Terry Lee Courange

SP4 Terry Lee Courange was born 17 February 1946 in Great Bend, Kansas, a citizen of the Cherokee Nation. Later, his family settled in Oklahoma. A popular high school athlete, Courange graduated from Purcell High School in 1964. While working at Tinker Air Force Base, he was drafted into the Army on 7 December 1966, destined for Vietnam.

Courange arrived in Vietnam in June 1967 joining Company D, 1st/18th Infantry Battalion, 1st Infantry Division as a Light Weapons Infantryman. On the night of 2 November 1967 during the battle of Loc Ninh, Private Courange’s unit came under an intense enemy ground attack. Courange immediately delivered effective fire and repelled the initial attack. He then moved to a friendly damaged bunker position, continuing to return fire, carried the wounded to the evacuation point, and returned to deliver fires until the enemy withdrew. For his selfless actions that night, he was awarded the Silver Star for gallantry.

On 4 May 1968, as his reconnaissance platoon began receiving enemy fire, Specialist Courange immediately returned fire and, with complete disregard for his personal safety, he moved into a ditch where he carried several injured companions to a safe location. Observing a wounded soldier in an open field, he led several companions forward to a location near the soldier. There, Courange stood up and delivered suppressive fires against the enemy so that the soldier could be rescued. For his leadership and gallantry, Specialist Courange was awarded his second Silver Star. In addition to this second valor award, Courange also received the Army Commendation Medal for Valor.

Specialist 4 Courange returned home in December 1968, earned a bachelor’s degree in Business from the University of Central Oklahoma, and later retired from Tinker AFB after 37 years of service. He resides in Purcell, Oklahoma.