Jack James Pendleton

The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pride in presenting the Medal of Honor (Posthumously) to Staff Sergeant Jack James Pendleton, United States Army, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty on 12 October 1944, while serving with Company I, 120th Infantry Regiment, 30th Infantry Division. When Company I was advancing on the town of Bardenberg, Germany, they reached a point approximately two-thirds of the distance through the town when they were pinned down by fire from a nest of enemy machineguns. This enemy strong point was protected by a lone machinegun strategically placed at an intersection and firing down a street which offered little or no cover or concealment for the advancing troops. The elimination of this protecting machinegun was imperative in order that the stronger position it protected could be neutralized. After repeated and unsuccessful attempts had been made to knock out this position, Staff Sergeant Pendleton volunteered to lead his squad in an attempt to neutralize this strongpoint. Staff Sergeant Pendleton started his squad slowly forward, crawling about ten yards in front of his men in the advance toward the enemy gun. After advancing approximately 130 yards under the withering fire, Staff Sergeant Pendleton was seriously wounded in the leg by a burst from the gun he was assaulting. Disregarding his grievous wound, he ordered his men to remain where they were, and with a supply of hand grenades he slowly and painfully worked his way forward alone. With no hope of surviving the veritable hail of machinegun fire which he deliberately drew onto himself, he succeeded in advancing to within ten yards of the enemy position when he was instantly killed by a burst from the enemy gun. By deliberately diverting the attention of the enemy machine gunners upon himself, a second squad was able to advance, undetected, and with the help of Staff Sergeant Pendleton's squad, neutralized the lone machinegun, while another platoon of his company advanced up the intersecting street and knocked out the machinegun nest which the first gun had been covering. Staff Sergeant Pendleton's sacrifice enabled the entire company to continue the advance and complete their mission at a critical phase of the action.

General Orders: War Department, General Orders No. 24 (April 6, 1945)

Action Date: 12-Oct-44

Service: Army

Rank: Staff Sergeant

Company: Company I

Regiment: 120th Infantry Regiment

Division: 30th Infantry Division

WW II Congressional Medal of Honor recipient. Served as a Staff Sergeant, U.S. Army, Company I, 120th Infantry, 30th Infantry Division. On October 12, 1944, when his Company was advancing on the town of Bardenberg, Germany, they reached a point where they were pinned down by fire from a nest of enemy machineguns. After several unsuccessful attempts had been made against the gun he and his squad began crawling forward, with he leading approximately 10 yards in advance of his men. Withering fire and after advancing approximately 130 yards, he was seriously wounded. He disregarded the wound and ordered his men to remain where they were. With a supply of hand grenades he began working his way forward alone. He had advanced to within 10 yards of his target when he was killed by a burst from the gun. His actions had enabled others to move into positions from which the machine gun was knocked out. He was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor on April 6, 1945. (bio by: John "J-Cat" Griffith)