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Mount Olive Cemetery
  Peden Family Plot  

Born:  October 03, 1913 at St. Joseph, MO

Entered Service in the US Army from Wathena, KS

Earned The Medal of Honor During World War II For heroism February 03, 1945 at Biesheim, France

*Buried near Forrest Peden in the family plot is his younger brother Levern M. Peden, killed in action in 1944, a year before Forrest died in his own heroic service.

Technician Fifth Grade Peden was a forward artillery observer when the group of 45 infantrymen with whom he was advancing was ambushed in the uncertain light of a waning moon. Outnumbered four-to-one, withering artillery, mortar, machinegun, and small-arms fire forced our men to seek the cover of a ditch which they found occupied by enemy soldiers. As the opposing infantrymen struggled in hand-to-hand combat, Technician Peden went to the assistance of two wounded soldiers and rendered first aid under heavy fire. With radio communications inoperative, he knew that the unit would be wiped out unless help could be secured. He ran 800 yards to the command post through a hail of bullets and secured two light tanks to go to the relief of his comrades. Knowing the risk involved, he climbed upon the hull of the lead tank and guided it into battle. Through a murderous fire the tank moved onward, bullets and shell fragments ricocheting from its armor within inches of the exposed rider. As it was about to go into action it was turned into a flaming pyre by a direct hit which killed Technician Peden. His intrepidity and gallant sacrifice was not in vain. Attracted by light from the burning tank, reinforcements found the beleaguered Americans and drove off the enemy.