John D. Mcdonald

The President of the United States takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to John D. McDonald (RA18350873), Private, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy of the United Nations while serving with Company H, 2d Battalion, 9th Infantry Regiment, 2d Infantry Division. Private McDonald distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism in action against enemy aggressor forces in the vicinity of Yongsan, Korea, on 9 and 10 August 1950. Serving as an ammunition bearer with a mortar section, on this date Private McDonald was moving forward with Company H when it was suddenly attacked by a fiercely determined and numerically superior enemy force. Realizing that the mortar section could not operate with effect due to the close proximity of the enemy, he voluntarily took up a position as a rifleman to aid in stemming the assault. Although wounded early in this action, Private McDonald refused medical aid and continued to fire on the enemy with deadly effect from an exposed position. His extreme accuracy with his weapon accounted for fifteen of the enemy during the night and only when he had been assured that the attack had been repulsed did he allow his wound to be treated. On the morning of 10 August 1950, the enemy again assaulted the friendly positions and Private McDonald, shouting words of encouragement to his comrades, once more placed devastating fire on the hostile forces. Ten more of the enemy were killed by him before he was killed by a burst of hostile fire. The outstanding courage exhibited by Private McDonald so inspired his comrades that they successfully repelled the repeated attars, inflicting extremely heavy casualties on the enemy.
Headquarters, Eighth U.S. Army, Korea: General Orders No. 649 (August 18, 1951)

The Navy Cross is presented to John D. McDonald, Rear Admiral, U.S. Navy, for exceptionally meritorious service in a duty of great responsibility as commandant of the Navy Yards, New York, N. Y.