Lester Hammond Jr.

He called down artillery, while wounded and exposed to fire.

Lester Hammond Jr. was born in Wayland, Missouri, on 25 March 1931. His family moved to Quincy, Illinois, where he attended school. He joined the Army in 1948, re-enlisted in 1951 and went to Korea in January 1952 with the 187th Airborne Regimental Combat Team.

Serving as a radio operator in Company A, he joined a six-man reconnaissance patrol near Kumhwa on 14 August. The patrol had penetrated enemy-held ground when a much larger force ambushed it. The Americans withdrew into a ravine, but all were wounded and they remained in danger of being overrun.

Hammond stayed in an exposed position where he could observe the attackers and direct artillery support. Despite another wound, he continued calling and correcting the fire. It checked repeated attacks and enabled a relief platoon to reach the patrol and evacuate the survivors.

Hammond was mortally wounded. His Medal of Honor citation credited his continued direction of the artillery with saving his comrades.

Under Secretary of the Army Earl D. Johnson presented the posthumous decoration to his father at the Pentagon in August 1953. Hammond was initially buried at Greenmount Cemetery in Quincy. In 1983 his remains were moved to Sunset Cemetery at the Illinois Veterans Home, where his grave became part of the community's continuing remembrance of its Korean War dead.

Official Medal of Honor citation Cpl. Hammond, a radio operator with Company A, distinguished himself by conspicuous gallantry and outstanding courage above and beyond the call of duty in action against the enemy. Cpl. Hammond was a member of a six man reconnaissance patrol which had penetrated approximately 3,500 yards into enemy-held territory. Ambushed and partially surrounded by a large hostile force, the small group opened fire, then quickly withdrew up a narrow ravine in search of protective cover. Despite a wound sustained in the initial exchange of fire and imminent danger of being overrun by the numerically superior foe, he refused to seek shelter and, remaining in an exposed place, called for artillery fire to support a defensive action. Constantly vulnerable to enemy observation and action, he coordinated and directed crippling fire on the assailants, inflicting heavy casualties and repulsing several attempts to overrun friendly positions. Although wounded a second time, he remained steadfast and maintained his stand until mortally wounded. His indomitable fighting spirit set an inspiring example of valor to his comrades and, through his actions, the onslaught was stemmed, enabling a friendly platoon to reach the beleaguered patrol, evacuate the wounded, and effect a safe withdrawal to friendly lines. Cpl. Hammond's unflinching courage and consummate devotion to duty reflect lasting glory on himself and uphold the finest traditions of the military service.