James Leroy Bondsteel
| James L. Bondsteel | |
|---|---|
Medal of Honor recipient.
|
|
| Born |
July 18, 1947 Jackson, Michigan |
| Died | April 9, 1987 (aged 39) Along the Glenn Highway between Anchorage and Palmer, Alaska |
| Place of burial | Fort Richardson National Cemetery, Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Anchorage, Alaska |
| Allegiance | United States of America |
| Service/branch |
 United States Army
|
| Years of service | 1965 – 1985 |
| Rank | Master Sergeant |
| Unit | 2nd Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division |
| Battles/wars | Vietnam |
| Awards |
Medal of Honor Bronze Star Purple Heart (2) Soldier's Medal |
| Other work | Counselor |
James Leroy Bondsteel (July 18, 1947 – April 9, 1987) was a United States Army soldier who served during the Vietnam War, where he earned the Medal of Honor. His Medal of Honor, awarded in November 1973, was the last presented by President Richard Nixon.
Camp Bondsteel, located in Kosovo, is named in his honor. The northbound bridge over the Knik River along the Glenn Highway north of Anchorage, Alaska, where Bondsteel died in a freak traffic collision, is also named in his honor.
James Leroy Bondsteel was born in Jackson, Michigan to Betty Jean Daisy and her fiancee, Kenneth Bondsteel. He enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in 1965 after graduating from Jonesville, Michigan. He was sent to Korea, where he contributed his time to an orphanage. Once he had finished his stint in the Corps he joined the United States Army, serving from 1965 to 1985.
From 1966 to 1970 he was assigned to Company A, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division.
He received the Medal of Honor for his most heroic actions, which occurred on May 24, 1969, in An Loc Province, Republic of Vietnam.
In 1970 to 1973 he was stationed in West Germany.
After his retirement from the Army as a Master Sergeant, he again served his brothers in arms as a veterans counselor.
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Wikipedia