Donald M. Schmuck

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting a Gold Star in lieu of a Second Award of the Silver Star Medal to Donald M. Schmuck (0-5914), Lieutenant Colonel, U.S. Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action against the enemy while serving as Commander of a Marine Infantry Battalion of the FIRST Marine Division (Rein.), FMF, in Korea, on 23 February 1951. Assigned the mission of seizing strategic Hill 168, which dominated the approaches to Hoengeong, Lieutenant Colonel Schmuck disregarded completely his own personal safety in moving close behind his assaulting rifle companies to direct and control the attack. Although constantly exposed to devastating enemy automatic weapons, small arms, and hand grenade fire, he courageously directed the assault and seizure of the heavily-defended crest of the vital hill, and then personally reorganized his companies for the continuation of the attack. His presence with the assaulting elements and his great personal bravery so inspired his men that they swept forward irresistibly and completed the rout of the entrenched enemy in hand-to-hand combat. Lieutenant Colonel Schmuck’s inspiring leadership and heroic actions were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star Medal to Donald M. Schmuck (0-5914), Lieutenant Colonel, U.S. Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action against the enemy while serving with a Marine Infantry Battalion of the FIRST Marine Division (Rein.), FMF, in Korea, from 26 November to 11 December 1950. With complete disregard for his own personal safety and exposed to heavy enemy small arms, machine gun and mortar fire, Lieutenant Colonel Schmuck, serving as Commanding Officer, personally led elements of his battalion in a daring tactical series of combat patrols which completely destroyed an enemy force estimated to be of battalion strength that was operating against the Division’s Main Supply Route and rail-head. When ordered to attack north to seize and occupy a vitally important terrain feature in order to cover the movement of the Division, he fearlessly and courageously led his battalion in an aggressive attack up six miles of tortuous and precipitous ice-covered slopes to assault and overcome strongly-defended positions that were defended to the last man by an enemy battalion. His courageous actions, inspiring leadership, and brilliant tactical directions enabled the battalion to successfully accomplish its assigned mission. Lieutenant Colonel Schmuck’s heroic actions were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.