Clinton M. Hedrick

Clinton M. Hedrick
Born	May 1, 1918(1918-05-01) Cherry Grove, West Virginia
Died	March 28, 1945(1945-03-28) (aged 26) near Lembeck, Germany
Place of burial	North Fork Memorial Cemetery, Riverton, West Virginia
Allegiance	United States of America
Service/branch	United States Army
Rank	Technical Sergeant
Unit	194th Glider Infantry Regiment, 17th Airborne Division
Battles/wars	World War II
Awards	Medal of Honor

Clinton M. Hedrick (May 1, 1918 – March 28, 1945) was a United States Army soldier and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration—the Medal of Honor—for his actions in World War II.

Biography

Hedrick joined the Army from Riverton, West Virginia, and by March 27, 1945 was serving as a technical sergeant in Company I, 194th Glider Infantry Regiment, 17th Airborne Division. On that day and the next, near Lembeck, Germany, he repeatedly charged through heavy fire to attack German positions and alone followed a group of German soldiers when they retreated into a castle. When the Germans indicated that they wished to surrender, Hedrick and four other men entered the castle, only to be fired upon by a German self-propelled gun. Hedrick was fatally wounded, but successfully covered the withdrawal of his men. For these actions, he was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor seven months later, on October 19, 1945.

Hedrick, aged 26 at his death, was buried in North Fork Memorial Cemetery, Riverton, West Virginia.

Medal of Honor citation

Technical Sergeant Hedrick's official Medal of Honor citation reads:

He displayed extraordinary heroism and gallantry in action on 27-March 28, 1945, in Germany. Following an airborne landing near Wesel, his unit was assigned as the assault platoon for the assault on Lembeck. Three times the landing elements were pinned down by intense automatic weapons fire from strongly defended positions. Each time, T/Sgt. Hedrick fearlessly charged through heavy fire, shooting his automatic rifle from his hip. His courageous action so inspired his men that they reduced the enemy positions in rapid succession. When 6 of the enemy attempted a surprise, flanking movement, he quickly turned and killed the entire party with a burst of fire. Later, the enemy withdrew across a moat into Lembeck Castle. T/Sgt. Hedrick, with utter disregard for his own safety, plunged across the drawbridge alone in pursuit. When a German soldier, with hands upraised, declared the garrison wished to surrender, he entered the castle yard with 4 of his men to accept the capitulation. The group moved through a sally port, and was met by fire from a German self-propelled gun. Although mortally wounded, T/Sgt. Hedrick fired at the enemy gun and covered the withdrawal of his comrades. He died while being evacuated after the castle was taken. His great personal courage and heroic leadership contributed in large measure to the speedy capture of Lembeck and provided an inspiring example to his comrades.^[1]

See also

	Biography portal
	United States Army portal
	World War II portal

• List of Medal of Honor recipients
• List of Medal of Honor recipients for World War II

Notes

 This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Army Center of Military History.

1. ^ "Medal of Honor recipients - World War II (G–L)". Medal of Honor citations. United States Army Center of Military History. June 8, 2009. http://www.history.army.mil/html/moh/wwII-g-l.html. Retrieved 2008-01-30. 

External links

• "Clinton M. Hedrick". Claim to Fame: Medal of Honor recipients. Find a Grave. http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=7191942. Retrieved 2008-01-30. 

Persondata
Name	Hedrick, Clinton M.
Alternative names
Short description	United States Army Medal of Honor recipient
Date of birth	May 1, 1918
Place of birth	Cherry Grove, West Virginia
Date of death	March 28, 1945
Place of death	near Lembeck, Germany