William Richard Charette

At Outpost Vegas, he shielded a wounded Marine from a blast.

William Richard Charette, a U.S. Navy hospital corpsman attached to Company F, 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines, repeatedly treated casualties during the Korean War fighting on 27 March 1953. His actions under small-arms and mortar fire earned the Medal of Honor.

Born in Ludington, Michigan, on 29 March 1932, Charette enlisted in the Navy in January 1951 and trained as a hospital corpsman. He deployed with the 1st Marine Division to Korea in February 1953. At Outpost Vegas, a grenade fell near a wounded Marine he was treating. Charette covered the man with his body and was injured in the explosion. With his medical kit lost, he tore his clothing into emergency bandages and continued caring for casualties. He gave his armored vest to another wounded Marine and stood exposed in a trench to assist a man with a severe leg wound.

President Dwight D. Eisenhower presented Charette the Medal of Honor at the White House on 12 January 1954. His documented Purple Heart recognized his wounds. He later served as an instructor and in the submarine force. On 26 May 1958, aboard USS Canberra, he selected the Unknown Serviceman of World War II for burial at Arlington National Cemetery. This was a solemn ceremonial duty, separate from his Korean combat service.

Charette retired in 1977 as a master chief hospital corpsman after 26 years of naval service. He died on 18 March 2012. His courageous care for wounded Marines remains the defining act of his career.

Medal of Honor citation

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty in action against enemy aggressor forces during the early morning hours. Participating in a fierce encounter with a cleverly concealed and well-entrenched enemy force occupying positions on a vital and bitterly contested outpost far in advance of the main line of resistance, HC3c. Charette repeatedly and unhesitatingly moved about through a murderous barrage of hostile small-arms and mortar fire to render assistance to his wounded comrades. When an enemy grenade landed within a few feet of a marine he was attending, he immediately threw himself upon the stricken man and absorbed the entire concussion of the deadly missile with his body. Although sustaining painful facial wounds and undergoing shock from the intensity of the blast which ripped the helmet and medical aid kit from his person, HC3c. Charette resourcefully improvised emergency bandages by tearing off part of his clothing, and gallantly continued to administer medical aid to the wounded in his own unit and to those in adjacent platoon areas as well. Observing a seriously wounded comrade whose armored vest had been torn from his body by the blast from an exploding shell, he selflessly removed his own battle vest and placed it upon the helpless man although fully aware of the added jeopardy to himself. Moving to the side of another casualty who was suffering excruciating pain from a serious leg wound, HC3c. Charette stood upright in the trench line and exposed himself to a deadly hail of enemy fire in order to lend more effective aid to the victim and to alleviate his anguish while being removed to a position of safety. By his indomitable courage and inspiring efforts in behalf of his wounded comrades, HC3c. Charette was directly responsible for saving many lives. His great personal valor reflects the highest credit upon himself and enhances the finest traditions of the U.S. Naval Service.