A Hero Remembered
Sixty-one years is a long time. People age, and memories fade. But some things are worth remembering.
On 14 August 1952, a thing worth remembering occurred. Sadly, it’s not terribly well known today.
On that date, CPL Lester Hammond, Jr., Company A, 187th Airborne Regimental Combat Team, died.
That in and of itself is nothing unusual. More than 33,700 US troops were killed in action in Korea. Thousands more died due to nonbattle injuries or are missing.
However, how and why CPL Hammond died that August day is worth remembering.
CPL Hammond’s unit was conducting patrols near Kumwha, Korea. CPL Hammond was the radio telephone operator for one of the patrols.
His patrol was engaged by overwhelming Chinese forces. They were in danger of being overrun.
CPL Hammond was wounded – twice. He became separated from the rest of his patrol.
Nonetheless, CPL Hammond could observe the enemy. He made calls for supporting artillery fire. His last call for fire was on his own position.
These supporting fires were necessary to allow his comrades to escape. However, CPL Hammond knew full well he couldn’t move from his current position. He was too seriously wounded.
He made his final call for fire anyway. His comrades were saved.
He wasn’t.
CPL Hammond’s Medal of Honor citation can be found here. Search the page for “Hammond, Lester”.
Patton was right. We should indeed thank God that such men lived.
Category: Real Soldiers
Rakkasan! CPL Hammond’s selfless service is part of the storied history of the Rakkasans, and he and the other MOH recipients of 3/187 and 187th ARCT were required knowledge for those of us who served in the Iron Rakkasans ten years ago.
Knowing that such men came before, and being well versed in the unit’s history helped ensure that we were one of the best (and most cocky) Light Infantry battalions in the Army.
Rest in well-earned peace, brother, and be assured that you ARE remembered.
Being on the list of Medal Of Honor recipients is a
rare list indeed, but being on that list and lived to
have received the Medal in person is even rarer.
The men and women who endured the “Forgotten War” or the “Coldest War” are and will always be in the memory of this humble servant.
My father served in Korea and he did not speak much of it until he began to die. Then he spoke much about his childhood, the war, and his life after the war. He was grateful to have survived as so many he served with did not!
CPL Hammond’s memory is not lost in my family nor with my friends.
Shai Dorsai!!
Thank you for your service CPL Hammond.
“[I]f you hide in the trenches you may survive for now, but someday you will die and no one will care. If you charge the guns you may die in the next two minutes, but you will be one of the immortals.” (Author unknown)
CPL Hammond is one of the immortals.
To sacrifice yourself for others is the most selfless thing you can do. The stories of these men always inspire me.
My uncle’s MOH ceremony was shared by Ben Solomon, a dentist who served as a doctor during WWII. His is an amazing story, he killed 98 enemy protecting his patients:
http://history.amedd.army.mil/moh/Salomon.html
“Greater love hath no man…”
I just hope that I would have the stones he did if I were to find myself in a similar situation.