Valor Friday

During the Korean War, only 146 Medals of Honor were awarded. Of those, 103 were were posthumous. Only seven men of the US Navy earned the honor. Two recipients were officers, both aviators, and five were hospital corpsmen. One two Navy recipients lived to receive their awards. One was Lieutenant (Junior Grade) Thomas Hudner, whom I’ve talked about previously, and the sole enlisted Navy surviving MoH recipient was then-Hospital Corpsman Third Class William Charette.

In 1953, while serving with a Marine Corps rifle platoon in Korea, Charette distinguished himself thusly;

Medal of Honor
AWARDED FOR ACTIONS
DURING Korean War
Service: Navy
Battalion: 2d Battalion
Division: 1st Marine Division
GENERAL ORDERS:

CITATION:

The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to Hospital Corpsman Third Class William Richard Charette, United States Navy, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as a Medical Corpsman with Company F, Second Battalion, Seventh Marines, FIRST Marine Division, in action against enemy aggressor forces in Korea during the early morning hours on 27 March 1953. 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, Hospital Corpsman Third Class. 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, Hospital Corpsman Third Class 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, Hospital Corpsman Third Class 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, Hospital Corpsman Third Class 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.

Charette was selected in 1958 to select the Unknown Serviceman from World War II. He was aboard USS Canberra (CA-70) for the ceremony. This was the final selection of the Unknown. One Unknown from the Pacific Theater and one from the European Theater had previously been identified. Charette made the choice of which man would be interred at the Tomb of the Unknowns.

He continued his career in the Navy, moving to the submarine service. He became one of the first corpsmen aboard nuclear submarines and served aboard USS Triton (SSN-586) under legendary Captain Edward Beach, but was not aboard for their historic fully submerged circumnavigation of the globe.

Charette retired from the Navy in 1977 as a master chief after 26 years of service. He died in 2012 from complications of heart surgery. He’d been married for 57 years and had four children.