 CORPORAL
DUANE E. DEWEY, USMCR
Marine Reserve
Corporal Duane Egar Dewey, of South Haven and Muskegon, Michigan, the first
person to receive the Medal of Honor from President Eisenhower, earned
the Nation’s highest award for heroism on April 16th, 1952, when although
already wounded, he smothered an exploding enemy grenade with his own body
to save the lives of his comrades.
Corporal Duane Edgar Dewey,
USMCR
Unit: Co. E, 2d Battalion,
5th Marines, 1st Marine Division
Birth: 16th November 1931,
Grand Rapids, Michigan
Citation:
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above
and beyond the call of duty while serving as a gunner in a machinegun platoon
of Company E, 2d Battalion, 5th Marines, 1st Marine Division (Reinforced),
in action against enemy aggressor forces near Panmunjon, Korea, on 16th
April, 1952. When an enemy grenade landed close to his position while he
and his assistant gunner were receiving medical attention for their wounds
during a fierce night attack by numerically superior hostile forces, Corporal
Dewey, although suffering intense pain, immediately pulled the corpsman
to the ground and, shouting a warning to the other marines around him ,
bravely smothered the deadly missile with his body, personally absorbing
the full force of the explosion to save his comrades from possible injury
or death. His indomitable courage, outstanding initiative, and valiant
efforts in behalf of others in the face of almost certain death reflect
the highest credit upon Corporal Dewey and enhance the finest traditions
of the United States naval service. |
