PEDEN, FORREST E. - Medal of Honor Recipient
Rank and organization: Technician 5th Grade, U.S. Army, Battery C, 10th
Field Artillery Battalion, 3d Infantry Division. Place and date: Near Biesheim,
France, 3 February 1945. Entered service at: Wathena, Kans. Birth: St.
Joseph, Mo. G.O. No.: 18, 13 February 1946. Citation: He was a forward
artillery observer when the group of about 45 infantrymen with whom he
was advancing was ambushed in the uncertain light of a waning moon. Enemy
forces outnumbering the Americans by 4 to 1 poured withering artillery,
mortar, machinegun, and small-arms fire into the stricken unit from the
flanks, forcing our men to seek the cover of a ditch which they found already
occupied by enemy foot troops. As the opposing infantrymen struggled in
hand-to-hand combat, Technician Peden courageously went to the assistance
of 2 wounded soldiers and rendered first aid under heavy fire. With radio
communications inoperative, he realized that the unit would be wiped out
unless help could be secured from the rear. On his own initiative, he ran
800 yards to the battalion command post through a hail of bullets which
pierced his jacket and there secured 2 light tanks to go to the relief
of his hard-pressed comrades. Knowing the terrible risk involved, he climbed
upon the hull of the lead tank and guided it into battle. Through a murderous
concentration of fire the tank lumbered onward, bullets and shell fragments
ricocheting from its steel armor within inches of the completely exposed
rider, until it reached the ditch. As it was about to go into action it
was turned into a flaming pyre by a direct hit which killed Technician
Peden. However, his intrepidity and gallant sacrifice was not in vain.
Attracted by the light from the burning tank, reinforcements found the
beleaguered Americans and drove off the enemy.
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