Joseph R. Ouellette

He braved hostile fire to sustain his isolated fighting unit

Joseph R. Ouellette was a private first class in Company H, 9th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division. During fighting near Yongsan, Korea, beginning August 31, 1950, his unit was surrounded. He crossed enemy fire to scout nearby ground, attempted to recover water and collected ammunition and grenades from enemy dead.

On September 3, he continued resisting despite a severe wound and repeated grenade attacks until he was killed. Born in Lowell, Massachusetts, on May 9, 1930, Ouellette was buried at St. Joseph’s Cemetery in East Chelmsford. His mother received his posthumous Medal of Honor in April 1951.

Official citation

Pfc. Ouellette distinguished himself by conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action against the enemy in the Makioug-Chang River salient. When an enemy assault cut off and surrounded his unit, he voluntarily made a reconnaissance of a nearby hill under intense enemy fire to locate friendly troop positions and obtain information of the enemy's strength and location. Finding that friendly troops were not on the hill, he worked his way back to his unit under heavy fire. Later, when an airdrop of water was made outside the perimeter, he again braved enemy fire in an attempt to retrieve water for his unit. Finding the dropped cans broken and devoid of water, he returned to his unit. His heroic attempt greatly increased his comrades' morale. When ammunition and grenades ran low, Pfc. Ouellette again slipped out of the perimeter to collect these from the enemy dead. After collecting grenades he was attacked by an enemy soldier. He killed this enemy in hand-to-hand combat, gathered up the ammunition, and returned to his unit. When the enemy attacked on 3 September, they assaulted his position with grenades. On six occasions Pfc. Ouellette leaped from his foxhole to escape exploding grenades. In doing so, he had to face enemy small-arms fire. He continued his resistance, despite a severe wound, until he lost his life. The extraordinary heroism and intrepidity displayed by Pfc. Ouellette reflect the highest credit on himself and are in keeping with the esteemed traditions of the military service.