Clinton M. Hedrick

Covering his men's retreat after an ambush at Lembeck Castle

Clinton M. Hedrick received a posthumous Medal of Honor for his leadership near Lembeck, Germany, on 27 and 28 March 1945. A technical sergeant in Company I, 194th Glider Infantry, 17th Airborne Division, he repeatedly led attacks through enemy fire before protecting his comrades during a fatal ambush.

Born in Cherry Grove, West Virginia, on 1 May 1918, Hedrick enlisted in the United States Army in September 1940. He later served in the 550th Airborne Infantry Battalion before joining the 194th Glider Infantry Regiment. His award was accredited to Riverton, West Virginia.

After an airborne landing near Wesel, his platoon attacked Lembeck. Hedrick charged defended positions whenever fire halted the advance. He then pursued withdrawing German troops toward Lembeck Castle. Entering with four men to accept an apparent surrender, he encountered fire from a self-propelled gun. Mortally wounded, he continued firing to cover his men's retreat.

Hedrick died during evacuation on 28 March 1945, after the castle had been taken. He is buried in North Fork Cemetery at Riverton. The Medal of Honor was awarded posthumously on 19 October 1945. His death ended his service; there was no postwar military career.

Medal of Honor citation

He displayed extraordinary heroism and gallantry in action on 27-28 March 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-weapon 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 six 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 four 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.