After being seriously wounded, he continued forward alone, purposely drawing the machine gun's fire so that another squad could advance and destroy the enemy position.
Killed by the intense fire from the machine gun, Pendleton was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor six months later, on April 6, 1945.
Staff Sergeant Pendleton's official Medal of Honor citation reads: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty on 12 October 1944.
This enemy strong point was protected by a lone machinegun strategically placed at an intersection and firing down a street which offered little or no cover or concealment for the advancing troops.
Pendleton's sacrifice enabled the entire company to continue the advance and complete their mission at a critical phase of the action.The USNS Sgt.