lest we forget

LANG, MICKEY DANIEL

Rank / Branch:

  • LANG, MICKEY DANIEL, PRIVATE FIRST CLASS, U.S. ARMY

Date Of Birth:

  • 1952-07-15

Country Of Loss:

  • SOUTH VIETNAM

Status:

  • HOSTILE ROCKET, MORTAR FIRE

Aircraft/Vehicle/Ground:​

  • GROUND

Other:

  • NOT MARRIED

Unit:

  • 11TH ARMORED CAVALRY REGIMENT

Date Of Loss:

  • 1971-05-19

Loss Coordinates:

  • HUA NGHIA

Catagory:

  • BODY RETURNED

Awards & Decorations:

  • SEE BIO

VETERAN HAGI0GRAPHY

  • LANG, MICKEY DANIEL, PRIVATE FIRST CLASS, U.S. ARMY, ODESSA, ECTOR, TEXAS

AWARDS AND DECORATIONS

  • COMBAT INFANTRYMAN'S BADGE, SILVER STAR, PURPLE HEART, ARMY COMMENDATIONS MEDAL, NATIONAL DEFENSE SERVICE MEDAL, VIETNAM SERVICE MEDAL, VIETNAM MILITARY MERIT MEDAL, VIETNAM CROSS OF GALLANTRY WITH PALM, VIETNAM CAMPAIGN MEDAL

BIOGRAPHY

  • Mickey was born in Odessa, the son of Donna Lee Summers and Jessie Clanton Lang. He attended Odessa schools and last attended Permian High School. After living in Odessa for over 16 years and when Mickey was in his junior year, the family moved to Anchorage, Alaska. His father worked on the North Slope Pipeline. While in Odessa, Mickey was a member of the Civil Air Patrol. Mickey attended Anchorage High School and graduated with the Class of 1970.
  • He enlisted in the U.S. States Army after graduation and completed basic training at Fort Lewis, Washington, and radio school at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. He began his tour in Vietnam on March 28, 1971.
  • He was assigned as an armored crewman with F Troop, 2nd Battalion, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment (Separate). He was killed on May 19, 1971, when his unit were engaged a firefight with the NVA. He and another soldier were killed. Mickey was acting as a driver for a cavalry assault vehicle.
  • He was buried with full military honors in the Sunset Memorial Garden's Cemetery in Odessa, Texas. He was awarded a posthumous Purple Heart and Army Commendations Medal. In August 1971, in ceremonies at Fort Richardson, Alaska, his parents were presented a posthumous Silver Star for Mickey's actions in which he lost his life. PFC Lang was survived by his parents and his sister, Beverly Kay of the home in Alaska. He was also survived by his aunt and uncle, the Bill Lagrone family of Odessa and his maternal grandmother, Hazel Lagrone, also of Odessa.
  • Award of the Silver Star The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918 (amended by an act of July 25, 1963), takes pride in presenting the Silver Star (Posthumously) to Private FirstClass Mickey Daniel Lang, United States Army, for gallantry in action while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam. Private First Class Lang distinguished himself while serving as an Armored Cavalry Assault Vehicle driver while providing security for land clearing operations in Hau Nghia Province. When the land clearing unit came under fierce attack by well entrenched enemy forces, F Troop engaged the hostile force and succeeded in recovering the rome plows. However, two armored vehicles were disabled in the contact. On the second assault, Private Lang drove his vehicle into the heart of the enemy positions while his crew placed heavy fire on the enemy with the main gun, machine guns and grenades. When his platoon leader's vehicle received a direct hit from a rocket propelled grenade, Private Lang maneuvered his vehicle so as to protect the dazed crew and to cover their withdrawal with a barrage of suppressive fire. Despite direct hits on his vehicle, he continued to provide cover fire for the withdrawing troops. While attempting to drive his crew to safety, Private Lang was fatally wounded. Private First Class Lang's gallantry in action at the cost of his life was in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit and the United States Army. General Orders: Headquarters, U.S. Army, Vietnam, General Orders No. 2613 (September 9, 1971) Action Date: May 19, 1971 Service: Army Rank: Private First Class Company: Troop F, 2d Squadron Regiment: 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment
  • SUNSET MEMORIAL GARDEN'S CEMETERY, ODESSA, TEXAS
  • ODESSA PERMIAN HIGH SCHOOL 1969