MOH

Medal of Honor: Jake W. Lindsey – World War II – November 16, 1944

When German tanks and infantry bore down on his platoon, one soldier stepped forward instead of back. Ten yards ahead of the line, T/Sgt. Jake W. Lindsey fought alone — and broke the attack by sheer will.

November 18, 2025

Name: Jake William Lindsey
Rank: Technical Sergeant
Organization: U.S. Army
Unit: 16th Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division
Place and Date: Near Hamich, Germany – 16 November 1944
Entered Service At: Lucedale, Mississippi
Born: May 1, 1921 – Isney, Alabama
G.O. No.: 43 (30 May 1945)

Summary of Action

As American forces pushed into the fortified German town of Hamich, the 1st Infantry Division faced a fierce counterattack of enemy armor and infantry. In the chaos, T/Sgt. Jake W. Lindsey moved forward—not backward—placing himself ten yards in front of his own platoon to meet the assault head-on.

From this exposed position, he delivered deadly accurate rifle fire that knocked out two machine-gun nests and forced two German tanks to withdraw. His fire also shattered enemy flanking attempts that threatened to encircle the platoon.

Even after being painfully wounded, Lindsey continued the fight alone. Spotting eight German soldiers trying to reestablish machine-gun positions, he charged them in close combat. In the brutal struggle that followed, he killed three, captured three, and sent the remaining two fleeing — eliminating the last organized threat to his platoon’s line.

His single-handed stand halted the attack, secured his unit’s position, and embodied the spirit of the Big Red One’s unbreakable grit.

Medal of Honor Citation

LINDSEY, JAKE W.

Rank and organization: Technical Sergeant, U.S. Army, 16th Infantry, 1st Infantry Division.

Place and date: Near Hamich, Germany, 16 November 1944.

Entered service at: Lucedale, Miss.

Birth: Isney, Ala.

G.O. No.: 43, 30 May 1945.

Citation:

For gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty on 16 November 1944, in Germany. T/Sgt. Lindsey assumed a position about 10 yards to the front of his platoon during an intense enemy infantry-tank counterattack, and by his unerringly accurate fire destroyed 2 enemy machinegun nests, forced the withdrawal of 2 tanks, and effectively halted enemy flanking patrols. Later, although painfully wounded, he engaged 8 Germans, who were reestablishing machinegun positions, in hand-to-hand combat, killing 3, capturing 3, and causing the other 2 to flee. By his gallantry, T/Sgt. Lindsey secured his unit’s position, and reflected great credit upon himself and the U.S. Army.