When Peter C. Lemon speaks about persistence, choices, success, selflessness and pride, he knows what he is talking about.
Surviving inconceivable odds, he is one of the youngest recipients of
our nation's highest award, the Congressional Medal of Honor. President
Nixon presented the award to Mr. Lemon, in the name of the United States
Congress, for assisting in saving the lives of his team in Vietnam and
refusing medical attention until others more seriously wounded were evacuated.
Mr. Lemon received his award for the action April 1, 1970 while serving with his unit Company E (Recon) 2/8, 1st Calvary Division. His award is dedicated to his unit and the three comrades he lost in the battle: Casey Waller, Nathan Mann and Brent Street.
| "I would rather have the blue band of the Medal of Honor around my neck than to be President" | |
| President Harry S. Truman
United States of America |
The Medal of Honor has been presented
only 3,438 times since its origination in 1862, during the Civil War. The
rarity of the award is profound. If you looked at the thirty-five million
people who served in the military during WWI, WWII, Korea and Vietnam only
959 servicemen receive this distinction. Of those, 541 received it posthumously:
they gave their life. No one living has received the award for a recent
action in over twenty-five years.
So remarkable are the acts of valor that earned the recipients the medal that countless movies and books have attempted to capture the glory throughout modern history. The criteria for this award are stringent with the person having voluntarily performed the deed at risk of life. The action must also be one that outstandingly displays conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity, above and beyond the call of duty, typically to save someone else's life.
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| The Congressional Medal of Honor by servcie branch: (left) U.S Marine Corps, U.S. Navy, U.S. Coast Gaurd; (center) U.S. Air Force; (right) U.S. Army |
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