Press Release: Local Purple Heart Recipient Ernest Boisvert Honored During National Tribute Event
Woonsocket Army Veteran Represented Rhode Island’s Purple Heart Recipients
During the 2023 Purple Heart Patriot Project
(NEWBURGH, NY) – A local Purple Heart recipient was recently honored as one of the nation’s 2023 Purple Heart Patriot Project honorees. U.S. Army Specialist 5th Class (SP5) Ernest Boisvert represented his fellow Purple Heart heroes as Rhode Island’s representative at the multi-day tribute to the courage and sacrifice of America’s combat wounded. The Purple Heart Patriot Project is a program of the National Purple Heart Honor Mission. The all-expenses-paid trip included visits to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, historic Washington’s Headquarters, a special tour of the National Purple Heart Hall of Honor and other unique tributes.
“Ernie and his fellow Patriot Project honorees represent the best of the best our country has to offer,” said Richie Lay, a Purple Heart recipient and Chairman of the National Purple Heart Honor Mission. “America’s Purple Heart veterans have given so much to defend freedom and that sacrifice must always be remembered. These brave men and women are true American heroes. We were privileged to be able to provide this unique salute to service for our Purple Heart heroes.”
“Our Purple Heart recipients have made enormous sacrifices for America, and this was our opportunity to say ‘thank you’ on behalf of a grateful nation. For some, it was the homecoming they never had. We received hundreds of nominations from across the country and we were pleased to honor Ernie for his courage and service, both during combat operations and in the years since returning home,” said Col. Russ Vernon (NYARNG Ret.), the Executive Director for the National Purple Heart Honor Mission.
This year’s Patriot Project honorees included men and women Purple Heart recipients from World War II, the Vietnam War, Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom, and other conflicts, representing all branches of the service and ranging from 37 to 100-years-old. The event took place between September 18 – 22 in New York.
Asked what he would want others to know about his service, SP5 Boisvert said, “I served just prior to the heavy anti-war movement. I was asked to serve, and I did and I’m not sorry I did. To this day I am still in contact with many of the men I served with. We as a group were from different parts of the United States and placed together to train and go to Vietnam, most of us were drafted and trained together and shipped to Vietnam as part of the original 4th Infantry to Vietnam. From day one in our service to the last day of our active duty we served together. That has given us a bond that we still hold through to this day.”
Boisvert was drafted into the U.S. Army, serving as a member of the 4th Infantry Division, including a tour in Vietnam. On May 22, 1967, Boisvert’s unit was hit in the early morning by what was described as a NVA Battalion. During the battle Boisvert’s Platoon Leader, Lt. Harold Ford, was surveying the emplacement to check on the section of the perimeter his platoon was defending, when an RPG was fired at his position. The blast killed Lt. Ford immediately, and Boisvert, who was his radio telephone operator (RTO), was hit with shrapnel on the right side of his face.
Along with the Purple Heart, SP5 Boisvert was awarded numerous medals and commendations during his service, including the National Defense Medal, Vietnam Service Medal with two bronze service stars, Combat Infantryman Badge, the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm Unit Citation, and more.
Married to his wife, Lorriane, the couple two children and one grandson. Since leaving the service, Boisvert had been extremely active and involved in numerous veterans organizations and causes. He was the City of Woonsocket’s Veteran Advisor for about 7 years, and he is certified by the DAV, which allows him to assist other veterans in accessing their VA benefits. In 2013, the local United Veterans Council, honored him as “Veteran of the Year.”
Video from the capstone “Welcome Home” rally can be found here: https://fb.watch/nqz4A4evzK/.
The National Purple Heart Hall of Honor is located just north of West Point, New York, near the site where General George Washington created the Badge of Military Merit in 1782 during the Revolutionary War. The Badge, a purple cloth cut in the shape of a heart, was the forerunner of today’s Purple Heart medal. In addition to creation of the museum, the National Purple Heart Honor Mission was instrumental in the creation of the Purple Heart Forever stamp now issued by the US Postal Service, and the organization was the driving force behind the nation’s first official Purple Heart Commemorative Coin series, which was issued by the United States Mint in 2022.
Those wishing to learn more about the National Purple Heart Honor Mission or donate to support the Purple Heart Patriot Project should visit www.PurpleHeartMission.org.
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