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This article is about the U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel.

Gordon Joseph Lippman (November 25, 1924-December 11, 1965) joined the U.S. Army at the age of 18 in 1943 and became a soldier's soldier. He was courageous, led his men from the front, participated in 11 military campaigns. Through hard work and self-discipline, rose to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel by 1963.

EARLY LIFE

Lippman was born in Zap, North Dakota. His father worked as a salesman for Dakota Implement Company and his mother was a homemaker. Later on in life, his parents would open up and operate A & H Grocery for 40+ years in Hill City, South Dakota. He applied for and received his GED from Lemmon School District in 1947, whereupon he graduated from Lemmon, South Dakota, High School following his service in World War II. He graduated from the University of Omaha in 1962 with a BS degree in Business Administration and in 1965 from George Washington University with an MS degree in International Affairs.

Gordon Lippman, age 18

MILITARY SERVICE

Lippman entered the United States Army in 1943 as a volunteer. He received paratrooper training from March, 1943 through May, 1945 at Camp Toccoa and Fort Benning, Georgia. He was commissioned into the regular Army on May 14, 1945, based on his heroic actions during Operation Dragoon and the Battle of the Bulge, in World War II, where he received the first of two battlefield commendations. Lippman attended the U.S. Army War College at Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania; and the U.S. Department of State Foreign Service Institute where he learned about the foreign affairs of the U.S. Government.

As a member of the 517th Parachute Infantry Regiment, the 24th Infantry Regiment, and the 3rd Brigade, 1st Infantry Division, he served with distinction each time his nation called him to action.

He is the recipient of the U.S. Army Distinguished Service Cross, U.S. Army Distinguished Service Medal, two Silver Stars, two Bronze Stars and three Purple Hearts for his bravery in combat. For this, he was also awarded membership in the exclusive Legion of Merit. He is also one of only 325 recipients of the U.S. Army's Combat Infantry Badge with 2 stars, after participating in at least 30 days of combat each in the WWII, Korean and Vietnam Wars. Lippman served more than 700 days in combat during those 11 battle campaigns encompassing a 22-year Army career.

WORLD WAR II PARATROOPER

Sergeant Lippman led his light machine gun platoon in coordinated actions of HQ Company / 1st Battalion / 517 Regiment, jumping into southern France during Operation Dragoon, and subsequently heling to rescue members of the 82nd Airborne Division who were trapped by German Marshall von Rundstedt’s counter-offensive in Hotton, Belgium, during the Battle of the Bulge.

After the war, he elected to remain in the Army and continued his education while getting married and developing his skills as a soldier. Serving in various capacities as Platoon Leader, Aide-de-Camp, Company Intelligence Officer, Aerial Photo Interpreter, Adjutant, Company Executive Officer and Battalion Intelligence Officer, Lippman became well-grounded in the protocols, duties and responsibilities of an Army officer.

SFC Lippman leading his men onto the jump plane

KOREAN WAR

Lippman was called into action again after America had entered the Korean War, as the U.S. Army was losing company and platoon commanders to combat casualties at an excessive rate. Flying in from Fort Benning and meeting up with his platoon while they were engaged in a pitched battle with the North Korean Army, he joined the fight immediately, assumed command of his platoon and organized his troopers into an effective fighting force. Soon after his arrival, he was given another battlefield commendation and promoted to Able Company Commander. During action where the Allies were pushing north and his company was pinned down by enemy machine gunners overlooking the river Han, Captain Lippman led a charge to suppress enemy fire. As he ran out of ammunition and grenades, he rallied his troopers, threw his c-rations at the enemy and distracted them long enough for his Company to overtake the enemy positions. Enemy gunners thought he was continuing to throw hand grenades.

Between Korea and Vietnam, Lippman earned his college degrees and studied foreign affairs at the Army War College and U.S. State Department. He and his wife Lucille adopted 3 young children while on assignment in Germany and they began raising their family. He wrote and published articles on military history, through the Command and Staff College periodical which was published by the Marine Corps Institute.

VIETNAM WAR

Fourteen years after he left Korea, he accepted an offer from his old friend Colonel William Brodbeck, to help train young troopers heading off to Vietnam in 1965. Lieutenant Colonel Lippman was now the 3rd Brigade Executive Officer / 1st Infantry Division. Lippman was instrumental in building a fighting force capable of supporting Operations Hump, Bushmaster I and Bushmaster II in an area that came to be known as the Iron Triangle north and west of Saigon.

While quartered in Lai Khe, an old Michelin Rubber Plantation, Lippman also worked with the local communities in supporting their high school and engaging with them to help improve their educational opportunities. He was well-thought of by that community.

Gordon Lippman at Ben Bang

Gordon Lippman was killed in action by a sniper's bullet during a Viet Cong attack on the 3rd Brigade compound, December 11, 1965. The Brigade Compound was subsequently renamed Camp Gordon J. Lippman, in honor of their fallen hero.

He’s remembered on the 517th PRCT Association website, was eulogized on Paul Harvey’s radio program on December 30, 1965, written about in a 1966 issue of Readers Digest and the December 27, 1965 issue of Newsweek. His story was recounted on the Harry Reasoner Report for CBS News on December 20, 1965, and he was lauded in the South Dakota Magazine. A Texas high school produced several individual videos on veterans and Gordon was included among them.

Camp Gordon J. Lippman, 3rd Brigade/1st Infantry Division, Lai Khe, South Vietnam (1965)

His legacy will live on in Hold The Line, a book that chronicles his life, accomplishments and memories of those who knew him best!

Gordon Joseph Lippman’s name is remembered on Panel 04E, Line 012 of the Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial Wall in Washington, D.C., and he is buried at Arlington National Cemetery.

NOTES

Gordon was a man’s man, a soldier’s soldier, a true patriot in the best sense of the word. Because he is so inspirational to those who knew him, both in the Army and in his personal life, he is a hero to many, and he has encouraged us to be the best we can be, to do what is right!

By family and friends alike, he is remembered as a 'saint'.

EXTERNAL REFERENCES


 * 1) No Place To Die, Hugh Mulligan
 * 2) With a Black Platoon in Combat, Lyle Rishell
 * 3) Hold The Line, Rob Lofthouse
 * 4) Together We Served (www.togetherweserved.com)
 * 5) 517PRCT Association (http://517prct.org/association.htm)