Forrest E. Peden

Forrest E. Peden (October 3, 1913 – February 3, 1945) was a United States Army soldier and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration—the Medal of Honor—for his actions in World War II.

Biography Peden joined the Army from Wathena, Kansas in February 1943, and by February 3, 1945, was serving as a technician fifth grade in Battery C, 10th Field Artillery Battalion, 3rd Infantry Division. On that day, near Biesheim, France, his unit was ambushed by a larger enemy force. After giving medical aid to two wounded soldiers, Peden ran for help despite intense enemy fire. He found a friendly tank and guided it to the ambush site, but was killed when the tank was hit by hostile fire. He was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor a year later, on February 13, 1946.

Aged 31 at his death, Peden was buried at Mount Olive Cemetery in Troy, Kansas.

Medal of Honor citation Technician Peden's official Medal of Honor citation reads:

Awards and decorations

1st rowMedal of HonorPurple HeartArmy Good Conduct Medal2nd rowAmerican Campaign MedalEuropean–African–Middle Eastern Campaign MedalWorld War II Victory Medal

Trivia In Wertheim am Main from 1952 until 1994 the US barracks were named after Forrest E. Peden. Today a street in the former area still carries his name.