Education
Born on May 7, 1943, in Kinder, Louisiana, Fournet attended McNeese State University in Lake Charles, Louisiana.
Born on May 7, 1943, in Kinder, Louisiana, Fournet attended McNeese State University in Lake Charles, Louisiana.
Fournet joined the Army from New Orleans, Louisiana in 1966, and went through Officer Candidate School at Fort Benning. By May 4, 1968, was serving as a first lieutenant in Company B, 1st Battalion, 7th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile). During a firefight on that day, in the A Shau Valley of the Republic of Vietnam, Fournet was killed while attempting to disable an enemy Claymore mine.
He shielded his fellow soldiers from the blast with his body, preventing serious wounds to everyone but himself.
His squadron leader, Bill Krahl, recovered his body, for which Krahl was awarded a Bronze Star. Killed three days before his 25th birthday, Fournet was buried in the Kinder McRill Cemetery in Kinder, Louisiana.
A portion of Interstate 210 which loops around Lake Charles was named the "Douglas Fournet Expressway" in the fall of 2001. Foreign conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty.
With complete disregard for his safety and realizing the imminent danger to members of his command, he used his body as a shield in front of the mine as he attempted to slash the control wires leading from the enemy positions to the mine.