Peter M. Guenette

He covered a live grenade to shield three men from its blast

Peter Mathew Guenette was born on 4 January 1948 in Troy, New York. He grew up in Lansingburgh, graduated from Catholic High School, attended Hudson Valley Community College, and enlisted in March 1967. He married Susan Tanski that November and deployed to Vietnam in December.

Peter M. Guenette served as an Army specialist fourth class and machine gunner in Company D, 2d Battalion (Airborne), 506th Infantry, 101st Airborne Division. On 18 May 1968, his platoon encountered entrenched North Vietnamese troops while approaching a suspected base camp. He and his assistant provided suppressive fire as the soldiers closed on a bunker. When an enemy grenade landed beside them, Guenette warned the men and covered it with his body. He died preventing injury or death to at least three comrades and allowing their fire to continue. His Medal of Honor recognized his sacrifice.

Guenette was twenty years old when he died. His posthumous Medal of Honor was presented to his widow by President Richard Nixon at the White House on 7 April 1970. He is buried at Saint John’s Cemetery in North Troy, New York.

Medal of Honor citation

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. Sp4c. Guenette distinguished himself serving as a machine gunner with Company D, during combat operations. While Sp4c. Guenette's platoon was sweeping a suspected enemy base camp, it came under light harassing fire from a well-equipped and firmly entrenched squad of North Vietnamese Army regulars which was serving as a delaying force at the entrance to their base camp. As the platoon moved within 10 meters of the fortified positions, the enemy fire became intense. Sp4c. Guenette and his assistant gunner immediately began to provide a base of suppressive fire, ceasing momentarily to allow the assistant gunner time to throw a grenade into the bunker. Seconds later, an enemy grenade was thrown to Sp4c. Guenette's right flank. Realizing that the grenade would kill or wound at least four men and destroy the machine gun, he shouted a warning and smothered the grenade with his body, absorbing its blast. Through his actions, he prevented loss of life or injury to at least three men and enabled his comrades to maintain their fire superiority. By his gallantry at the cost of his life in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service, Sp4c. Guenette has reflected great credit upon himself, his unit, and the U.S. Army.