World War II Honoree

William G. Fournier

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Norwich, Connecticut

Honored By

Ralph Bozorth

ENTERED SERVICE AT WINTERPORT, MAINE. SERGEANT, U.S. ARMY, COMPANY M, 35TH INFANTRY, 25TH INFANTRY DIVISION. POSTHUMOUSLY AWARDED THE CONGRESSIONAL MEDAL OF HONOR FOR ACTION AT MOUNT AUSTEN, GUADALCANAL, SOLOMON ISLANDS, JANUARY 10, 1943; GO 28, JUNE 5, 1943. CITATION FOR GALLANTRY AND INTREPIDITY ABOVE AND BEYOND THE CALL OF DUTY. AS LEADER OF A MACHINE GUN 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 GUN CREW PUT OUT OF ACTION. ORDERED TO WITHDRAW FROM THIS HAZARDOUS POSITION, SERGEANT FOURNIER REFUSED TO RETIRE BUT RUSHED FORWARD TO THE IDLE GUN AND WITH THE AID OF ANOTHER SOLDIER WHO JOINED HIM, HELD UP THE MACHINE GUN BY THE TRIPOD TO INCREASE IT'S 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.