Honor Through Sacrifice

Honor Through Sacrifice is a biography about one of America's greatest unsung military leaders. It tracks the 22-year US Army career and life of Gordon Joseph Lippman from his early days growing up on the plains of South Dakota to his last days dutifully serving his nation in the Vietnam War. Enlisting as an eighteen-year old in 1943, he quickly became recognized as a leader and was promoted to Tech-Sergeant and Machine Gun Platoon Sergeant upon his graduation from Camp Toccoa. Leading grown men against battle-hardened German combat troops, he won his first battlefield commission during the Battle of the Bulge, along with a Bronze Star. His second battlefield commission came during the battle for Korea five years later, where he led his company climbing up a steep embankment to seize not one but two enemy machine gun nests. He amassed more than 23 combat medals and awards for his bravery, courage under fire and leadership in complex and challenging situations. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, the Army's second highest combat award, for his leadership under enemy fire, resulting in a second Purple Heart and the accomplishment of his company's assigned objective. In the final act of his life, Lieutenant Colonel Lippman served as the Executive Officer of the 3rd Brigade/1st Infantry Division in Vietnam. The 3rd Brigade HQ Compound was renamed in honor of him, as Camp Gordon J. Lippman.