Lester Mykel Conger

Lester Mykel Conger was an officer in the United States Army.

Biography
Conger was born on November 18, 1923 in Plymouth, Wisconsin. He originally entered the University of Wisconsin-Sheboygan after high school, but would transfer to the University of Wisconsin-Madison to major in Physics. Later he would also attend Stanford University. Conger was killed on February 12, 1972 in Atlanta, Georgia when a plane his was a passenger in crashed at Fulton County Airport. He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery.

Career
Conger graduated from the United States Military Academy in 1946. He would be sent to Japan during the Occupation and served as a platoon leader in the 25th Infantry Division from 1947 to 1949. From there he was posted at Fort Campbell where he served as aide-de-camp to the Assistant Division Commander before being re-assigned to the 511th Parachute Infantry Regiment as a company commander. During the Korean War Conger served with the IX Corps and the X Corps. Later Conger joined the Army Special Forces and was assigned to 1st Special Forces Group. Conger later would become a battalion commander at Fort Gordon. During the Vietnam War Conger was assigned the Military Assistance Command, Vietnam. Conger's final assignment was at the Headquarters of the Third Army. He held the rank of Colonel at the time of his death.

Awards he received include the Legion of Merit with two oak leaf clusters, the Bronze Star Medal with two oak leaf clusters, the Air Medal, the Army Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster, and the Vietnam Gallantry Cross.