Wayne Maurice Caron (November 2, 1946 – July 28, 1968) was a United States Navyhospital corpsman who was killed in action while serving with a Marine Corps rifle company in the Vietnam War. For heroic actions above and beyond the call of duty on July 28, 1968, he was posthumously awarded the United States military's highest decoration for valor—the Medal of Honor.
Caron was born in Middleborough, Massachusetts. He graduated from Memorial High School in Middleborough in June 1966.
He joined the U.S. Navy on July 12, 1966, at Boston. He completed recruit training at the Great Lakes Naval Training Center and then Navy Hospital Corps School, at Great Lakes, Illinois. He also completed the Field Medical Service School at Camp Pendleton, California. On January 16, 1968, he was promoted to hospital corpsmanthird class.
On July 3, 1968, he was sent to and arrived in Vietnam. He was assigned to Headquarters and Service Company, 3rd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division (Reinforced). On July 28, he was killed in action during an intense firefight while serving as a platoon corpsman with K Company, 3rd Battalion, 7th Marines in Quảng Nam Province, South Vietnam. Before he was killed, he was wounded three separate times in the firefight by enemy fire while he moved to render aid to fallen Marines.[1] The 3rd Battalion, 7th Marines lost 18 Marines besides Caron that day.[2]
HOSPITAL CORPSMAN THIRD CLASS WAYNE MAURICE CARON UNITED STATES NAVY
for service as set forth in the following
CITATION:
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as platoon corpsman with Company K, during combat operations against enemy forces. While on a sweep through an open rice field HM3 Caron's unit started receiving enemy small arms fire. Upon seeing two Marine casualties fall, he immediately ran forward to render first aid, but found that they were dead. At this time, the platoon was taken under intense small-arms and automatic weapons fire, sustaining additional casualties. As he moved to the aid of his wounded comrades, HM3 Caron was hit in the arm by enemy fire. Although knocked to the ground, he regained his feet and continued to the injured Marines. He rendered medical assistance to the first Marine he reached, who was grievously wounded, and undoubtedly was instrumental in saving the man's life. HM3 Caron then ran toward the second wounded Marine, but was again hit by enemy fire, this time in the leg. Nonetheless, he crawled the remaining distance and provided medical aid for this severely wounded man. HM3 Caron started to make his way to yet another injured comrade, when he was again struck by enemy small-arms fire. Courageously and with unbelievable determination, HM3 Caron continued his attempt to reach the third Marine until he was killed by an enemy rocket round. His inspiring valor, steadfast determination and selfless dedication in the face of extreme danger, sustain and enhance the finest traditions of the U.S. Naval Service.[1]
On October 1, 1977, the USS Caron, a Spruance-classdestroyer, was commissioned by the United States Navy. The ship was named in honor of Wayne Caron.[4]
On June 17, 1994, a Navy medical clinic at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, was named after Caron. This was the first building named for a corpsman at Camp Lejeune; the Navy Hospital Corps was founded on June 17, 1898.[5]
^Burial Detail: Caron, Wayne M (section 51, grave 2600) – ANC Explorer
^* united-states-navy.com: USS Caron, accessed March 2013
^. www.med.navy.mil. Archived from the original on 2015-09-02.
