Medal of Honor: Peter C. Lemon – Vietnam War – April 1, 1970

Name: Peter C. Lemon
Rank: Sergeant (then Specialist Fourth Class)
Branch: U.S. Army
War: Vietnam War
Unit: Company E, 2d Battalion, 8th Cavalry, 1st Cavalry Division
Date of Action: April 1, 1970
Location: Tay Ninh Province, Republic of Vietnam

Summary of Action

On 1 April 1970, Sergeant Peter C. Lemon was serving as an assistant machine gunner during the defense of Fire Support Base Illingworth in Tay Ninh Province.

The base came under a fierce night assault by a numerically superior enemy force.

From his defensive position, Lemon engaged the attackers with machine-gun and rifle fire until both weapons malfunctioned.

With the enemy closing in, he switched to hand grenades and hurled them into the assaulting force.

After killing all but one of the enemy soldiers in his immediate area, he pursued the last attacker and killed him in hand-to-hand combat.

During the struggle, he was wounded by grenade fragments.

Ignoring his wounds, Lemon returned to his position, then carried a more seriously wounded comrade to the aid station.

As he moved back toward the line, enemy fire wounded him a second time.

Still refusing to stop, he fought his way through small-arms and grenade fire to rejoin the defense.

There he found the sector on the verge of being overrun.

Without hesitation, Lemon launched himself at the enemy with grenades and hand-to-hand attacks.

He was wounded a third time, but his furious counterattack drove the enemy from the position.

Finding an operable machine gun, Lemon climbed atop an embankment fully exposed to hostile fire and poured accurate fire into the attackers.

He remained there until exhaustion and blood loss caused him to collapse.

After regaining consciousness at the aid station, he refused evacuation until more seriously wounded comrades had been taken out first.

Peter C. Lemon’s repeated courage, savage determination, and selfless devotion to others upheld the highest traditions of the United States Army.

Medal of Honor Citation

LEMON, PETER C.

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. Sgt. Lemon (then Sp4c.), Company E, distinguished himself while serving as an assistant machine gunner during the defense of Fire Support Base Illingworth. When the base came under heavy enemy attack, Sgt. Lemon engaged a numerically superior enemy with machine gun and rifle fire from his defensive position until both weapons malfunctioned. He then used hand grenades to fend off the intensified enemy attack launched in his direction. After eliminating all but 1 of the enemy soldiers in the immediate vicinity, he pursued and disposed of the remaining soldier in hand-to-hand combat. Despite fragment wounds from an exploding grenade, Sgt. Lemon regained his position, carried a more seriously wounded comrade to an aid station, and, as he returned, was wounded a second time by enemy fire. Disregarding his personal injuries, he moved to his position through a hail of small arms and grenade fire. Sgt. Lemon immediately realized that the defensive sector was in danger of being overrun by the enemy and unhesitatingly assaulted the enemy soldiers by throwing hand grenades and engaging in hand-to-hand combat. He was wounded yet a third time, but his determined efforts successfully drove the enemy from the position. Securing an operable machine gun, Sgt. Lemon stood atop an embankment fully exposed to enemy fire, and placed effective fire upon the enemy until he collapsed from his multiple wounds and exhaustion. After regaining consciousness at the aid station, he refused medical evacuation until his more seriously wounded comrades had been evacuated. Sgt. Lemon’s gallantry and extraordinary heroism, are in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit on him, his unit, and the U.S. Army.