Douglas Bernard Fournet served in the United States Army during the War in Vietnam as a First Lieutenant in Company B, 1st Battalion 7th Cavalry, 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile). He received the Congressional Medal of Honor for bravery at A Shau Valley in the Republic of Vietnam on May 4, 1968. His citation praised his conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty, and his medal was presented posthumously to his family at the White House by President Richard M. Nixon on April 7, 1970.