50th Anniversary of Death of Medal of Honor Recipient Wayne M. Caron

REMEMBER THE FALLEN

RENDERING AID TO WOUNDED

50 YEARS AGO, WAYNE CARON

KILLED IN ACTION IN VIETNAM

By Bob Lessard

 Historian, Simeon L. Nickerson

 Post 64 American Legion

(Periodically, the Gazette will publish biographical sketches of Middleboro war casualties. A slogan regarding veterans states “ALL GAVE SOME, SOME GAVE ALL.”)

 In this edition, we are highlighting Navy Corpsman Third Class Wayne M. Caron, who was killed fifty years ago on July 28, 1968 in Vietnam by enemy rifle fire. He lost his life rendering aide to the wounded, while serving with Co. K, 3rd Battalion, 7th Marines of the First Marine Division. He was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his heroic actions.

 Readers of the Thursday, August 1, 1968 edition of the Middleboro Gazette learned of the death of Wayne M. Caron, 21, son of Aime Joseph Caron and Lorraine Janet (Paradise) Caron   of 48 East Main Street. According to Navy reports, Wayne had been Killed In Action only five days before on Sunday, July 28 at Kuang Nam near DaNang, South Viet Nam.

 His wife, the former Teresa Louise Haid of Mayport, Florida, was living on Guam when informed of his loss. The couple, who were married on December 5, 1967, were expecting their first child to be born in the Fall. A son, Scott Wayne, was born three months after his father’s death.

 Wayne was born in Middleboro on November 2, 1946 and was a June 1966 graduate of Middleboro Memorial High School. He enlisted in the United States Navy on July 12, 1966 at Boston.

 He received medical training, while serving for two years at the Great Lakes Naval Hospital. Later, he was transferred to Los Angeles for more intensive training. He was shipped to Vietnam where he was assigned to the Marine Corps unit. He had been in country less than a month when he lost his life.

 Congresswoman Margaret M. Heckler of Massachusetts on Monday, May 11, 1970 entered into the Congressional Record (E4108) a tribute to Corpsman Caron. In part she wrote, “No homage we render can adequately express our profound admiration for Corpsman Caron’s gallant self-sacrifice in the course of battle.”

 In addition she wrote, “We can only hope to further the manifestation of selflessness that Corpsman Caron courageously demonstrated.”

 Nearly two years later, on April 20, 1970 at a White House ceremony Vice-President Spiro Agnew in the name of President Richard Nixon, presented the Medal of Honor to his family.

.........................Wayne M. Caron’s Medal of Honor citation reads:

………“For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty on 28 July 1968 while serving as a Platoon Corpsman with Company K, 3rd Battalion, 7th Marines, 1st Marine Division during combat operations against enemy forces in the Republic of Vietnam. While on a sweep through an open rice field in Quang Nam Province, Petty Officer 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, Petty Officer 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. Petty Officer 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 assistance for this severely wounded man. Petty Officer Caron continued to make his way to yet another injured comrade, when he was again struck by enemy small-arms fire. Courageously and with unbelievable determination, Petty Officer 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 to duty in the face of extreme danger, sustain and enhance the finest traditions of the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life in the service of his country.”

 Signed by Richard M. Nixon

 In addition to the Medal of Honor, HM3 Caron also was awarded the Purple Heart, the Combat Action Ribbon, the National Defense Service Medal and the Vietnam Service Medal. He also earned the Vietnamese Military Merit Medal, the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal and the Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm.

 There are several locations in Middleboro where citizens can pause to remember Wayne Caron. The current High School auditorium was dedicated to his memory in 1971. Hs mother painted his portrait which is on display at the auditorium.  Plans are in place to also name the new High School auditorium after Wayne Caron.

 At Middleboro’s Veterans Memorial Park on the Town Hall lawn is a special living memorial blue spruce and plaque dedicated to Caron’s memory. The tree and plaque were dedicated during a special memorial program on May 29, 1978. The USS Caron DD-970, a Navy Spruance Class destroyer, was dedicated to HM3 Wayne M. Caron’s name.

The ship was launched on June 23, 1975. The Caron family attended the christening ceremony on August 9, 1975 at Pascagoula, Mississippi. Mrs. Aime Caron served as the Matron of Honor during the ceremonies.

When the destroyer was de-commissioned in October 20, 2001,Middleboro officials contacted the Navy and requested articles from the USS Caron for display.  A series of lengthy phone calls by this writer from then Town Manager Jack Healey’s office resulted in the town gaining articles from the USS Caron.

 Items from the USS Caron are prominently displayed in the Veterans Service office: the ship’s bell, builder’s plaque and ribbon board. The bell is used annually during Memorial Day services. There are several other mementos regarding Wayne on display in that office.

 It was fortunate that these USS Caron articles were obtained at the time. Several months later on December 4th, 2002, the Navy reported that the USS Caron was sunk in a training exercise.

Official Navy wording stated “The final moments of the USS Caron. She was sunk December 4th, 2002, 75mm S. of Roosevelt Roads, Puerto Rico during explosive test. She was intended to survive these tests and scheduled to be sunk as a target later in 2003, but secondary explosions caused her to sink.”

 In South Weymouth, at the former Naval Air Station, is a Medal of Honor Park dedicated in November 1997 to 32 medal recipients from Plymouth and Norfolk counties.

 An A-4 Skyhawk plane features the location of the park. Individual lots for each of the recipients contains a plaque and a living memorial tree. Among those 32 Medal of Honor lots are two dedicated to Middleboro men: Vietnam casualty HM3 Wayne M. Caron and WW1 Army Lieutenant Patrick J. Regan.

Several Naval hospitals honored HM3 Caron with small parks: Great Lakes Naval hospital; the now closed Chelsea Naval Hospital had one. According to sources, most Navy associated hospitals and clinics have a memorial wall dedicated to corpsmen who have obtained the Medal of Honor.

 Wayne is buried in Arlington National Cemetery. (Published July 26, 2018.)