Jake W. Lindsey

1 May 1921 – 18 July 1988

Hometown
Lucedale, Mississippi
Service number
7006839
Rank
Technical Sergeant
Unit
Company C, 16th Infantry Regiment
Award(s)
Medal of Honor, Silver Star

Biography

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Medal of Honor

Citation: By direction of the President, under the provisions of the act of Congress approved 9 July 1918 (WD Bul. 43, 1918), a Medal of Honor for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of life above and beyond the call of duty was awarded by the War Department in the name of Congress to Technical Sergeant Jake W. Lindsey (Army serial No. 7006839), Company C, 16th Infantry. Sergeant Lindsey led a platoon reduced to 6 of its original strength of 40, in the attack on an enemy position near Hamich, Germany, 16 November 1944. His men had captured their objective and were digging in when counterattacked by a German infantry company and five tanks. Armed with a rifle and grenades, Sergeant Lindsey took position on the left and in advance of the remnant of his platoon, and though exposed to heavy rifle, machine-gun and tank fire, beat off repeated enemy attacks. Tanks moved to within 50 yards of him but were forced to withdraw because of his accurate rifle grenade fire. After driving off the tanks, he knocked out two machine guns to his front. Though painfully wounded Sergeant Lindsey continued firing and throwing grenades until his ammunition was expended. An enemy squad attempted to set up a machine gun 50 yards from him. Unmindful of his wounds and enemy fire, he rushed these 8 German soldiers, single-handedly closed with them, killed 3 with his bayonet and captured 3; the 2 others escaped. In his fearlessness, inspiring courage, and superb leadership, Sergeant Lindsey carried on a brilliant defense of his platoon’s hard-won ground, securing the position, and inflicting heavy casualties on the numerically superior enemy.

Silver Star

Citation: Under the provisions of AR 600-45, as amended, Jake W. Lindsey, 7006839, Sergeant (then Corporal), Company C, 16th Infantry, is awarded the Silver Star for gallantry in action in the vicinity of Troina, Sicily, 6 August 1943. When heavy machine gun fire seriously hampered a platoon of his company from withdrawing from an untenable position, Sergeant Lindsey set up his machine gun in a position exposed to direct enemy machine gun and rifle fire and so successfully harassed the enemy as to enable the platoon to reach a favorable position without loss. Residence at enlistment: Lucedale, Miss.

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