Donald F. Daly

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Donald F. Daly (0-2028677), First Lieutenant (Infantry), U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy of the United Nations while serving with an Infantry Company of the 15th Infantry Regiment, 3d Infantry Division. First Lieutenant Daly distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism in action against enemy aggressor forces in the vicinity of Haktang-ni, Korea, on 1 December 1952. On that date, Lieutenant Daly led a patrol into enemy territory under orders to capture a prisoner of war. When approximately 3,500 yards forward of the main line of resistance, they patrol made contact with an estimated company of hostile troops, hidden in rice paddies. Under his leadership the initial enemy onslaught was repelled, but Lieutenant Daly was wounded by a grenade during the second enemy attack. While still under attack, he crawled to his communications man and recoilless rifle gunner, both wounded and lying in exposed positions, and dragged them to cover. After radioing for mortar and artillery support, he rendered first aid to all of the wounded whom he could reach while persisting in his efforts to silence an enemy machine-gun with carbine fire. Calling for mortar and artillery support, he directed it in such an effective manner that three enemy machine-guns were destroyed. Even under the intense hostile artillery and mortar fire to which the area was subjected, he kept complete control of the patrol. Despite his wounds, he personally directed the evacuation of the wounded before withdrawing the patrol and remained in the area until every man had been accounted for.
Headquarters, Eighth U.S. Army, Korea: General Orders No. 522 (May 31, 1953)