USS KIDD Veterans Memorial -- Sons & Daughters--Medal of Honor Recipients

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Louisiana's Military Heritage:

Medal of Honor Recipients

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FOURNET, DOUGLAS B.

Organization:	Company B, 1^st Battalion, 7^th Cavalry, 1^st Cavalry Div. (Airmobile) U.S. Army
Rank:	1^st Lieutenant
Born:	May 07, 1943—Lake Charles, LA
Place & Date:	A Shau Valley, Republic of Vietnam—May 04, 1968

Citation:

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. 1^st Lieutenant Fournet, Infantry, distinguished himself in action while serving as rifle platoon leader of the 2^nd Platoon, Company B. While advancing uphill against fortified enemy positions in the A Shau Valley, the

Medal of Honor -- U.S. Army

1st Lieutenant Douglas B. Fournet, USA

1^st Lieutenant Douglas B. Fournet, USA.

Photo courtesy of the City of Lake Charles.

platoon encountered intense sniper fire, making movement very difficult. The right flank man suddenly discovered an enemy claymore mine covering the route of advance and shouted a warning to his comrades. Realizing that the enemy would also be alerted, 1^st Lieutenant Fournet ordered his men to take cover and ran uphill toward the mine, drawing a sheath knife as he approached it. With complete disregard for his safety and realizing the imminent danger to members of his command, he used his body as a shield in front of the mine as he attempted to slash the control wires leading from the enemy positions to the mine. As he reached for the wire, the mine was detonated, killing him instantly. Five men nearest the mine were slightly wounded, but 1^st Lieutenant Fournet's heroic and unselfish act spared his men of serious injury or death. His gallantry and willing self-sacrifice are in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the U.S. Army.

Biographical Information:

Douglas B. Fournet was a graduate of Lake Charles High School. He attended McNeese State University until 1965 where he served as president of Delta Theta fraternity (later known as Kappa Sigma fraternity). Prior to enlisting in the U.S. Army, he was a member of the Lake Charles Police Department for several months. On October 06, 2001, the Interstate 210 bypass in Lake Charles was renamed the 1^st Lieutenant Douglas B. Fournet Memorial Parkway in his honor.

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All information courtesy of the U.S. Army Center of Military History, the Medal of Honor Society,

and the City of Lake Charles.