Evening star., 1945-05-21
Lindsey
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broadly. give him a friendly slap on
the back.
Sergt. Lindsey won his Congress
sional Medal for smashing strong
German counterattack near Hamich
last November almost by himself
He led platoon which was cut down
from 40 men to five in the course of
bitter fighting
He was the Tooth infantryman to
win the medal, and the ceremony
was arranged both to mark his feat
and to commemorate the deeds of
others who have won this award.
A number of Congressional Med
ais have been presented at White
House ceremonies, but this was the
first where the recipient has been
honored in Congress. 1t also marked
the first time President Truman has
presented the medal.
Truman Pays Tribute.
The text of President Trumans
address, which was broadcast, fol-
lows:
Mr.. Speaker, Mr.. President, men,
bers of the Congress: We are assem-
bled here today to confer the Ma
tion's highest decoration on a young
American soldier. 1t so happens
that Tech. Sergt. Jake w. Lindsey
of Lucedale, Miss, is the Tooth in
fantryman to receive the Medal of
Honor in this war for bravery above
and beyond the call of duty. Through
him, we pay grateful Nations
tribute to the courage of all our
| fighting men.
The history of this war is filled
with countless, acts of valor by our
soldiers and sailors and Marines
under fire. Those who win the
Medal of Honor have displayed the
highest quality of courage.
We have heard in the citation
what Sergt Lindsey did. His in
spring deeds on the battlefield re-
quire no further praise from any
man. They stand-with the deeds
of others on whom this decoration
has been conferred-in the finest
tradition of American heroism.
The Essence of Victory.
This medal, to repeat, is given for
gallantry at the risk of life beyond
the call of duty. No officer ordered
Sergt. Lindsey to stand alone against
company of the enemy. No officer
ordered him when wounded to en-
gage eight Germans in hand-to-
hand combat Those decisions came
from his own heart. They were
flash of the nobility which we like
to think is part of every Ameri-
can. They were the unselfish valor
which can triumph over terrible
odds. They were the very essence of
victory.
Since the beginning of this war
223 Medals of Honor have been
awarded to members of the armed
forces. OF these 162 have gone to
the Army, 80 to the Navy. q to the
Marine Corps and to the Coast
Guard. One hundred of the men so
decorated have been infantrymen
and of them so died in performing
the acts for which they were hon.
ored
Cites Doughboys' Struggle.
1t seems fitting that in this SYM
bolic ceremony we should honor an
infantryman. There is little glamour
in his service. He faces not only
the enemy before him, but the cold
and heat, the rain and snow, the
dust and mud, which so often make
his life miserable. These things he
endures and rises above them to such
valorous deeds as those we celebrate
today.
This is a proud and moving oc-
casion for every American. it fol-
lows the complete victory of tie
Allied forces over a powerful enemy
in Europe. 1t finds us striking
devastating blows in the Pacific.
We are preparing to strike them
later in overwhelming force.
Before the battle against Japan
is won we shall have other men to
honor-men whose deeds, like those
we celebrate today, will have
brought closer our inevitable victory.
hope that every man and woman
in our Nation today. will reverently
thank God that we have produced
such sons as these. With their high
courage as inspiration we cannot
fail in the task we have set ourselves.
1t is with gratitude and pride that