Peter C . Lemon Peter Charles Lemon ( born June 5 , 1950 ) is a former United States Army soldier and a recipient of the United States military ' s highest decoration , the Medal of Honor . He received the award for his actions on April 1 , 1970 while serving in Tay Ninh province during the Vietnam War . Lemon is the only Canadian born U . S . citizen to be presented the medal for fighting in the Vietnam War . He is the fifth - youngest living Medal of Honor recipient . Biography . Peter Lemon was born in Toronto , Ontario . After his military service , he attended Colorado State University , graduating in 1979 with a degree in Speech and received his Masters in Business Administration from the University of Northern Colorado in 1981 . He currently works as a motivational speaker and is the author of the book " Beyond the Medal " , as well as being executive producer on the PBS special " Beyond the Medal of Honor " . Lemon has also run several corporations , including American Hospitality Association , Inc . ; Darnell - Lemon , Inc . ; and Probus , Inc . ; as well as working as a semi - professional sculptor . On May 1 , 2009 , Mr . Lemon was presented the coveted Outstanding American by Choice award by President Barack Obama at The White House , recognizing his life of professional achievement and civic contribution . It is the first time in history the award was presented by the President of the United States . Lemon is an inductee in the elite Ranger Hall of Fame . Lemon admitted in a 1971 newspaper interview that he was high on marijuana during the actions that earned him the Medal of Honor . Medal of Honor citation . Rank and organization : Sergeant , U . S . Army , Company E , 2d Battalion , 8th Cavalry , 1st Cavalry Division . Place and date : Tay Ninh province , Republic of Vietnam , April 1 , 1970 . Entered service at : Tawas City , Mich . Born : June 5 , 1950 , Toronto , Ontario , Canada . Citation : For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty . Sgt . Lemon ( then Sp4 ) , Company E , distinguished himself while serving as an assistant machine gunner during the defense of Fire Support Base Illingworth . When the base came under heavy enemy attack , Sgt . Lemon engaged a numerically superior enemy with machine gun and rifle fire from his defensive position until both weapons malfunctioned . He then used hand grenades to fend off the intensified enemy attack launched in his direction . After eliminating all but 1 of the enemy soldiers in the immediate vicinity , he pursued and disposed of the remaining soldier in hand - to - hand combat . Despite fragment wounds from an exploding grenade , Sgt . Lemon regained his position , carried a more seriously wounded comrade to an aid station , and , as he returned , was wounded a second time by enemy fire . Disregarding his personal injuries , he moved to his position through a hail of small arms and grenade fire . Sgt . Lemon immediately realized that the defensive sector was in danger of being overrun by the enemy and unhesitatingly assaulted the enemy soldiers by throwing hand grenades and engaging in hand - to - hand combat . He was wounded yet a third time , but his determined efforts successfully drove the enemy from the position . Securing an operable machine gun , Sgt . Lemon stood atop an embankment fully exposed to enemy fire , and placed effective fire upon the enemy until he collapsed from his multiple wounds and exhaustion . After regaining consciousness at the aid station , he refused medical evacuation until his more seriously wounded comrades had been evacuated . Sgt . Lemon ' s gallantry and extraordinary heroism , are in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit on him , his unit , and the U . S . Army .