Canadian Wins U.S Congressional Medal of Honor Bruce Ricketts
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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.