59 years ago today, 11/8/1965: end of Operation Hump

The beginning of the final fight in the Operation Hump search and destroy mission in Vietnam. 49 Americans killed.

Medic Lawrence Joel attended to thirteen troops and saved the life of one soldier who had a severe chest wound by improvising and placing a plastic bag over the soldier's chest in order to seal the wound until the supplies were refreshed. His actions garnered a Silver Star and he later became the first living black soldier since the Spanish American War to be awarded the Medal of Honor.