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One defining moment can exemplify the spirit and valor of a soldier. For Army Cpl. Lester Hammond Jr., it was his selfless decision amidst battle that solidified his legacy, ultimately earning him the Medal of Honor.
Born on March 25, 1931, in Wayland, Missouri, Lester Hammond Jr. charted a life of service. By 1952, at the age of 21, he was in Kumhwa, Korea, serving as a radio operator with Company A of the renowned 187th Airborne Regimental Combat Team – a regiment distinguished for their courageous efforts in Inchon and Seoul.
On a fateful day, August 14, 1952, Hammond’s reconnaissance patrol delved two miles into enemy lines, only to find themselves ambushed and heavily outnumbered. Despite being injured and having the option to seek refuge, Hammond chose to remain exposed, directing artillery fire onto enemy forces, a decision he knew would cost him his life. As Maj. Walter J. Klepeis, who received Hammond’s requests for airstrikes stated, Hammond knew the gravity of his actions. Klepeis later recounted, “I wish … every American could have listened in to hear how a brave man dies.”
But, thanks to Hammond’s valor, reinforcements were able to reach his patrol and extract them safely. In recognition of his extraordinary courage, Hammond was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor on Aug. 5, 1953. Initially resting in Quincy’s Greenmount Cemetery, his final resting place was transferred to Sunset Cemetery at the Illinois Veterans Home in 1983, with a street in the cemetery bearing testament to his and other Medal of Honor recipients’ valor.
Hammond’s legacy further echoes in the All Wars Museum in Illinois, where a mural commemorates his sacrifice. Additionally, various establishments, from nursing homes to ballparks across Korea and Japan, stand as tributes to Hammond’s name, ensuring his brave story of self-sacrifice is remembered across generations.
Source: US Dept. of Defense
