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positions on a vital and bitterly contested outpost far in advance of the main line of resistance, HM3 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, HM3 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, HM3. 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, HM3 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.
325:
near
Charette and a badly wounded Marine he was aiding, he placed himself on top of the Marine in order to shield him from the explosion, and in doing so, the grenade's blast tore off Charette's helmet and destroyed his medical bag and knocked him unconscious. When he awoke, he found his face bleeding from shrapnel wounds and he couldn't see. He recovered enough to continue to aid Marines in the battle using torn parts of his uniform in order to dress battle wounds. In another instance, he removed his battle vest and placed it on another wounded Marine whose vest was destroyed from another explosion. In yet another instance, he attended to five Marines who were wounded in a trench from another explosion, and then stood up in the trench exposing himself to incoming rounds in order to carry the one most serious wounded comrade to safety. Charette sustained painful wounds during the day's battle and was recommended for the
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fire when
Marines from his rifle company joined in the counterattack on March 27 against "Vegas Hill" with Charette's Third Platoon Commander, 2nd Lieutenant Theodore H. Chenoweth (Navy Cross), leading the assault in hand-to-hand fighting up the south side of the hill. When an enemy grenade landed
850:
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 of 27 March 1953. Participating in a fierce encounter with a cleverly concealed and well-entrenched enemy force occupying
422:
He eventually transferred to the
Submarine Service, becoming one of the first hospital corpsmen to serve on a nuclear submarine. He served as an Independent Duty Corpsman (IDC) in the Navy's nuclear submarine program. He served under Captain
360:
in
Washington, D.C., on January 12, 1954. Only five enlisted sailors were awarded the Medal of Honor for their heroic actions during the Korean War. All were Navy hospital corpsmen attached to the Marine Corps. Of the five
873:
In downtown
Ludington, there is a mural dedicated to William R. Charette. It depicts his tour of duty during which he earned the Medal of Honor. Charette was able to come to Ludington and see the mural before his death.
315:
Fox
Company, 2/7 Marines (2nd Battalion, 7th Marines were held in reserve) were then committed to the fight for Vegas. Charette and the other Fox Company corpsmen faced a growing number of casualties exposed to hostile
389:
Charette selects a coffin for burial in the World War II Tomb of the
Unknown from the three coffins representing World War II (Pacific and European theaters) and Korea during ceremonies on board the
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for extraordinary heroism. While still serving in Korea after the fighting ended there, he learned that he would receive the United States' highest military decoration for valor, the Medal of Honor.
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276:(FMF) as a hospital corpsman attached to a Marine Corps unit, and on November 25, 1952, he reported for duty at the Field Medical Service School,
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On April 30, 1999, the
Charette Health Care Center, a part of the Naval Medical Center Portsmouth, Virginia, was dedicated in his honor.
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attacked, and on March 27, overran two of three Marine hill outposts in North Korea manned by
Marines and corpsmen from the
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Charette enlisted in the U.S. Navy on January 11, 1951, during the Korean War (1950–1953) and underwent recruit training at
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A Sea Cadet unit is named in his honor, National Naval Medical Center Bethesda William R. Charette Battalion.
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Charette stands with two other Medal of Honor recipients shortly after receiving their medals from President
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http://www.newsday.com/news/nation/william-charette-dies-received-medal-of-honor-1.3624919
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1120:"Medal of Honor recipient dies at 79 - Navy News | News from Afghanistan & Iraq"
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Charette continued serving in the Navy, training new hospital corpsmen at the
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Department of the Navy, Hospital Corpsman (HM), Rating Roadmap, April 2013
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A sign was put up near Spectrum Health Ludington Hospital that honors him.
260:, South Carolina. On April 16, 1952, he was promoted to hospital corpsman
1140:
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AMVETS Post 82 of Ludington, Michigan, was named after Charette in 1982.
1014:"Master Chief Hospital Corpsman William Richard Charette, USN (retired)"
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s historic circumnavigation voyage in 1960. He was also an IDC on the
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who received the nation's highest military decoration for valor, the
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AMVETS Charette Post 82 in Ludington, Michigan (named in 1982)
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upon graduation. Afterwards, he was assigned to duty at the
455:; Fleet Ballistic Missile Training Center, Charleston, SC;
248:, Illinois. He then attended the Hospital Corps School at
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Charette was presented the Medal of Honor from President
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1084:. Naval Submarine League. 23 April 2012. Archived from
16:
United States Navy Medal of Honor recipient (1932–2012)
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Charette was a member of the following organizations:
212:. He retired from the Navy after 26 years of service.
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http://hm.navyadvancement.org/HM_E5_LADR_APR_2013.pdf
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Charette retired from the Navy at the rate (rank) of
560:
Charette's military decorations and awards include:
484:(HMCM) on April 1, 1977, after 26 years of service.
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On the night of March 26, 1953, Chinese soldiers in
834:takes pleasure in presenting the MEDAL OF HONOR to
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1082:"HMCM (SS) WILLIAM R. ("DOC") CHARETTE, USN (Ret)"
552:. He was married for 57 years with four children.
1196:. Naval Medical Center Portsmouth. Archived from
838:Hospital Corpsman Third Class William R. Charette
434:, but joined the crew too late to participate in
404:in Great Lakes, Illinois. In 1958, aboard the
1265:United States Navy personnel of the Korean War
469:; and at the Recruit Dispensary, Orlando, FL.
