Future US Navy destroyer to be named William Charette

One of the US Navy’s future Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers will be named William Charette after a Korean War Medal of Honor recipient.

The ship will honour Hospital Corpsman Master Chief William Charette who was awarded the US military’s highest decoration for tending to his wounded comrades while under heavy enemy fire, even deliberately placing himself on top of a live grenade before it could explode and kill or wound other friendly troops nearby.

The blast rendered Charette unconscious, but when he awoke, he continued to render aid to his wounded comrades and carry to safety those who were unable to move, all the while exposing himself to enemy rounds.

All five enlisted US Navy sailors who received the Medal of Honor for actions during the Korean War were hospital corpsmen attached to US Marine Corps units on the frontline. Charette, who died in 2012 due to complications from heart surgery, was the only living recipient among the five.

The future USS William Charette will be constructed by General Dynamics Bath Iron Works.