Leslie A Bellrichard

Leslie was born on the 4th of December 1941, in Janesville, Wisconsin, and just before he turned one, his father was killed in a collision with a train. One of Leslie’s brothers would be killed and another injured, along with their mother, in a similar accident one year later, causing much hardship on the family and their mother. She fell into depression so bad that the county removed Leslie and his brother from their home and placed into foster care. The hardship didn’t end when Leslie was finally placed into a good home because by the time he was twelve, he suffered a severe breakdown and was placed into a children’s home. He eventually dropped out of high school and moved to California to be near his birth mother. Leslie did receive his GED and went on to teach at a church and worked for Lockheed Aviation in San Jose. He was drafted into the US Army in 1966 and he then volunteered to deploy in support of the Vietnam War, which he did with 1st Battalion, 8th Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Division. Leslie was only in country about a month before he displayed actions that would cost him his life and earn him the Medal of Honor. The citation reads:

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. Acting as a fire-team leader with Company C during combat operations Pfc. Bellrichard was with four fellow soldiers in a foxhole on their unit's perimeter when the position came under a massive enemy attack. Following a 30-minute mortar barrage, the enemy launched a strong ground assault. Pfc. Bellrichard rose in face of a group of charging enemy soldiers and threw hand grenades into their midst, eliminating several of the foe and forcing the remainder to withdraw. Failing in their initial attack, the enemy repeated the mortar and rocket bombardment of the friendly perimeter, then once again charged against the defenders in a concerted effort to overrun the position. Pfc. Bellrichard resumed throwing hand grenades at the onrushing attackers. As he was about to hurl a grenade, a mortar round exploded just in front of his position, knocking him into the foxhole and causing him to lose his grip on the already armed grenade. Recovering instantly, Pfc. Bellrichard recognized the threat to the lives of his four comrades and threw himself upon the grenade, shielding his companions from the blast that followed. Although seriously wounded, Pfc. Bellrichard struggled into an upright position in the foxhole and fired his rifle at the enemy until he succumbed to his wounds. His selfless heroism contributed greatly to the successful defense of the position, and he was directly responsible for saving the lives of several of his comrades. His acts are in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself and the U.S. Army.

Leslie was 25 years old when he died and his wife, Shirley, received his Medal of Honor from President Nixon on the 10th of July 1969, in a ceremony at the White House. Even though he lived in California, Leslie Allen Bellrichard is buried in the Oak Hill Cemetery in his hometown of Janesville, Wisconsin: plot 311-15-7. His name appears on the National Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington DC: Panel 20E, Line 54.