Richard David DeWert (1931 - 1951)

Born 17 Nov 1931 in Taunton, Bristol, Massachusetts, United States

Died 5 Apr 1951 at age 19 in South Korea

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Biography

Richard DeWert was awarded the Medal of Honor.

Hospital Corpsman Richard DeWert served in the United States Navy in the Korean War
Service started: 2 Dec 1948
Unit(s): Company D, 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines, 1st Marine Division
Service ended: 5 Apr 1951

Hospital Corpsman Richard DeWert was Killed in Action during Korean War.

Richard was born 17 November 1931 in Taunton, Massachusetts. He was the son of William DeWert and Evelyn Doherty

He was killed 5 April 1951 while providing medical aid to a wounded Marine on the battlefield in Korea.^[1]

Find A Grave: Memorial #7855983

Congressional Medal of Honor Citation

The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pride in presenting the Medal of Honor (Posthumously) to Hospital Corpsman Richard David Dewert (NSN: 7529526), 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 Hospital Corpsman attached to Company D, Second Battalion, Seventh Marines, FIRST Marine Division (Reinforced), in action against enemy aggressor forces in Korea on 5 April 1951. When a fire team from the point platoon of his company was pinned down by a deadly barrage of hostile automatic weapons fired and suffered many casualties, Hospital Corpsman Dewert rushed to the assistance of one of the more seriously wounded and, despite a painful leg wound sustained while dragging the stricken marine to safety, steadfastly refused medical treatment for himself and immediately dashed back through the fireswept area to carry a second wounded man out of the line of fire. Undaunted by the mounting hail of devastating enemy fire, he bravely moved forward a third time and received another serious wound in the shoulder after discovering that a wounded marine had already died. Still persistent in his refusal to submit to first aid, he resolutely answered the call of a fourth stricken comrade and, while rendering medical assistance, was himself mortally wounded by a burst of enemy fire. His courageous initiative, great personal valor, and heroic spirit of self-sacrifice in the face of overwhelming odds reflect the highest credit upon Hospital Corpsman Dewert and enhance the finest traditions of the U.S. Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.^[2][3][4]

Sources

1. ↑ "United States Korean War Battle Deaths, 1950-1957," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KXCS-9LB : 12 December 2014), Richard David Dewert, 05 Apr 1951; citing Korea, service number 7529526, reference 105, Records of Military Personnel Who Died as a Result of Hostilities During the Korean War, compiled ca 1977-11/1979, documenting the period 01/01/1950-02/07/1957, NARA NAID 571686, National Archives at College Park, Maryland.
2. ↑ Congressional Medal of Honor Society, Richard D. DeWert
3. ↑ National Medal of Honor Museum - DeWert, Richard David
4. ↑ The Hall of Valor Project - Richard David DeWert

• US Department of Defense: Medal of Honor Monday: Navy Corpsman Richard D. DeWert, APRIL 5, 2021, BY KATIE LANGE , DOD NEWS
• Two Bay Staters First Navy Men to Win Medal of Honor in Korea, Boston, Massachusetts, 30 May 1952, Fri • Page 19
• Taunton Navy Man Gets Highest Medal Posthumously, The Boston Globe, Boston, Massachusetts, 25 May 1952, Sun • Page 1 - Part 1 of 2
  • Award, The Boston Globe, Boston, Massachusetts, 25 May 1952, Sun • Page 41, Part 2 of 2
• Ancestry.com. U.S., National Cemetery Interment Control Forms, 1928-1962 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2012. Interment Control Forms, 1928–1962. Interment Control Forms, A1 2110-B. Records of the Office of the Quartermaster General, 1774–1985, Record Group 92. The National Archives at College Park, College Park, Maryland. Ancestry Record 2590 #2122070
• Navy corpsman honored at memorial service, Star-Gazette, Elmira, New York, 17 Sep 1984, Mon • Page 11
• He hated killing and died in battle, Star-Gazette, Elmira, New York, 26 May 1976, Wed • Page 6