William G. Fournier-Honolulu, HI
Posted by: Don.Morfe
N 21° 18.732 W 157° 50.802
4Q E 619616 N 2357137
World War II Medal of Honor Recipient for action on Mount Austen, Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands on January 10, 1943. He was killed in action. He is buried in the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, Honolulu, HI in Section C, Site 462.
Waymark Code: WMWYWE
Location: Hawaii, United States
Date Posted: 11/01/2017
Views: 0
He was born on June 21, 1913 in Norwich, CT and died on January 13, 1943 in Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands. His Medal of Honor information and citation is: *FOURNIER, WILLIAM G.
• Rank and organization: Sergeant, U.S. Army, Company M, 35th Infantry, 25th Infantry Division
• Place and date: Mount Austen, Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands, 10 January 1943
• Entered service at: Winterport, Maine
• G.O. No.: 28, 5 June 1943
Citation: For gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty. As leader of a machinegun section charged with the protection of other battalion units, his group was attacked by a superior number of Japanese, his gunner killed, his assistant gunner wounded, and an adjoining guncrew put out of action. Ordered to withdraw from this hazardous position, Sgt. Fournier refused to retire but rushed forward to the idle gun and, with the aid of another soldier who joined him, held up the machinegun by the tripod to increase its field action. They opened fire and inflicted heavy casualties upon the enemy. While so engaged both these gallant soldiers were killed, but their sturdy defensive was a decisive factor in the following success of the attacking battalion .
Armed Service: Army
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