of his mission as a medical aidman and continued to comfort and treat the wounded until his own evacuation was ordered. His meticulous attention to duty saved a large number of lives and his unselfish, daring example under most adverse conditions was an inspiration to all. SP6 Joel's profound concern for his fellow soldiers, at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty are in the highest traditions of the U.S. Army and reflect great credit upon himself and the Armed Forces of his country. Winston-Salem parade On April 8, 1967, Winston-Salem held a parade, the first time the city had ever held a military parade to recognize a single individual, to honor Lawrence Joel. He grew up on the east side of the city, a predominantly African-American section of Winston-Salem at the time. The New York Times called it the biggest tribute the city had ever staged. Retirement Lawrence Joel retired from military service in 1973. On February 4, 1984, Joel died of complications from diabetes. He is buried in Arlington National Cemetery in Section 46, lot 15-1, adjacent to the Memorial Amphitheater. Honors and awards The first military memorial named in his honor was Joel Drive, which encircles Blanchfield Community Hospital at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, dedicated in 1985. In memory of Lawrence Joel and all Forsyth County veterans, the Winston-Salem Board of Aldermen (now City Council) in February 1986 decided to name the city's new coliseum the Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum. Construction for the coliseum began one year later and opened in 1989. In 2007, a study funded by the Winston-Salem City Council opened the possibility of selling the coliseum's naming rights to some corporation. The Joel Auditorium at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C. is named after Lawrence Joel. The U.S. Army clinics at Fort Benning, Georgia and Fort Bragg, North Carolina, are named after Joel. See also List of Medal of Honor recipients List of Medal of Honor recipients for the Vietnam War Notes References Lantz, Ragni (July 1967). "Dixie Town Fetes War Hero: Medal of Honor Winner Lawrence Joel is Hailed By Winston-Salem". Ebony. 1928 births 1984 deaths Vietnam War recipients of the Medal of Honor United States Army Medal of Honor recipients United States Army soldiers United States Army personnel of the Korean War United States Army personnel of the Vietnam War United States Merchant Mariners Combat