TSGT Frank Dabney Peregoy

TSGT Frank Dabney Peregoy was born 10 Apr 1916 in Esmont, Virginia. He was the 2nd of the 11 children born to James Eli and Susie Edward (Allen) Peregoy. His elder sister died at age 1 just a little over a month after he was born. Father James worked in the lumber industry and farmed. Frank's youngest siblings, Carl Stephenson Peregoy and Ray Peregoy, died in March 1929. His mother died of pneumonia in January 1931. His father died of alcohol poisoning in June 1935. Frank's brothers and sisters were then taken in and cared for by various relatives. Frank was working for Barnes Lumber Corporation in Esmont in 1940.

PFC Peregoy was enlisted in K Company 116th Infantry, Virginia Army National Guard when the unit was mobilized/federalized in February 1941. We aren't sure when but it was the Army that changed his name to "Peregory" as he is known today. Shortly after mobilization, Frank married Bessie Geneva Kirby in July 1941. Frank trained with his unit at Fort Meade, Maryland, in the "Carolina Maneuvers", and at Camp Blanding, Florida before boarding the Queen Mary with his unit and sailing to England in September 1942.  It was during the maneuvers in the Carolinas that PFC Peregoy performed his first act of heroism resulting in the award of the Soldier's Medal. The citation reads as follows:

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 2, 1926, takes pleasure in presenting the Soldier's Medal to Private First Class Frank D. Peregory (ASN: 20365455), United States Army, for heroism at the risk of life not involving conflict with an armed enemy in rescuing a man from drowning near Hobucken, North Carolina, on 10 January 1942. On that date a truck carrying six enlisted men on patrol, duty went off the icy road and plunged into a canal. One member of the patrol was unable to escape, and Private First Class Peregory went back to the submerged truck twice and succeeded finally in bringing the unconscious soldier to shore.

In England K Company trained for the planned amphibious landing that was to be part of the invasion of occupied France. Before 6 Jun 1944, Frank had been promoted to TSGT and he led his platoon ashore. By 8 Jun 1944 the unit was near Grandcamp-Maisy when they encountered stiff resistance from German units on high ground there. It was then that TSGT Peregoy once again led the way and performed the feat of arms which resulted in the award of the Medal of Honor the citation of which is as follows:

The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pride in presenting the Medal of Honor (Posthumously) to Technical Sergeant Frank D. Peregory (ASN: 20365455), United States Army, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action above and beyond the call of duty while serving with Company K, 3d Battalion, 116th Infantry Regiment, 29th Infantry Division. 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 machinegun 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, Technical Sergeant 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 enemy 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 single-handedly 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 Technical Sergeant Peregory are exemplary of the highest tradition of the armed forces.

The award was posthumous because just 6 days later TSGT Peregory was killed in action near Couvains.

TSGT Peregoy (as "Peregory") is buried in the Normandy American Cemetery.

TSGT Peregoy is the only soldier to date who has been awarded both the Soldier's Medal and the Medal of Honor. Both of these can currently be seen at the Stonewall Brigade Museum in Verona, Virginia.

Bessie never remarried. Frank's brother, Henry Irvin Peregoy, served as a S1c aboard the USS Kankakee (AO39) in the South Pacific.