World War II - U.S. Army

William Grant Fournier

• Rank: Sergeant
• Conflict/Era: World War II
• Unit/Command:
  Company M, 35th Infantry,
  25th Infantry Division
• Military Service Branch: U.S. Army
• Medal of Honor Action Date: January 10, 1943
• Medal of Honor Action Place: Mount Austen, Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands

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 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 machine gun by the tripod to increase its field of action. They opened fire and inflicted heavy casualties upon the enemy. While so engaged both these gallant soldiers were killed, but their sturdy defensive action was a decisive factor in the following success of the attacking battalion.