Duane E.Dewey

Corporal Dewey, a resident of Hawthorne, Florida is the first person to receive the MEDAL OF HONOR from President Dwight D. Eisenhower. Corporal Dewey earned the Nation's highest award for heroism on April 16, 1952 when, already wounded, he smothered an exploding enemy grenade with his own body to save the lives of his comrades.

Corporal Dewey earned the MEDAL OF HONOR near Panmunjom, Korea while serving as leader of the machine-gun squad with Company E, 5th Marines, 1st Marine Division. He had been wounded and was being treated by a Navy Corpsman when an enemy grenade landed at the squad's postion. Yanking the corpsman to the ground, and warning members of the squad, Cpl. Dewey flung himself on the grenade shouting, " Doc, I got it in my hip pocket!"

In addition to the MEDAL OF HONOR, Corporal Dewey's awards include the Purple Heart, the Korean Service Medal with two battle stars, and the United Nations Service Medal.

Today Dewey lives happily with his wife Bertha of 57 years. Duane is involved with the many veterans organization in and around Alachua County.

For more information on this American Hero click on the following links below.