De Wert (FFG 45) - Naval Cruise Book

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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

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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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COMMANDING OFFICER COMMANDER JAMES R. BOORUJY Commander Boorujy grew up in Basking Ridge, New Jersey.He graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1983 with a degree in Mechanical Engineering.After nuclear power training and Surface Warfare training, Commander Boorujy served aboard the USS TRUXTUN (CGN 35) as Electrical Division Officer and as the Chemistry and Radiological Controls Assistant. After TRUXTUN, he returned to the Nuclear Power Training Unit in Idaho for a two- year staff tour. His next assignment was as Operations Officer aboard the USS CARR (FFG52.)While aboard CARR, he participated in Maritime Interception Operations in the Red Sea.He next served in the USS ARKANSAS (CGN41) as Engineer Officer. This tour included a deployment to the Arabian Gulf in which ARKANSAS served as the Battle Group ' s Anti-Air Warfare Commander. After ARKANSAS, he became a member of the Pacific Fleet ' s Nuclear Propulsion Examining Board where he participated in 63 exams. Commander Boorujy then took command of the USS PIONEER (MCM 9) and MCM Rotational Crew CharUe. With Crew CHARLIE, he also commanded USS ARDENT (MCM 12) during a deployment to the Arabian Gulf Commander Boorujy ' s crew earned the Battle E for 1998. Following this command tour Commander Boorujy attended the Naval War College. Commander Boorujy took command of DE WERT on 25 April 2001 .From April until deploying in July 2002, DE WERT conducting training and maintenance in preparation for the Standing Naval Force, Atlantic deployment.In 2001 , DE WERT won a second consecutive Battle E, the Ney Award for food service excellence, and its first Wellness Award. Commander Boorujy ' s personal awards include the Meritorious Service Medal, the Navy Commendation Medal (three awards), and the Navy Achievement Medal.