The President of the United States of America, authorized by Executive Order 11046, 24 August 1962, takes pleasure in presenting a Second Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Third Award of the Bronze Star Medal with Combat “V” to Colonel Lawrence Nicholas Guarino (AFSN: 0-650614/ASN: 0-798126), United States Air Force, for heroism while a Prisoner of War in North Vietnam from July 1966 to August 1966. Upon his arrival at a prison camp located some distance from Hanoi, Colonel Guarino discovered that the prisoners were being prepared for a propaganda extortion attempt. In order to test the effects of the preparation program, Colonel Guarino was tortured by his captors by placing handcuffs on his forearms and tightening them until the bones in the forearms were forced together whenever he refused to answer his interrogators’ questions. Again, in early August, with full knowledge of the extent of torture his interrogators would administer, Colonel Guarino steadfastly refused to submit to their demands. By his heroic actions and extreme devotion to duty, Colonel Guarino reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Air Force.
Sponsored by:
Awards Received
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Legion of Merit
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Bronze Star Medal
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Prisoner of War Medal
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Distinguished Flying Cross
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Air Force Distinguished Service Medal
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Bronze Star Medal
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Air Force Cross
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Distinguished Flying Cross
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Silver Star
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Silver Star
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Legion of Merit
Department of the Air Force, Special Orders GB-311 (May 14, 1975)(Citation Needed) – SYNOPSIS: The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, 20 July 1942, takes pleasure in presenting the Legion of Merit to Colonel Lawrence Nicholas Guarino (AFSN: 0-650614/ASN: 0-798126), United States Air Force, for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States as a Prisoner of War in North Vietnam from 14 June 1965 to 12 February 1973. His ceaseless efforts, by a continuous showing of resistance to an enemy who ignored all international agreements on treatment of Prisoners of War, in the extremely adverse conditions of the communist prisons of North Vietnam, demonstrated his professional competence, unwavering devotion, and loyalty to his country. Despite the harsh treatment through his long years of incarceration, he continued to perform his duties in a clearly exceptional manner which reflected great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.
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Bronze Star Medal
Service:
United States Air ForceRank:
ColonelDivision:
Prisoner of War (North Vietnam)Action Date:
October 1965 – January 1966
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Executive Order 11046, 24 August 1962, takes pleasure in presenting a Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Second Award of the Bronze Star Medal with Combat “V” to Colonel Lawrence Nicholas Guarino (AFSN: 0-650614/ASN: 0-798126), United States Air Force, for heroic achievement as a Prisoner of War while engaged in operations against an opposing armed force in North Vietnam during the period October 1965 to January 1966. In an atmosphere of enemy harassment and brutal treatment, he continued to establish and maintain communications through unusual and ingenious methods, which resulted in American and Allied prisoners presenting a posture of increased resistance to the enemy’s wishes, and, at the same time, improving prisoner morale. By his heroic endeavors and devotion to duty under adverse conditions of his environment, he reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Air Force.
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Prisoner of War Medal
Service:
United States Air ForceRank:
MajorDivision:
Prisoner of War (North Vietnam)Action Date:
June 14, 1965 – February 12, 1973
Major Lawrence Nicholas Guarino (AFSN: 0-650614/ASN: 0-798126), United States Air Force, was held as a Prisoner of War in North Vietnam from June 14, 1965 until his release on February 12, 1973.
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Distinguished Flying Cross
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 2, 1926, takes pleasure in presenting a Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Second Award of the Distinguished Flying Cross with Combat “V” to Major Lawrence Nicholas Guarino (AFSN: 0-650614/ASN: 0-798126), United States Air Force, for heroism while participating in aerial flight as Pilot of an F-105 aircraft over North Vietnam on 14 June 1965. On that date, while leading a fighter-bomber strike against a heavily defended barracks complex, Major Guarino displayed a high degree of combat leadership ability and airmanship in assessing target defenses and expertly directing flak suppression aircraft to their targets. Then, ignoring marginal weather conditions and intense ground fire, he doggedly rallied in to lay his ordnance on target and led his teammates to a successful mission. The outstanding heroism and selfless devotion to duty displayed by Major Guarino reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.
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Air Force Distinguished Service Medal
Service:
United States Air ForceRank:
ColonelDivision:
Prisoner of War (North Vietnam)Action Date:
April 28, 1968 – June 1, 1970
Department of the Air Force, Special Order GB-1156 (October 29, 1974)The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Air Force Distinguished Service Medal to Colonel Lawrence Nicholas Guarino (AFSN: 0-650614/ASN: 0-798126), United States Air Force, for exceptionally meritorious and distinguished services to the Government of the United States, in a duty of great responsibility. Colonel Guarino distinguished himself as the Senior Ranking Officer of the largest prison camp in North Vietnam from 28 April 1968 to 1 June 1970. During this period, the enemy was attempting to convert this camp into a progressive camp of Americans conditioned to make written or oral statements contrary to the best interests of the United States and its allies. Colonel Guarino, recognizing his duties as Senior Ranking Officer, set the resistance posture against the enemy by outlining policy, rebuilding and strengthening the camp communications system, and counseling cell block senior officers in resistance activities. Despite the continuous enemy program of harassment and torture, the prisoners of war maintained a solid front of resistance under the leadership of Colonel Guarino. His courage in the face of great adversity and torture had few equals in prisoner history, and his personal resistance offered a rallying point. By his singularly distinctive accomplishments and devotion to duty Colonel Guarino reflected the highest credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.
