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Bruce Drysdale teacher is national winner of character education award

Medal of Honor winner Col. Walter Joseph Marm Jr. presented the character education Medal of Honor to Megan Pridmore.

By Lightning Reports, Published: November 19, 2019

Megan Pridmore, a third grade teacher at Bruce Drysdale Elementary School, has been selected as the national elementary school winner of the 2019 Medal of Honor Excellence in Character Education Award by the Medal of Honor Character Development Program. 

Pridmore received the award today from Col. Walter Joseph Marm Jr., who received the Medal of Honor for "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity" in saving his Army platoon from a withering enemy assault in Vietnam.

The Medal of Honor Excellence in Character Education Award each year recognizes an elementary, middle and high school educator for excellence in teaching the Medal of Honor Character Development Program. This is the second year Bruce Drysdale Elementary has implemented the Medal of Honor CDP, a teacher-designed curriculum resource to incorporate important values of courage, commitment, sacrifice, integrity, citizenship and patriotism into classroom activities.
 
The Medal of Honor, the nation's highest and most prestigious personal military decoration, is awarded to recognize military personnel who have distinguished themselves by acts of valor. Col.
Marm earned the Medal of Honor for "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of life above and beyond the call of duty" for his actions in November 1965 in Ia Drang Valley, Vietnam.
"As a platoon leader in the 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile), 1st Lt. Marm demonstrated indomitable courage during a combat operation," his Medal of Honor citation reads. "His company was moving through the valley to relieve a friendly unit surrounded by an enemy force of estimated regimental size. 1st Lt. Marm led his platoon through withering fire until they were finally forced to take cover. Realizing that his platoon could not hold very long, and seeing four enemy soldiers moving into his position, he moved quickly under heavy fire and annihilated all four. Then, seeing that his platoon was receiving intense fire from a concealed machine gun, he deliberately exposed himself to draw its fire. Thus locating its position, he attempted to destroy it with an antitank weapon. Although he inflicted casualties, the weapon did not silence the enemy fire. Quickly, disregarding the intense fire directed on him and his platoon, he charged 30 meters across open ground, and hurled grenades into the enemy position, killing some of the 8 insurgents manning it.

"Although severely wounded, when his grenades were expended, armed with only a rifle, he continued the momentum of his assault on the position and killed the remainder of the enemy. 1st Lt. Marm's selfless actions reduced the fire on his platoon, broke the enemy assault, and rallied his unit to continue toward the accomplishment of this mission. 1st Lt. Marm's gallantry on the battlefield and his extraordinary intrepidity at the risk of his life are in the highest traditions of the U.S. Army and reflect great credit upon himself and the Armed Forces of his country."