MOH Recipient Leslie Sabo Jr - Ellwood City PA

Leslie “Les” Sabo Jr., a 1966 graduate of Lincoln High School who was born in Austria, was drafted into the U.S. Army in April 1969. Before leaving for Vietnam he married his sweetheart and fellow Lincoln grad Rose Mary Buchelli. He was killed in action while heroically saving his platoon mates during a skirmish in Cambodia in May 1970.

Sabo, a member of the 101st Airborne Division (Screaming Eagles), was posthumously promoted and recommended for the Medal of Honor. Due to his paperwork being lost nothing happened for four decades. Finally, in May 2012, after the recommendation was finalized, his widow was awarded his Medal of Honor by U.S. President Barack Obama.

On Mother’s Day, May 10, 1970, two platoons (about 50 men) of the 101st Airborne were on a mission near Se San, Cambodia, when they were ambushed by a force of about 150 North Vietnamese troops. The Americans hunkered down and an intense battle ensued. Sabo repeatedly risked his own life by providing covering fire, distributing ammunition to his fellow soldiers, shielding a wounded soldier from a grenade blast, and assisting medevac helicopters extricate the wounded. Later that day Sabo, by this time wounded several times, crawled forward and tossed a grenade at an enemy machine gun emplacement. He died of his wounds soon after. Eight Americans lost their lives, but if not for Sabo’s actions it would have been a complete disaster. Forty-nine Vietnamese soldiers were also killed during the fierce engagement. (c1970) Full Size

Sabo is buried next to his parents in Holy Redeemer Cemetery near Ellwood City. (Sep 2013)

(Sep 2013)