The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting a Gold Star in lieu of a Second Award of the Bronze Star Medal with Combat “V” to Lieutenant Commander Larry Howard Spencer (NSN: 0-6898737), United States Navy, for heroic achievement while serving as a Prisoner of War in North Vietnam from 15 to 29 November 1967. Under constant pressure from North Vietnamese interrogators and guards, he experienced harassment, intimidation and ruthless treatment in their attempt to gain military information and cooperative participation for propaganda purposes. He heroically resisted their routine cruelties and never wavered in his devotion and loyalty to the United States. These actions served to inspire and improve the morale of his fellow prisoners in the camp. Displaying extraordinary courage, resourcefulness, and devotion to duty, he reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service and the United States Armed Forces. [The Combat Distinguishing Device is authorized.]

The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Bronze Star Medal with Combat “V” to Lieutenant Commander Larry Howard Spencer (NSN: 0-6898737), United States Navy, for heroic achievement while serving as a Prisoner of War in North Vietnam in July 1966. Under constant pressure from North Vietnamese interrogators and guards, he experienced harassment, intimidation and ruthless treatment in their attempt to gain military information and cooperative participation for propaganda purposes. He heroically resisted their routine cruelties and never wavered in his devotion and loyalty to the United States. These actions served to inspire and improve the morale of his fellow prisoners in the camp. Displaying extraordinary courage, resourcefulness, and devotion to duty, he reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service and the United States Armed Forces. [The Combat Distinguishing Device is authorized.]

The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting a Third Gold Star in lieu of a Fourth Award of the Bronze Star Medal with Combat “V” to Lieutenant Commander Larry Howard Spencer (NSN: 0-6898737), United States Navy, for meritorious service as a Prisoner of War in North Vietnam from October 1972 to January 1973. Through his ceaseless efforts, in an atmosphere of enemy harassment, threat of torture and brutal treatment, he established and maintained intracamp communications. At great risk and in spite of further cruelty, he continued to devise many unusual and ingenious methods of communications, resulting in American and Allied prisoners resisting the enemy’s demands and at the same time improving the prisoners’ morale. By his heroic endeavors, exceptional skill, and devotion to duty, he reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the Naval Service and the United States Armed Forces. [The Combat Distinguishing Device is authorized.]

The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting a Second Gold Star in lieu of a Third Award of the Bronze Star Medal with Combat “V” to Lieutenant Commander Larry Howard Spencer (NSN: 0-6898737), United States Navy, for heroic achievement from May 1968 to May 1968 as a Prisoner of War while engaged in operations against an opposing armed force in North Vietnam. Lieutenant Commander Spencer was a member of a composite team of officers whose steadfast efforts resulted in the saving of the life of a fellow Prisoner of War who was tortured beyond the limits of mental and physical endurance. Despite his own illness and the constant harassment of armed guards, Lieutenant Commander Spencer never wavered in his dedication to the group’s primary goal of saving their fellow officer’s life through ingenious methods of forced feeding and manual physical exercise, attending to his every need including medical care, personal hygiene, mental therapy and twenty-four hour emergency watch. Lieutenant Commander Spencer’s demonstrated qualities of loyalty, sacrifice and heroism reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service. [The Combat Distinguishing Device is authorized.]