William R. Charette

William Richard Charette (March 29, 1932 – March 18, 2012) was a United States Navy Hospital Corpsman and a recipient of the U.S. military's highest decoration, the Medal of Honor, for his actions in the Korean War. Master Chief Charette served at the Naval Hospital in Charleston; SC; Fleet Marine Force, 1st Marine Division, Korea; USS Quillback (SS-424); USS Triton (SSN-586), Fleet Ballistic Missile Training Center, Charleston, SC; USS Daniel Webster (SSBN-626); Naval Hospital, Orlando, FL; USS Simon Bolivar (SSBN-641); and at the Recruit Dispensary, Orlando, FL. He retired from the Navy on April 1, 1977.

Early life and career
Born on March 29, 1932, in Ludington, Michigan, Charette graduated from high school there in 1951. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy on January 11, 1951, and underwent recruit training at Naval Station Great Lakes, Illinois. He then attended the Hospital Corps School at Naval Training Center, Bainbridge, Maryland, becoming a Hospital Corpsman upon graduation. Duty at the Naval Hospital in Charleston, South Carolina, and an April 16, 1952, promotion to hospital corpsman third class followed.

Charette volunteered to serve in Korea and reported for field training at Field Medical Service School, Camp Pendleton, California, on November 25, 1952. He joined Company F of the 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines, 1st Marine Division, which embarked for Korea on February 5 of the next year.

Korean War service
On March 27, 1953, during a Chinese attack on Marine outpost Vegas, Charette faced a growing number of casualties exposed to hostile small-arms and mortar fire. When a grenade landed near him, he threw himself over his patient, absorbing the blast with his own body. In another instance, he removed his battle vest and placed it on a patient. In addition, he tore parts of his uniform to dress battle wounds and later stood up in a trench, exposing himself to incoming rounds, to aid a wounded comrade. He sustained many painful wounds during the battle.

After the end of the war, Charette was still serving in Korea when he learned that he would receive the Medal of Honor. All five enlisted sailors to receive the medal for actions during the Korean War were hospital corpsmen serving with the Marines. Charette, the only one living of the five, received his Medal of Honor in Washington, D.C., from President Dwight D. Eisenhower on January 12, 1954.

Later years
He continued his service with the Navy, training new hospital corpsmen at the Naval Hospital Corps School in Great Lakes, Illinois. In 1958, aboard USS Canberra (CAG-2), he had the honor of selecting the World War II remains that would be placed in the Tomb of the Unknowns in Arlington National Cemetery. He eventually moved into the Submarine Force, becoming one of the first hospital corpsmen to serve on nuclear submarines. Charette served as an Independent Duty Corpsman (IDC) in the Navy’s Nuclear Submarine Program. He served under Captain Edward L. Beach, Jr. on the USS Triton (SSN-586) and was also an IDC on the USS Sam Houston (SSBN-609) Gold crew 1962-1965. After 26 years of service, he retired as a Master Chief Hospital Corpsman, HMCM(SS) in 1977.

Awards and decorations
Charette's military decorations include:

Medal of Honor citation


Charette's official Medal of Honor citation reads: "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."

Legacy
On 30 April 1999, the Charette Health Care Center, a part of the Naval Medical Center Portsmouth, Virginia, was dedicated in his honor.

AMVETS Post 82 of Ludington, Michigan, named itself after hometown hero William R. Charette in 1982. 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.

William R. Charette was able to come to Ludington and see the mural before his death.

Recently, a sign was put up near the Memorial Medical Center that honors William R. Charette.


 * List of Korean War Medal of Honor recipients
 * List of living Medal of Honor recipients