18 | NOVEMBER 5 • 2020 IN THE JEWS D ON THE COVER Armored Calvary Division had three physicians under his charge, and he was one of them. That commander was Col. George Smith Patton, son of the legendary WWII Gen. George S. Patton Jr. “I remembered he carried his dad’ s ivory-handled pistol, ” Gold said. As a captain in the U.S. Army Medical Corp, Gold spent the majority of his year in Vietnam in harm’ s way, typically posi- tioned just behind the fighting. If the wounded weren’ t acces- sible to treat from his armored personnel carrier, he would be dropped into the action by helicopter. For his courageous service, this “Gold” would be decorated with bronze and silver. His Bronze Medal citation, awarded for exemplary action in a combat zone, spoke to the ingenuity and brav- ery he brought to his missions: “Captain Gold distinguished himself by exceptionally meritorious service … against a hostile force. To further improve medical assistance for troops in the field, he devised a program whereby he traveled to an area of contact while his medical staff remained behind preparing the medical aid sta- tion. ” Gold’ s heroic actions upon his arrival to an area under heavy enemy fire on June 28, 1968, earned him the U.S. Armed Forces’ third-highest decoration — a Silver Star. As a brigadier general documented in the letter of commendation for the award: “Captain Gold, totally disregarding his own safety, leaped from his helicop- ter and ran across a minefield through intense hostile fire … completely ignoring shouted warnings concerning the pres- ence of mines. ” The announcement further said that Gold “fearlessly went from one injured soldier to the next. Captain Gold’ s unwaver- ing devotion to duty, courage and disregard for his personal safety … were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit and the U.S. Army. ” When not on the front lines, Gold participated in a Medical Civic Action Program (MEDCAP), which occa- sionally found him treating the Montagnards, a village of Vietnamese tribesmen. “We treated people with all kinds of diseases and gave vac- cinations, ” he said, “while at the same time, Army intelligence people would be talking to the local leaders to find out infor- mation about the Viet Cong. ” The villagers showed their appreciation by making Gold a musical instrument out of tree bark which he displays at his home. Before I delve into Dr. Larry continued from page 17 this “Gol w c ex co th ery mis dist exce serv force medi 1. Dr. Paul Gold and Dr. Joel Leib look over some photos from their days in Vietnam. 2. Dr. Paul Gold holding tin cup at jeep, 11 Armored Calvary Base Camp near Saigon, Republic of South Vietnam, Oct. 1967. 3. Dr. Joel Leib at his radiology office desk at the 332nd Medical Dispensary on the Long Binh Post, Republic of South Vietnam 4. Dr. Arnold Leshman, receiving Bronze Star, Long Binh, Republic of South Vietnam, April 1968. 5. Dr. Larry Blau, 3rd Field Hospital, Saigon, Republic of South Vietnam, 1969. SP5 EDGAR H. M. PRICE- COURTESY OF LESHMAN FAMILY COURTESY OF DR. BLAU COURTESY OF DR. PAUL GOLD COURTESY OF DR. LEIB 1 2 3 4 5 JERRY ZOLYNSKY