
The President of the United States
in the name of The Congress
takes pleasure in presenting the
Medal of Honor
to
*OUELLETTE, JOSEPH R.
Rank and organization: Private First
Class, U.S. Army, Company H, 9th Infantry Regiment, 2d Infantry Division. Place and
date: Nea; Yongsan, Korea, from 31 August to 3 September 1950. Entered service
at: Lowell, Mass. Birth: Lowell, Mass. G.O. No.: 25, 25 April 1951.
Citation:
Pfc. Ouellette distinguished himself by conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action
against the enemy in the Makioug-Chang River salient. When an enemy assault cut off and
surrounded his unit he voluntarily made a reconnaissance of a nearby hill under intense
enemy fire to locate friendly troop positions and obtain information of the enemy's
strength and location. Finding that friendly troops were not on the hill, he worked his
way back to his unit under heavy fire. Later, when an airdrop of water was made outside
the perimeter, he again braved enemy fire in an attempt to retrieve water for his unit.
Finding the dropped cans broken and devoid of water, he returned to his unit. His heroic
attempt greatly increased his comrades' morale. When ammunition and grenades ran low, Pfc.
Ouellette again slipped out of the perimeter to collect these from the enemy dead. After
collecting grenades he was attacked by an enemy soldier. He killed this enemy m
hand-to-hand combat, gathered up the ammunition, and returned to his unit. When the enemy
attacked on 3 September, they assaulted his position with grenades. On 6 occasions Pfc.
Ouellette leaped from his foxhole to escape exploding grenades. In doing so, he had to
face enemy small-arms fire. He continued his resistance, despite a severe wound, until he
lost his life. The extraordinary heroism and intrepidity displayed by Pfc. Ouellette
reflect the highest credit on himself and are in keeping with the esteemed traditions of
the military service.
|