1168:United States Army Center of Military History
514:United States Submarine Veterans Inc. (USSVI)
143:F Company, 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment
8:
1275:United States Navy Medal of Honor recipients
920:List of Korean War Medal of Honor recipients
1270:Korean War recipients of the Medal of Honor
1022:United States Marine Corps History Division
448:Charette's other assignments included the
272:He volunteered to serve in Korea with the
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844:for service as set forth in the following
35:Medal of Honor recipient William Charette
1160:"Medal of Honor Recipients - Korean War"
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220:Charette was born on March 29, 1932, in
190:(March 29, 1932 – March 18, 2012) was a
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1141:http://charette-battalion.com/about_us
1076:
1074:
1057:Korean War Project Digital Initiative
977:"Medal of Honor: William R. Charette"
231:boat which led him to join the Navy.
7:
1285:Burials at Florida National Cemetery
497:Congressional Medal of Honor Society
1170:. December 3, 2010. Archived from
282:2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment
14:
1018:Who's Who in Marine Corps History
527:William R. Charette Chapter 158,
250:Naval Training Center, Bainbridge
1260:Military personnel from Michigan
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521:Post 2420 in Lake Wales, Florida
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1290:People from Ludington, Michigan
979:. June 11, 2007. Archived from
888:-class guided missile destroyer
508:Korean War Veterans Association
462:; Naval Hospital, Orlando, FL;
828:President of the United States
756:National Defense Service Medal
1:
1050:"1st Marine Division Diaries"
778:FMF Combat Operation Insignia
540:Charette died at his home in
504:in Charleston, South Carolina
308:, 1st Marine Division, named
1219:"William Charette (DDG 130)"
1139:U.S. Naval Sea Cadets Corps
807:United Nations Service Medal
258:Naval Hospital in Charleston
1280:United States Navy corpsmen
417:Arlington National Cemetery
402:Naval Hospital Corps School
1306:
802:Presidential Unit Citation
705:Submarine Warfare Insignia
348:, Eisenhower, and Charette
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703:
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546:Florida National Cemetery
502:Fleet Reserve Association
356:during a ceremony at the
342:Edward R. Schowalter, Jr.
246:Naval Station Great Lakes
208:rifle company during the
81:Florida National Cemetery
28:
1164:Medal of Honor Citations
519:Veterans of Foreign Wars
188:William Richard Charette
164:Battle for Outpost Vegas
92:United States of America
23:William Richard Charette
822:Medal of Honor citation
736:Navy Good Conduct Medal
252:, Maryland, becoming a
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729:Navy Unit Commendation
397:
349:
1223:Naval Vessel Register
1174:on September 25, 2012
848:
531:Lodge (named in 1974)
445:Gold crew 1962–1965.
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296:Medal of Honor action
292:on February 5, 1953.
288:, which embarked for
118:Years of service
1106:Newday, Nation News
1059:. Korean War Project
983:on September 6, 2007
856:Dwight D. Eisenhower
773:Korean Service Medal
724:Combat Action Ribbon
425:Edward L. Beach, Jr.
413:Tomb of the Unknowns
354:Dwight D. Eisenhower
340:in 1954. From left:
338:Dwight D. Eisenhower
542:Lake Wales, Florida
306:5th Marine Regiment
286:1st Marine Division
222:Ludington, Michigan
147:1st Marine Division
54:Ludington, Michigan
1146:2015-12-22 at the
948:2015-12-22 at the
841:UNITED STATES NAVY
812:Republic of Korea
800:Republic of Korea
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371:Francis C. Hammond
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274:Fleet Marine Force
192:United States Navy
180:Purple Heart Medal
112:United States Navy
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814:War Service Medal
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550:Bushnell, Florida
512:Sea Poacher Base
482:Hospital Corpsman
363:Edward C. Benfold
254:Hospital Corpsman
198:hospital corpsman
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133:Hospital Corpsman
70:Lakeland, Florida
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1226:. Retrieved
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1122:. Navy Times
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985:. Retrieved
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719:Purple Heart
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195:master chief
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153:Battles/wars
130:Master Chief
65:(2012-03-18)
1255:2012 deaths
1250:1932 births
751:silver star
488:Later years
442:Sam Houston
358:White House
302:North Korea
290:South Korea
262:third class
1244:Categories
1204:2020-02-02
1126:2012-03-20
926:References
846:CITATION:
473:Retirement
327:Navy Cross
318:small arms
216:Early life
210:Korean War
158:Korean War
88:Allegiance
47:1932-03-29
464:USS
457:USS
452:Quillback
450:USS
440:USS
429:USS
406:USS
391:USS
121:1951–1977
1144:Archived
1092:29 April
946:Archived
898:See also
781:and two
408:Canberra
393:Canberra
98:Service/
1228:May 25,
1178:June 9,
1063:May 25,
1027:June 9,
892:DDG-130
786:⁄
764:⁄
759:w/ one
744:⁄
739:w/ one
436:Triton'
427:on the
863:Legacy
431:Triton
322:mortar
172:Awards
109:
100:branch
76:Buried
1053:(PDF)
536:Death
310:Vegas
268:Korea
229:ferry
1230:2020
1180:2011
1094:2012
1065:2020
1029:2011
989:2015
826:The
529:Elks
320:and
139:Unit
126:Rank
60:Died
41:Born
883:An
776:w/
548:in
415:in
1246::
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1037:^
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997:^
956:^
934:^
890:,
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788:16
766:16
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419:.
373:,
369:,
365:,
344:,
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784:3
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