External linksedit
Who's Who in Marine Corps History
April 12, 2024
wayne, maurice, caron, november, 1946, july, 1968, united, states, navy, hospital, corpsman, killed, action, while, serving, with, marine, corps, rifle, company, vietnam, heroic, actions, above, beyond, call, duty, july, 1968, posthumously, awarded, united, st. Wayne Maurice Caron November 2 1946 July 28 1968 was a United States Navy hospital corpsman who was killed in action while serving with a Marine Corps rifle company in the Vietnam War For heroic actions above and beyond the call of duty on July 28 1968 he was posthumously awarded the United States military s highest decoration for valor the Medal of Honor Wayne Maurice CaronBorn 1946 11 02 November 2 1946Middleboro Massachusetts USDiedJuly 28 1968 1968 07 28 aged 21 Quảng Nam Province Republic of VietnamBuriedArlington National Cemetery Arlington VirginiaAllegianceUnited States of AmericaService wbr branchUnited States NavyYears of service1966 1968RankHospital Corpsman Third ClassUnitK Company 3rd Battalion 7th Marine Regiment 1st Marine DivisionBattles warsVietnam War AwardsMedal of HonorPurple Heart MedalCombat Action RibbonRepublic of Vietnam Military Merit MedalRepublic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm Contents 1 Biography 2 Military awards 2 1 Medal of Honor citation 3 Honors and namings 4 See also 5 References 6 External linksBiography editCaron was born in Middleborough Massachusetts He graduated from Memorial High School in Middleborough in June 1966 He joined the U S Navy on July 12 1966 at Boston He completed recruit training at the Great Lakes Naval Training Center and then Navy Hospital Corps School at Great Lakes Illinois He also completed the Field Medical Service School at Camp Pendleton California On January 16 1968 he was promoted to hospital corpsman third class On July 3 1968 he was sent to and arrived in Vietnam He was assigned to Headquarters and Service Company 3rd Battalion 7th Marine Regiment 1st Marine Division Reinforced On July 28 he was killed in action during an intense firefight while serving as a platoon corpsman with K Company 3rd Battalion 7th Marines in Quảng Nam Province South Vietnam Before he was killed he was wounded three separate times in the firefight by enemy fire while he moved to render aid to fallen Marines 1 The 3rd Battalion 7th Marines lost 18 Marines besides Caron that day 2 Caron age 21 was buried in Arlington National Cemetery Arlington County Virginia 3 On April 20 1970 Caron s wife was presented Caron s Medal of Honor by Vice President Spiro Agnew during a ceremony at the White House Military awards editCaron s military awards and decorations include nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp Medal of Honor Purple Heart Medal Navy Combat Action RibbonNavy Presidential Unit Citation National Defense Service Medal Vietnam Service Medal w FMF Combat Operation Insignia and one 3 16 bronze starRepublic of Vietnam Meritorious Unit Citation Gallantry Cross w Palm and Frame Republic of Vietnam Meritorious Unit Citation Civil Actions w Palm and Frame Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal w 1960 deviceMedal of Honor citation edit nbsp Grave at Arlington National CemeteryCaron s official Medal of Honor citation reads The President of the United States in the name of The Congress takes pride in presenting the MEDAL OF HONOR posthumously to HOSPITAL CORPSMAN THIRD CLASS WAYNE MAURICE CARONUNITED STATES NAVY for service as set forth in the followingCITATION For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as platoon corpsman with Company K during combat operations against enemy forces While on a sweep through an open rice field HM3 Caron s unit started receiving enemy small arms fire Upon seeing two Marine casualties fall he immediately ran forward to render first aid but found that they were dead At this time the platoon was taken under intense small arms and automatic weapons fire sustaining additional casualties As he moved to the aid of his wounded comrades HM3 Caron was hit in the arm by enemy fire Although knocked to the ground he regained his feet and continued to the injured Marines He rendered medical assistance to the first Marine he reached who was grievously wounded and undoubtedly was instrumental in saving the man s life HM3 Caron then ran toward the second wounded Marine but was again hit by enemy fire this time in the leg Nonetheless he crawled the remaining distance and provided medical aid for this severely wounded man HM3 Caron started to make his way to yet another injured comrade when he was again struck by enemy small arms fire Courageously and with unbelievable determination HM3 Caron continued his attempt to reach the third Marine until he was killed by an enemy rocket round His inspiring valor steadfast determination and selfless dedication in the face of extreme danger sustain and enhance the finest traditions of the U S Naval Service 1 S RICHARD M NIXONHonors and namings editIn 1970 a plaque at the Chelsea Naval Hospital was placed in his honor On October 1 1977 the USS Caron a Spruance class destroyer was commissioned by the United States Navy The ship was named in honor of Wayne Caron 4 On June 17 1994 a Navy medical clinic at Camp Lejeune North Carolina was named after Caron This was the first building named for a corpsman at Camp Lejeune the Navy Hospital Corps was founded on June 17 1898 5 See also edit nbsp Biography portalList of Medal of Honor recipients for the Vietnam WarReferences edit a b Medal of Honor recipients Vietnam A L United States Army Center of Military History August 3 2009 Archived from the original on 2009 06 27 Retrieved 2009 09 21 The Virtual Wall Burial Detail Caron Wayne M section 51 grave 2600 ANC Explorer united states navy com USS Caron accessed March 2013 HM3 Wayne Caron www med navy mil Archived from the original on 2015 09 02 External links editWho s Who in Marine Corps History Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Wayne Maurice Caron amp oldid 1195463949, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
