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Rank and organization: Technical Sergeant, U.S. Army, Company I, 194th
Glider Infantry, 17th Airborne Division. Place and date: Near Lembeck,
Germany, 27-28 March 1945. Entered service at: Riverton, W. Va. Birth:
Cherrygrove, W. Va. G.O. No.: 89, 19 October 1945. Citation: He displayed
extraordinary heroism and gallantry in action on 2728 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 weapons 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
6 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 4 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.
This data was extracted from the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, U.S. Senate, Medal of Honor Recipients: 1863-1973 (Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office, 1973)
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