Veterans Want Yakima to Rename “A” Street After War Hero

The City of Yakima has received an application to rename "A" Street after Yakima's only Medal of Honor recipient.  Members of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 379 and American Legion Post 36 jointly submitted the application to name the street Sergeant Pendleton Boulevard.  He was posthumously presented the Medal of Honor, the highest award for valor in action against an enemy force which can be bestowed on an individual serving in the Armed Forces of the United States, for his heroic actions during World War 11 in Germany.

Sergeant Pendleton was 26 years old when he was killed on the battlefield near Bardenburg, Germany.

In October 1944 while serving with Company I, 120th Infantry, 30th Infantry Division, Sgt. Pendleton took enemy gunfire and was gravely wounded in his leg while leading his squad in an attack on a German machine gun nest. Despite his injuries, Sgt. Pendleton ordered his troops to stay where they were and, using a supply of hand grenades, slowly advanced alone to within ten yards of the enemy position, all the while drawing a hail of machine gun fire to himself and away from his squad and other soldiers.

The Yakima City Council will consider the application during its July 2nd regular business meeting.

With the exception of a few blocks, A Street runs from 16th Avenue to near the Gateway Shopping Center.