De Wert (FFG 45) - Naval Cruise Book

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Hospitalman Richard De Wert, USNR (1931-1951) Richard De Wert was bom on 17 November 1931 in Taunton, Massachusetts. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy in December 1948. Following boot camp and Hospital Corps training at Great Lakes, Illinois, he was assigned to the Naval Hospital at Portsmouth, Virginia, July 1950, he joined Force and soon sailed take part in the Korean Landing with Division at Inchon in Hospitalman De Wert operations to liberate During the rest of in the landings at Reservoir Campaign Evacuation. In 1951 served with the cleared North Korean areas of South Korea drive the enemy eighth Parallel. On 5 with the 2nd Battahon, during 1949-50. In the Reet Marine for the Far East to War. the First Marine September 1950, participated in the city of Seoul. 1950, he was involved Wonsan, the Chosin and Uie Hungnam Hospitalman De Wert Marines as they guerrillas from rural and as they helped beyond the Thirty- April 1951, while 7th Marines during an attack on Chinese Communist forces, 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. For his great heroism on this occasion, Hospitalman Richard De Wert was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor. USS DE WERT (FFG 45) was named in honor of Hospitalman De Wert.

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USS DE WERT (FFG 45) STANDING NAVAL FORCES ATLANTIC DEPLOYMENT 2002

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The President of the United States,in the name of The Congress takes pride in presentingthe MEDAL OF HONOR posthumously to: HOSPITAL CORPSMAN RICHARD DAVID DE WERT, UNITED STATES NAVY for service as set forth in the following CITATION: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as a Hospital Corpsman in action against enemy aggressor forces. When a fire team from the point platoon of his company was pinned down by a deadlybarrage of hostile automatic weapons fire and suffered many casualties. Hospital Corpsman De Wert 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 inmiediately 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 De Wert and enhance the finest traditions of the U.S. Naval Service. He gallantly gave his Ufe for his country. Signed, HARRY S. TRUMAN