Peregory, Frank D.

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Date of birth:: April 10th, 1916 (Esmont/Virginia, United States)
Date of death:: June 14th, 1944 (Normandy, France)
Buried on:: Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial
Plot: G. Row: 21. Grave: 7.
Nationality:: American (1776 - present, Republic)

Biography

Service number 20 365 455
Frank D. Peregory was born April 10th, 1916 in Esmont, Virginia. In 1931 he lied about his age in order to join the Virginia Army National Guard. At the outbreak of World War Two, the National Guard unit in which he served was transformed to Company K, 116th Infantry Regiment, 29th Infantry Division. February 3rd, 1941, the unit was incorporated in federal service. The unit was trained at Fort Meade and was subsequently sent to Europe to continue training in Scotland and England.
Frank D. Peregory and his unit participated in the Normandy landings on June 6th, 1944. Six days after the acton which earned him a Medal of Honor on June 8th, he lost his life while fighting in the Normandy bocage.

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Soldier's Medal (SM)

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Private 1st Class
Awarded on:: 1941

"For heroism at the risk of life not involving conflict with an armed enemy in rescuing a man from drowning near Hobucken, North Carolina, on 10 January 1942. On that date a truck carrying six enlisted men on patrol, duty went off the icy road and plunged into a canal. One member of the patrol was unable to escape, and Private First Class Peregory went back to the submerged truck twice and succeeded finally in bringing the unconscious soldier to shore."

Medal of Honor - Army (MoH)

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Technical Sergeant
Unit:: Company K, 116th Infantry Regiment
Awarded on:: May 30th, 1945
Awarded for:: Operation Overlord

"On 8 June 1944, the 3d Battalion of the 116th Infantry was advancing on the strongly held German defenses at Grandcampe, France, when the leading elements were suddenly halted by decimating machinegun fire from a firmly entrenched enemy force on the high ground overlooking the town. After numerous attempts to neutralize the enemy position by supporting artillery and tank fire had proved ineffective, T/Sgt. Peregory, on his own initiative, advanced up the hill under withering fire, and worked his way to the crest where he discovered an entrenchment leading to the main enemy fortifications 200 yards away. Without hesitating, he leaped into the trench and moved toward the emplacement. Encountering a squad of enemy riflemen, he fearlessly attacked them with handgrenades and bayonet, killed 8 and forced 3 to surrender. Continuing along the trench, he single-handedly forced the surrender of 32 more riflemen, captured the machine gunners, and opened the way for the leading elements of the battalion to advance and secure its objective. The extraordinary gallantry and aggressiveness displayed by T/Sgt. Peregory are exemplary of the highest tradition of the armed forces."

General Order No.43, dated May 30th, 1945.
Awarded posthumously.