Career
McDonald joined the Army from Beckley, West Virginia in 1967, and served as a private first class in Company A, 1st Battalion, 14th Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Division. McDonald, aged 26 at his death, was buried in Guilford Memorial Park, Greensboro, North Carolina. Foreign conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty.
Private first class
Volunteering to escort 2 wounded comrades to an evacuation point, Private first class Returning to his platoon, he again volunteered to provide covering fire for the maneuver of the platoon from its exposed position. Realizing the threat he posed, enemy gunners concentrated their fire on Private first class
McDonald"s position, seriously wounding him.
Despite his painful wounds, Private first class McDonald recovered the weapon of a wounded machine gunner to provide accurate covering fire for the gunner"s evacuation.
When other soldiers were pinned down by a heavy volume of fire from a hostile machine gun to his front, Private first class He was mortally wounded in this intrepid action.
Private first class McDonald"s gallantry at the risk of his life which resulted in the saving of the lives of his comrades, is in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflects great cr upon himself, his unit, and the United States. Army.