Corporal Violette was a medic with the Medical Company, 31st Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division. On 6 November 1951, he was attached to the Tank Company near Mun Dung, North Korea, a tank caught fire trapping all of its personnel. He quickly left his personnel carrier, and, while exposed to enemy fire, he removed the most seriously wounded. He returned to his personnel carrier and, as it rushed to carry the wounded to an aid station, it overturned killing him.

For his leadership and valor, Corporal Violette was awarded the Silver Star Medal, the Purple Heart, the Combat Medical Badge, the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Korean Presidential Unit Citation and the Republic of Korea War Service Medal.