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Bronze Star Medal
Service:
United States Air ForceRank:
ColonelDivision:
Prisoner of War (North Vietnam)Action Date:
June 1965 – July 1965
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Executive Order 11046, 24 August 1962, takes pleasure in presenting the Bronze Star Medal with Combat “V” to Colonel Lawrence Nicholas Guarino (AFSN: 0-650614/ASN: 0-798126), United States Air Force, for heroic actions while interned as a Prisoner of War in North Vietnam from June 1965 to July 1965. Colonel Guarino significantly reduced the effectiveness of the Vietnamese program of intimidation and maltreatment. Following his capture on 14 June 1965, he steadfastly refused to answer any of his Vietnamese interrogators’ questions despite the extremely severe punishment he underwent for 47 days. When it became evident that he would continue to resist even though he was near total collapse, his captors ceased the punishment. By his heroism and devotion to duty Colonel Guarino reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Air Force.
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Air Force Cross
Service:
United States Air ForceRank:
ColonelDivision:
Prisoner of War (North Vietnam)Action Date:
May 11, 1968 – September 22, 1969
Department of the Air Force, Special Order GB-1156 (October 29, 1974)The President of the United States of America, authorized by Title 10, Section 8742, United States Code, takes pleasure in presenting the Air Force Cross to Colonel Lawrence Nicholas Guarino (AFSN: 0-650614/ASN: 0-798126), United States Air Force, for extraordinary heroism in military operations against an opposing armed force as Senior Ranking Officer of a North Vietnamese prison camp during the period 11 May 1968 to 22 September 1969. Following the execution of a carefully conceived escape plan by two of his officers, Colonel Guarino, who was known by the enemy to be the Senior Ranking Officer in the camp, immediately came under maximum pressure including savage torture without parallel. Colonel Guarino exhibited exceptional heroism, courage and determination during this period. Displaying great resilience when back in communication, he assumed command once again and slowly built the prisoner organization. Through his extraordinary heroism, and maximum resistance in the face of a brutal enemy, Colonel Guarino reflected the highest credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.
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Distinguished Flying Cross
Headquarters, Pacific Air Forces, Special Orders G-88 (July 2, 1965)The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 2, 1926, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross with Combat “V” to Major Lawrence Nicholas Guarino (AFSN: 0-650614/ASN: 0-798126), United States Air Force, for heroism while participating in aerial flight as pilot of an F-105 aircraft over North Vietnam on 14 June 1965. On that date, while leading a fighter bomber strike against a heavily defended barracks complex, Major Guarino displayed a high degree of combat leadership ability and airmanship in assessing target defenses and expertly directing flak suppression aircraft to their targets. Then, ignoring marginal weather conditions and intense ground fire, he doggedly rallied in to lay his ordnance on target and led his teammates to a successful mission. The outstanding heroism and selfless devotion to duty displayed by Major Guarino reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.
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Silver Star
Service:
United States Air ForceRank:
ColonelDivision:
Prisoner of War (North Vietnam)Action Date:
March 1967 – October 1967
Department of the Air Force, Special Order GB-1156 (October 29, 1974)The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918 (amended by an act of July 25, 1963), takes pleasure in presenting a Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Second Award of the Silver Star to Colonel Lawrence Nicholas Guarino (AFSN: 0-650614/ASN: 0-798126), United States Air Force, for gallantry and intrepidity in action in connection with military operations against an opposing armed force during the period from March 1967 to October 1967, while a Prisoner of War in North Vietnam. Ignoring international agreements on treatment of prisoners of war, the enemy resorted to mental and physical cruelties to obtain information, confessions, and propaganda materials. Colonel Guarino resisted their demands by calling upon his deepest inner strengths in a manner which reflected his devotion to duty and great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.
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Silver Star
Service:
United States Air ForceRank:
MajorBatallion:
44th Tactical Fighter SquadronDivision:
Korat Royal Thai Air Base, ThailandAction Date:
May 8, 1965
Headquarters, Pacific Air Forces, Special Order G-56 (May 19, 1965)The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918 (amended by an act of July 25, 1963), takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Major Lawrence Nicholas Guarino (AFSN: 0-650614/ASN: 0-798126), United States Air Force, for gallantry in connection with military operations against an opposing armed force while serving as a Pilot of an F-105 Thunderchief of the 44th Tactical Fighter Squadron, Korat Royal Thai Air Base, Thailand, in action over North Vietnam, on 8 May 1965. On that date, Major Guarino led an airborne strike force against a well-defended Viet Cong troop supply and ammunition area. While directing this highly successful strike and with utter disregard for his personal safety, Major Guarino repeatedly positioned his aircraft within reach of heavy and accurate ground fire, in order to locate well-camouflaged hostile gun sites for flak suppression. By his gallantry and devotion to duty, Major Guarino has reflected great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.