPrivate First Class · September 21, 1966
- THOMAS JOSEPH KANEPrivate · September 21, 1966
- THOMAS PATRICK KINDTSergeant · September 21, 1966
- EDWARD ALFRED WELLINGSPrivate First Class · September 21, 1966
Same unit, same day
- ARTHUR CARL ALTERWISHERPrivate First Class · Panel 10E, Line 127
- FRANK ARREY JRSergeant · Panel 10E, Line 127
- LOUIS CLARK HINESSergeant · Panel 10E, Line 128
- ROBERT BUFORD JACKSONStaff Sergeant · Panel 10E, Line 128
- ANTHONY BRUCE PHILLIPSPrivate First Class · Panel 10E, Line 130
- RONALD FRAN VANRAEMDONCKPrivate First Class · Panel 10E, Line 130
From Tucson
- JAMES ATLEE WHEELERCaptain · April 18, 1965
- VICTOR BRUCE KELLEYCaptain · April 28, 1965
- JOHN PATRICK BURNSPrivate First Class · July 7, 1965
- LAWRENCE WILLIAM JORDANLance Corporal · July 30, 1965
- MAX DUANE LUKENBACHCommander · December 22, 1965
- BOB CLARENCE HUNT JRSpecialist Four · January 29, 1966
- CLYDE L NORVELLE JRWarrant Officer 1 · March 30, 1966
- JAMES RILEY HOWELLCorporal · May 12, 1966
- DAVID WILLIAM JOHNSTONPrivate First Class · May 29, 1966
- WARREN ORISON KNEPPER JRSergeant · June 24, 1966
Source. U.S. Department of Defense, Defense Casualty Analysis System, Vietnam Conflict Extract Data File (as of April 29, 2008), Records of the Office of the Secretary of Defense, Record Group 330, National Archives (NAID 2240992). Panel and line as recorded in that file. The Medal of Honor citation above is the official account of his actions. See something wrong? Report a correction.