Richard De Wert

Template:More citations needed Template:Template otherTemplate:Main other Richard David De Wert (November 17, 1931 – April 5, 1951) was a United States Navy hospital corpsman who was killed in action during the Korean War while serving with a Marine Corps rifle company. He was posthumously awarded the nation's highest military decoration for valor, the Medal of Honor, for heroic actions "above and beyond the call of duty" on April 5, 1951, in South Korea.

Biography

Richard De Wert was born on November 17, 1931, in Taunton, Massachusetts.

De Wert enlisted in the United States Navy in December 1948. Following recruit training and Hospital Corps training at Naval Station Great Lakes, Illinois, he was assigned to the Naval Hospital at Portsmouth, Virginia, during 1949–1950. In July 1950, he joined the Fleet Marine Force and soon sailed for the Far East to take part in the Korean War. Landing with the 1st Marine Division at Inchon in September 1950, Hospitalman De Wert participated in operations to liberate the city of Seoul. During the rest of 1950, he was involved in the landing at Wonsan, the Chosin Reservoir Campaign and the Hungnam evacuation.

In 1951, De Wert served with the Marines in anti-guerilla operations and as they helped drive the enemy beyond the 38th Parallel. On April 5, 1951, while with the 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines during an attack on People's Volunteer Army forces during Operation Rugged, De Wert persistently, and in spite of his own wounds, moved through fire-swept ground to aid fallen Marines. He was killed in action while administering first aid to an injured comrade.

Namesake

The frigate Template:USS was named in honor of Hospitalman De Wert.

A clinic in Newport, Rhode Island, was named after DeWert on September 17, 2004.

The clinic at the Marine Cold Weather Base in Bridgeport, California, was named for DeWert in October 2004.

A scholarship fund at Pepperdine University has been named for DeWert.

Dewert Ave in Taunton, MA is named in his honor.

Military awards

De Wert's military awards and decorations include:

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Template:Ribbon devices	Template:Ribbon devices	Template:Ribbon devicesFile:Fleet Marine Force Combat Operation Insignia.svgFile:Bronze-service-star-3d.svgFile:Bronze-service-star-3d.svgFile:Bronze-service-star-3d.svg
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Medal of Honor	Purple Heart Medal	Navy Combat Action Ribbon
Navy Presidential Unit Citation	National Defense Service Medal	Korean Service Medal w/ FMF Combat Operation Insignia and three 3⁄16" bronze stars
Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation	United Nations Service Medal	Republic of Korea War Service Medal

A display of the Medal of Honor and more information about Richard DeWert is on display at the Old Colony Historical Society, in Taunton, Massachusetts.

Medal of Honor citation

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See also

• List of Medal of Honor recipients
• List of Korean War Medal of Honor recipients

External links

• Who's Who in Marine Corps History