Decorations and Citations
- Legion of Merit Medal – 1967
- Bronze Star – 1945
- Army Commendation Medal for Meritorious Service, 1960
- Good Conduct Medal (Seventh Award), 4 Jun 1963
- Presidential Unit Emblem (NAVY)
- Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation Badge
Service Medals
- Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (Ar, 3 Bronze Stars) – Jan 1944
- World War II Victory Medal – Jan 1944
- Army of Occupation Medal (Japan/Germany) – Oct 1945
- American Campaign Medal – Dec 1943
- National Defense Service Medal – Jun 1950
- Korean Service Medal (6 Bronze Stars) – Sep 1950
- Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal – Sep 1961
- Philippine Liberation Ribbon (1 Bronze Star) – Feb 1945
- United Nations Service Medal – Sep 1950
Badges
- Combat Infantry Badge
Promotions
- Private First Class – Jul 1944
- Sergeant – Mar 1945
- Staff Sergeant 18 Jul 1946
- Sergeant First Class (E-6) 31 Mar 1950
- Master Sergeant (E-7) 8 June 1951
- Master Sergeant (E-8) 12 Aug 1958
- Sergeant Major (E-9) 27 May 1959
> Scroll down to see other documents and newspaper articles
Photographs
Documents
- Order to Report for Induction on 7 May 1943
- Honorable Discharge 14 Nov 1945
- Certificate of Achievement, 22 May 1948
- Order of the Enewetak Guinea Pigs, Spring 1948
- Sixth Army Championship Small Bore Rifle Tournament, 1948
- Honorable Discharge 14 Nov 1948
- Forgotten Bastard of Inchon certificate, 11 Oct 1951
- Honorable Discharge 16 May 1962
- Letter of Commendation, 10 Oct 1956
- DA 20 – Enlisted Qualification Record
- Letter of Appreciation, 30 Apr 1958
- Honorable Discharge 21 May 1958
- Letter of Appreciation, 14 Feb 1959
- Special Orders Fort Leonard Wood Sept-Nov 1959
- Authorization for Overseas Travel of Dependents at Government Expense, 9 Nov 1959
- St Georges Day Ball 23 Apr 1960
- Request for Acquisition and/or Registration of Firearms, 12 Jan 1961
- Certificate of Appreciation – Association of the United States Army, June 1962
- Travel Orders to the United States 16 Nov 1962
- Special Orders Number 10 Fort Ord 16 Jan 1963
- Honorable Discharge 21 May 1964
- Wearing of Decorations and Service Medals for SMAJ Lester Edgar, 8 May 1965
- Campaigns and Awards, 4 May 1965
- Orders to Vietnam, 20 Oct 1966, and Revocation of Orders, 8 Dec 1966
- Army Extension Course: Command and Staff, 14 Nov 1966
- Report of Medical Examination, 10 Jan 1967
- Application for Voluntary Retirement 14 Feb 1967
- Retirement Processing, 22 Mar 1967
- Retirement Order effective 30 Jun 1967, 22 Mar 1967
- Award of the Legion of Merit, 25 May 1967
- Application for Pension at Separation from Service 16 Jun 1967
- Conduct and Efficiency Ratings 20 Jun 1967
- Retirement Ceremony 22 Jun 1967
- Utilization of the Sergeant Major, 29 Jun 1967
- DD Form 214
- Honorable Discharge 13 Sep 1978
- Department of Defense Atmospheric Nuclear Weapons Tests letter, 13 Nov 1978; Atomic Bomb Test Site
- Miscellaneous Army Documents
- Outstanding Administrative Cadre Citation
- 12 Letters of Appreciation 1953-1965
Newspaper Articles
- Warm Welcome to Berlin
- Know Your Key: Berlin Command NCOs, Sergeant Major Edgar, article 19 Feb 1960
- Troops Pass in Review Armed Forces Day 21 May 1960
- Free Bulwark, Army Times (Europe) 1 Nov 1960
- Fresh Outlook for Council’s 1961 Agenda, The Berlin Observer 1961
- NCO’s Conduct 2nd BG Review, Retreat Parade
- The AER Drive
- Super Sergeants, The Berlin Observer, 14 Dec 1962
- Portrait of a Sergeant Major, Fort Ord Panorama, 8 Feb 1963
- Top Enlisted Men, Salinas Californian, 2 Dec 1964
- General Mathew B. Ridgeway thanks color guard commander Sgt. Maj. Lester Edgar, 29 Jan 1965
- Sixteen Retire at Fort Ord
- Ends 24 Year Hitch
Miscellaneous
- The Ground Combat Soldier by General Bruce C. Clarke
- The Sixth United States Infantry a Historical Sketch by 1st Lieutenant Charles Bryne, 1893
- How to wear ribbons and badges
- Berlin
- Berlin Command – Unclassified Speech
- Checkpoint Charlie
- The Berlin Helmstedt Autobahn
- Berlin Brigade – Unclassified Briefing
- IJSCOB Briefing
Page last updated May 6, 2026
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