Career
Born on September 10, 1948, in Cumberland, Virginia, Langhorn was living in Brooklyn, New York, when he joined the United States. He served in Vietnam as a private first class and radio operator with Troop C, 7th Squadron (Airmobile), 17th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Aviation Brigade. On January 15, 1969, Langhorn"s unit attempted to rescue the crew of a downed American helicopter near Plei Djereng in Pleiku Province, South Vietnam. After finding the crash site and the bodies of the dead crewmen, the unit turned back, only to be attacked by entrenched North Vietnamese forces.
During the battle, Langhorn threw himself on an enemy hand grenade that had been thrown near several wounded soldiers.
He was killed in the ensuing explosion, but succeeded in protecting the lives of his fellow soldiers. Langhorn, aged 20 years at his death, was buried at Riverhead Cemetery in Riverhead, New New York
On September 27, 2010, the Riverhead, New York post office building was named the Private First Class Garfield M. Langhorn Post Office Building by the 111th United States Congress. An enemy hand grenade landed in front of.
