Medal of Honor Recipient Staff Sergeant Laszlo Rabel: Commemorating Veterans Day, Recognizing Immigrant Patriots

Staff Sergeant Laszlo Rabel

To commemorate Veterans Day, we are featuring foreign-born patriots and Medal of Honor recipients widely celebrated for their remarkable gallantry. Below, we spotlight Staff Sergeant Laszlo Rabel, whose heroism at the cost of his own life prevented injury and the loss of life to fellow soldiers during the Vietnam War.

Laszlo Rabel was born in September 1939, in Budapest, Hungary.  In 1956, following the Hungarian Revolution, he and his family fled to Austria. The violent conflict centered on an attempted revolution against the Communist government of the Hungarian People’s Republic and its subordination to the USSR. Though it lasted just 15 days, thousands were killed and nearly a quarter million Hungarians fled the country. Rabel himself lost several family members during the battle.

After finding safe refuge in Minnesota, Rabel embraced his adopted country and enlisted in the U.S. Army at 27. Soon, he would serve as leader of Team Delta, 74th Infantry Detachment (LRRP), 173rd Airborne Brigade, during the Vietnam War. The team was assigned dangerous reconnaissance missions behind enemy lines. In November 1968, in the Bing Ding Province, Staff Sergeant Rabel and his team were ambushed and hit by a grenade.

Rebel’s intrinsic response proved lifesaving. He successfully shouted a warning to his fellow soldiers before quickly throwing his own body onto the grenade, sacrificing his own life while absorbing the explosion’s full force.

Rabel was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor, the United States military’s highest decoration, for his ultimate act of heroism. Following his death, Rabel was buried at the Arlington National Cemetery. In 1992, he was inducted into the U.S. Ranger Hall of Fame.

Staff Sergeant Laszlo Rabel’s legacy is one of profound self-sacrifice and unwavering devotion to duty. By giving his life for his fellow soldiers, Rabel not only protected others, but also inspired generations with his remarkable courage and valor.