The President of the United States
in the name of The Congress
takes pleasure in presenting the
Medal of Honor
to
LEMON, PETER C.
Rank and organization: Sergeant, U.S.
Army, Company E, 2d Battalion, 8th Cavalry, 1st Cavalry Division. Place and
date: Tay Ninh province, Republic of Vietnam, 1 April 1970. Entered service at:
Tawas City, Mich. Born: 5 June 1950, Toronto, Canada.
Citation:
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 machinegun 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 machinegun, 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.
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