A Soldier's Story: Specialist Leonard Louis Alvarado


Specialist Leonard Luis Alvarado was born on February 13, 1947, in Bakersfield, California.  He graduated from East Bakersfield High School and enlisted in the US Army shortly after graduation in 1968.

He deployed to Vietnam for the Vietnam War with the 12th Calvary and would earn a Congressional Medal of Honor on August 12, 1969, while his unit was on route to aid another platoon in the Phuoc Long Province.  His unit came under attack, and Specialist Leonard Alvarado returned fire and kept up a steady rate of suppressive fire, despite receiving wounds that would prove fatal and allowed his unit to withdraw.

Specialist Leonard Alvarado rests at the Greenlawn Cemetery in Bakersfield, California.


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a.d. elliott is a wanderer, writer, and photographer currently living in Salem, Virginia. 

In addition to the travel writings at www.takethebackroads.com, you can also read her book reviews at www.riteoffancy.com and US military biographies at www.everydaypatriot.com

Her online photography gallery can be found at shop.takethebackroads.com

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Location: Bakersfield, CA, USA

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