Hospital Corpsman Richard David Dewert

Richard David DeWert was born on 17 November 1931 in Taunton, MA. At the time of action he was a Hospitalman. His citation reads, “For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as a Medical Corpsman, attached to a Marine infantry company, 1st Marine Division, 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 fire and suffered many casualties, 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 fire-swept 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. By his courageous initiative, great personal valor, and heroic spirit of self-sacrifice in the face of over-whelming odds, Hospitalman DeWert reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the United States naval service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.

DeWert is buried in Massachusetts National Cemetery, Bourne, MA.

The DeWert Naval Ambulatory Care Center in Newport, RI, and the USS DeWert (FFG-45) were named in his honor.