Peter C. Lemon
The tall man in an immaculate business suit looked across the crowded classroom at more than a hundred young faces. He was an imposing figure, over six feet tall and broad of shoulder. Yet he spoke with a quiet gentleness that captivated the children. At the back of the room stood an impatient cameraman from the local TV station. He had come to interview a rare hero, a living Medal of Honor recipient. It seemed, however, that Peter Lemon was more interested in talking to the children than in talking to the camera. And he wasn't even talking about himself or his own heroic actions more than twenty years earlier. Instead, the hero, pausing from time to time to compose himself, talked of three friends who had died the night of his action.
Prized Possession
On that spring day in , there were only living Americans authorized to wear the Medal of Honor. Mr. Lemon was one of them, yet he had shown up in business attire, no Medal draped around his neck. The cameraman tried not to show either his impatience or his disappointment for it would not have mattered. Pete Lemon wasn't seeking publicity, he was finding a "mission". When the presentation came to a close
A Defining Moment in Life…
My father, Charles Lemon, was born in Ontario, Canada, along with nine other siblings, and raised on the Lemon farm. His lineage was French and Scottish. During World War II he and his brother Gordon joined the Royal Canadian Air Force and fought in the Pacific and Atlantic theaters, and his brother John enlisted in the Canadian Army as a military policeman.
Geraldine Swan, my mother, was born in England of Irish decent. In fact, we can trace her ancestry back to Edward Swan (c. ), who married the daughter of the Lord Mayor of Dublin, and whose father was the Sheriff of Dublin. My mother was a college-educated physiotherapist who cared for wounded military and civilians during the World War II London bombings.
My parents met and married in England at the end of WWII, then moved to Toronto, Canada. My dad graduated as a mining engineer from the University of Toronto. Dad was the first and only Lemon at that time to have graduated from college. During his college years he worked part-time as a lumberjack and miner, and my mother as a physical therapist. They were poor at the time and claimed boiled cabbage as their
Biography
Peter C. Lemon is a surviving recipient of America’s highest award: &#;The Congressional Medal of Honor’. It was presented by the President of the United States in
Vastly outnumbered in a fierce enemy attack in Vietnam, Mr. Lemon assisted in saving the lives of his team. From the official citation, although wounded numerous times, he refused to be evacuated until the enemy had retreated and his injured comrades were airlifted to safety.
Mr. Lemon dedicates his award and pays tribute to all those who served in his unit, most importantly the three comrades they lost in the battle for which he received the award: Casey Waller, Nathan Mann and Brent Street. Mr. Lemon believes, “ it wasn’t for them, my E Company RECON team and all those on FSB Illingworth, I certainly wouldn’t be alive today. For this I’m eternally grateful.”
Learn more&#;
Peter Charles Lemon (born June 5, ) is a former United States Army soldier and a recipient of the United States military's highest award for valor, the Medal of Honor. He received the award for his actions on April 1, , while serving in Tây Ninh Province during the Vietnam War. He dedicates his award to the three comrades he lost in the battle for which he received the award: Casey Waller, Nathan Mann, Brent Street. Lemon is the only Canadian-born United States citizen to be presented the medal for fighting in the Vietnam War. He is the eighth-youngest living Medal of Honor recipient.
Early life and education
Lemon was born in Toronto, Canada, on June 5, He is a graduate from the Tawas Area High School, Tawas City, Michigan. Viewing the Vietnam War as necessary to stop the spread of communism, he volunteered to enter the United States Army at the East Tawas Post Office, East Tawas, Michigan. After his army service, he entered Colorado State University, graduating in with a degree in Speech. He received his Master's of Science in Business Administration from the University of Northern Colorado two years later, and in he was proclaimed the university
Biographies you may also like
Yewande sadiku biography for kids Animals Fine Arts Language Arts Places Plants and Other Living Things Science and Mathematics Social Studies Sports and Hobbies World Religions Images & Videos.
Ringo starr net worth 2016 forbes 18 Ringo Starr Starting off the rock rich list is The Beatles' drummer Ringo Starr. Although his earnings cannot match that of former bandmate Paul McCartney, Starr has .
Bleek gilliam biography for kids 37 voters · list created November 28th, by Margaret Kensinger-Klopfer (votes).
Hemant birje biography templates Sample personal biography templates: Hemant Birje is an Indian actor and legislator. He debuted as an actor in the Sanskrit film, ‘Adventures of Tarzan’ (). Hemant Birje was born on Saturday, .
Indra nooyi biography book review 'My Life in Full' by Indra Nooyi is a memoir that offers insights into the life and career of one of the world's most powerful businesswomen. It provides a first-hand account of the challenges and .
Reba mcentire biography imdb room video Reba McEntire is known as a country music singer. She is most famous for TV show, Reba and her multiple award winning country albums. Reba Nell McEntire was born on March 28, , .
Rasi baker biography of michael jackson The lead singer of the beloved family group the Jackson 5, Michael Jackson was in his early twenties when Thriller catapulted him into the ranks of the rich and g: rasi baker.
Ibrahim abu bakr al baghdadi biography Ibrahim Awad Ibrahim Ali al-Badri, commonly known by his nom de guerre Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, was an Iraqi militant who was the first caliph of the Islamic State.