John Earl Warren, Jr.
First Lieutenant, U.S. Army
Medal of Honor Recipient
Vietnam War

First Lieutenant John Earl Warren, Jr. (16 November 1946 - 14 January 1969) was a U.S. Army officer who was posthumously awarded America's highest military award for valor, the Medal of Honor, for his actions during the Vietnam War.

John Earl Warren, Jr. was born on 16 November 1946 in Brooklyn, NY. He entered the U.S. Army at New York City. On 14 January 1969, Warren was a First Lieutenant commanding a platoon in Tay Ninh Province, Vietnam when the unit came under attack. During the fight, Warren fell on an enemy-thrown grenade to shield others from the blast. The heroic action cost him his life.

Medal of Honor

Rank and organization: First Lieutenant, U.S. Army, Company C, 2d Battalion, (Mechanized), 22d Infantry, 25th Infantry Division.

Place and date: Tay Ninh Province, Republic of Vietnam, 14 January 1969.

Entered service at: New York, NY. Born: 16 November 1946, Brooklyn, NY.

Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. 1st Lt. Warren, distinguished himself at the cost of his life while serving as a platoon leader with Company C. While moving through a rubber plantation to reinforce another friendly unit, Company C came under intense fire from a well-fortified enemy force. Disregarding his safety, 1st Lt. Warren with several of his men began maneuvering through the hail of enemy fire toward the hostile positions. When he had come to within 6 feet of one of the enemy bunkers and was preparing to toss a hand grenade into it, an enemy grenade was suddenly thrown into the middle of his small group. Thinking only of his men, 1st Lt. Warren fell in the direction of the grenade, thus shielding those around him from the blast. His action, performed at the cost of his life, saved 3 men from serious or mortal injury. First Lt. Warren's ultimate action of sacrifice to save the lives of his men was in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflects great credit on him, his unit, and the U.S. Army.

Lieutenant Warren's Medal of Honor was presented to his family by President Richard Nixon on 6 August 1970.

Vietnam Veterans Memorial

The name John Earl Warren, Jr. is inscribed on Panel 34W - Line 3.

Death and Burial

First Lieutenant John Earl Warren, Jr. was killed in action on 14 January 1969. He is buried at Long Island National Cemetery in Farmingdale, NY.