b. 10/04/1916 Esmont, Virginia. d. 14/06/1944 Grandcamp-Maisy, France.
DATE OF MOH ACTION: 08/06/1944 Grandcamp-Maisy, France.
Frank D Peregory MOH
He was born April 10, 1916, at Esmont, Virginia, and grew up in a large, impoverished, but tightly knit family in Albemarle County, Virginia. According to Virginia historian Richard H. Britton, Peregory’s family name is actually spelled “Peregoy”, although most references incorrectly spell his name “Peregory.” His birth year is also typically given erroneously as 1915, possibly because he originally lied about his age at enlistment.
Peregory’s mother died in 1931, forcing him to quit school to help his father support his seven siblings. In May, Peregory joined Company K (Monticello Guard) of the 116th Infantry Regiment of the Virginia National Guard at Charlottesville, the seat of Albemarle County. Because Peregory was only fifteen at the time (he lied about his year of birth) it became part of his permanent record along with the accidental misspelling of his surname. In 1941, Peregory married Bessie Kirby. Before the entrance of the United States into World War II, Peregory’s unit was inducted into federal service on February 3, 1941.
As a member of the 29th Division Peregory moved with it to Fort Meade and the unit began training for participation in the war. While patrolling a beach in North Carolina shortly after the Pearl Harbor attack, Peregory rescued a drowning comrade. In recognition of his action and disregard of danger to himself, he was awarded the Soldier’s Medal, the highest non-combat award that a soldier can receive for saving a life. The 29th was then sent overseas to train in Scotland and England for the next two years. The 29th was selected along with the Regular Army’s 1st Infantry Division to attack one of five fortified beaches, codenamed Omaha.
After the assault had been postponed several times, on June 6, 1944, Peregory landed with the 116th at Omaha Beach as part of the Normandy Invasion, also known as D-Day. His unit was among the first wave of troops to assault the beach but despite fierce enemy resistance that included heavy shelling and machine gun fire, his unit made its way to the town of Grandcampe-Maisy, by June 8.
While his unit advanced on the German defenses, the leading elements of his unit began receiving fire from German forces. The Germans were firmly entrenched on high ground overlooking the town and were able to inflict severe damage to allied forces as they approached. Numerous attempts to neutralize the enemy position by supporting artillery and tank fire had proved ineffective until Technical Sergeant Peregory risked his own life by advancing up the hill under heavy enemy fire. He worked his way to the crest of the hill where he discovered an entrenchment leading to the main enemy fortifications 200 yards away. Without hesitating, he leaped into the trench and moved toward the emplacement. When he encountered a squad of enemy riflemen, he attacked them with hand grenades and his bayonet, killed 8 and forced 3 to surrender. He then continued along the trench, forcing more than 32 German soldiers to surrender, including the machine gunners. This action opened the way for the leading elements of the battalion allowing them to advance and secure its objective. For his actions Peregory was recommended and approved for the Medal of Honor.
Six days later, Peregory was killed while fighting in the hedgerows. He is buried at the American Battle Monuments Cemetery in Normandy also known as Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial in Colleville-sur-Mer Basse-Normandie Region, France.
MOH CITATION:
On 8 June 1944, the 3d Battalion of the 116th Infantry was advancing on the strongly held German defenses at Grandcampe, France, when the leading elements were suddenly halted by decimating machine-gun fire from a firmly entrenched enemy force on the high ground overlooking the town. After numerous attempts to neutralize the enemy position by supporting artillery and tank fire had proved ineffective, T/Sgt. Peregory, on his own initiative, advanced up the hill under withering fire and worked his way to the crest, where he discovered an entrenchment leading to the main fortifications 200 yards away. Without hesitating, he leaped into the trench and moved toward the emplacement. Encountering a squad of enemy riflemen, he fearlessly attacked them with hand grenades and bayonet, killed eight, and forced three to surrender. Continuing along the trench, he singlehandedly forced the surrender of 32 more riflemen, captured the machine gunners, and opened the way for the leading elements of the battalion to advance and secure its objective. The extraordinary gallantry and aggressiveness displayed by T/Sgt. Peregory are exemplary of the highest traditions of the Armed Forces.
BURIAL LOCATION: ABMC NORMANDY CEMETERY, COLLEVILLE-SUR-MER, FRANCE.
SECTION G, ROW 21, GRAVE 7.
LOCATION OF MEDAL: ABMC NORMANDY CEMETERY, COLLEVILLE-SUR-MER, FRANCE.
