War Hero Honored 50 Years After Falling In Line Of Duty

RIVERHEAD, NY — On Martin Luther King Jr. Day Monday, the Riverhead community will come together to honor a hero.

A ceremony will take place at noon at the Private First Class Garfield M. Langhorn Post Office, located at 1210 W. Main Street, to honor his bravery, sacrifice and service to the nation during the Vietnam War — just days after the 50th anniversary of his falling in the line of duty.

On Jan. 15, 1969, PFC Langhorn’s unit was returning from the attempted rescue of a downed American helicopter when North Vietnamese forces surrounded them.

"Under the cover of darkness, the North Vietnamese began to advance throwing a hand grenade in front of 20-year-old PFC Langhorn who was just a few feet from his injured comrades," a release from Rep. Lee Zeldin's office said. "PFC Langhorn unhesitatingly threw himself on the grenade, scooped it beneath his body and absorbed the blast, saving his fellow platoon mates."

After his death, PFC Langhorn received the Purple Heart and the highest and most prestigious personal military decoration, the Medal of Honor —he is the only Vietnam War Medal of Honor recipient from Suffolk County.

Most recently, in 2010, the Riverhead Post Office was named in his honor.

On Tuesday, Zeldin entered a tribute into the Congressional Record honoring Langhorn, for his valor in Vietnam’s Pleiku Province 50 years ago.

“PFC Langhorn served as a radio operator with Troop C, 7th Squadron, 17th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Aviation Brigade, when his unit attempted to rescue the crew of a downed American helicopter. Finding no surviving crew, PFC Langhorn and his unit were returning the fallen aviators when they came under heavy fire from North Vietnamese forces. Under the cover of darkness, the North Vietnamese began to advance, throwing a hand grenade in front of PFC Langhorn, who was just a few feet from his injured comrades," Zeldin said.

“It was in that moment, PFC Langhorn selflessly chose the courageous act President Lincoln once referred to as 'the last full measure of devotion' to his brothers, his fellow soldiers and his country."

While Langhorn surely earned the commendations and honor that followed, "they mean little if we forget to look beyond the decorations and forever remember and honor the actions of the 20-year-old young man who earned them," Zeldin said.

“In saving his fellow soldiers, PFC Langhorn’s life was extinguished too soon, but as President Lincoln continued, 'We here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain.' Today, we must challenge ourselves as Americans to pick up that torch, to embody the bravery, selflessness and commitment to our great country. There is no memorial, no medal and no post office that can bring back PFC Langhorn, but he can live eternally in all of us, in our actions, and in our hearts," the tribute read.

Patch file photo.