Navy Federal Credit Union

Awards Received

  • Soldier’s Medal

    Service:

    United States Army

    Rank:

    Private

    Action Date:

    December 10, 1938

    Decorations U.S. Army 1862 – 1926, Supplement 3 (1940)

    The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 2, 1926, takes pleasure in presenting the Soldier’s Medal to Private Reno L. Ouellette (ASN: 6142480), United States Army, for heroism at the risk of life not involving conflict with an armed enemy, while serving with the Medical Department, on Great Diamond Island, near Fort McKinley, Maine, while attempting to rescue an enlisted man from drowning in the harbor of Portland, Maine, at about 2:00 p.m., 10 December 1938. When the brakes of an Army truck failed, it rolled down an inclined, partially submerged ramp of a dock coming to rest with the front end and driver’s cab under water. Two of the three enlisted men in the truck escaped to safety, but the third was trapped in the cab of the truck when one of his legs became caught and wedged between the side of the truck and the pilings of the pier. Seeing the plight of the imprisoned man, Private Ouellette, with utter disregard of his personal safety, plunged fully clothed into the cold, deep water and, working under water, forced open the door of the cab, entered the truck, and tried to extricate the drowning man until forced to rise to the surface to breathe. He immediately dived a second time but again failed in his efforts to remove the helpless man. Although now greatly weakened by his exertions, Private Ouellette dived a third time, swam around the front end of the truck, and tried unsuccessfully to dislodge the imprisoned leg of the drowning man until, numb with cold and completely exhausted, he was finally forced to permit himself to be pulled out of the water. The heroism displayed by Private Ouellette on this occasion reflects great credit upon himself and the military service.