Medal of Honor: David G. Ouellet – U.S. Navy – Vietnam War

Name: David G. Ouellet
Rank: Seaman
Branch: U.S. Navy
Unit: River Squadron 5, My Tho Detachment 532
Place: Mekong River, Republic of Vietnam
Entered Service At: Boston, Massachusetts
Born: 13 June 1944, Newton, Massachusetts

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Summary of Action

During an early evening patrol on the Mekong River, Seaman David G. Ouellet served as the forward machine gunner aboard River Patrol Boat (PBR) 124.

While scanning the riverbank, he noticed suspicious activity and alerted the boat captain, recommending they investigate.

As the patrol boat accelerated along the riverbank at high speed, an enemy grenade suddenly arced toward the boat.

Ouellet saw it first.

Without hesitation, he left the protection of his gun mount and sprinted the length of the moving boat, shouting warnings for his shipmates to take cover.

He spotted the captain still standing exposed.

Leaping onto the engine compartment cover, Ouellet shoved the captain down to safety.

In the next instant, the grenade landed on the deck.

Knowing there was no time to throw it overboard, and facing certain death, Seaman Ouellet deliberately placed himself between the grenade and the rest of the crew.

The explosion tore through him.

His body absorbed the majority of the blast fragments, saving the lives of his fellow sailors.

Seaman David G. Ouellet’s selfless courage and devotion to his shipmates stand among the finest examples of heroism in the history of the United States Navy.

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Medal of Honor Citation

OUELLET, DAVID G.

Place and date: Mekong River, Republic of Vietnam, 6 March 1967.

Born: 13 June 1944, Newton, Mass.

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. As the forward machine gunner on River Patrol Boat (PBR) 124, which was on patrol during the early evening hours, Seaman Ouellet observed suspicious activity near the river bank, alerted his boat captain, and recommended movement of the boat to the area to investigate. While the PBR was making a high-speed run along the river bank, Seaman Ouellet spotted an incoming enemy grenade falling toward the boat. He immediately left the protected position of his gun mount and ran aft for the full length of the speeding boat, shouting to his fellow crewmembers to take cover. Observing the boat captain standing unprotected on the boat, Seaman Ouellet bounded on to the engine compartment cover, and pushed the boat captain down to safety. In the split second that followed the grenade’s landing, and in the face of certain death, Seaman Ouellet fearlessly placed himself between the deadly missile and his shipmates, courageously absorbing most of the blast fragments with his body in order to protect his shipmates from injury and death. His extraordinary heroism and his selfless and courageous actions on behalf of his comrades at the expense of his life were in the finest traditions of the U.S. Naval Service.