LZ Lopez II was a short term landing zone for the 3rd Battalion, 1st Infantry Regiment, 11th Light Infantry Brigade, 23rd (Americal) Infantry Division, US Army Military Assistance Command Vietnam. It was named after a Texas Chicano, Specialist Fourth Class Arturo Lopez, who was an 11B Infantryman with the 3rd Platoon of Bravo Company.
In early 1970, Specialist Lopez had been KIA'd in the Horseshoe Valley when he stepped on a mine made of a 500-lb. bomb. Also wounded were Specialist Charles Mankin and Specialist Frank Barney. Shortly before his death, Specialist Lopez had distinguished himself by discovering a large enemy rice cache on the sandy south bank of the Song Tra Khuc River while on patrol under the direction of Staff Sergeant George Lavigne.
LZ Lopez II had a 105 mm Howitzer airlifted in, and was located in the mountainous region of the battalion's area of operation. The original location for an LZ Lopez was cancelled, and so this landing zone was designated LZ Lopez II.
Specialist 5th Class George L. Ambrose
Medical Corpsman, Bravo Company
3rd Bn/1st Inf , 11th Lib, 23rd (Americal) Infantry Division, 12/69 to 11/70
