10 January

SGT WILLIAM G. FOURNIER
&
T/Sgt LEWIS HALL
Company M, 35th Infantry, 25th Infantry Division.
Mount Austen, Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands
10 January 1943

Sgt Fournier was leading a machinegun section, assisted by T/Sgt Hall when their position attacked by a superior number of enemy infantry.

Fournier’s gunner was killed, his assistant gunner wounded, and the adjoining gun crew was put out of action leaving Hall and Fournier to defend the Battalion’s flank.

Ordered to withdraw from this hazardous position, Sgt. Fournier refused and he and T/sgt Hall rushed forward to an idle gun.

Hall held the weapon on his shoulder to  increase its field action and the let loose on the enemy inflicting heavy casualties and stopping the advance.

Both Warriors were killed, but their actions were a decisive factor in the success of their battalion’s attack.