Michael A. Donaldson

Six rescues under fire near Landres-et-St.-Georges

Michael A. Donaldson was born on 16 January 1887 in Haverstraw, New York. He served as a sergeant with Company I, 165th Infantry Regiment, 42nd Division during the First World War.

On 14 October 1918 in France, enemy machine-gun fire forced his company back to a sunken road, leaving wounded men near the opposing lines. Donaldson advanced voluntarily in daylight to the hilltop and carried a wounded comrade back under fire. He repeated the journey until all six men were rescued.

Major General Robert Bullard presented Donaldson with the Medal of Honor at Fort Jay, Governors Island, on 6 April 1923. Donaldson died on 12 April 1970 in Montrose, New York, and is buried in St. Peter's Cemetery in Haverstraw.

Medal of Honor citation

The advance of his regiment having been checked by intense machine-gun fire of the enemy, who were entrenched on the crest of a hill before Landres-et-St.-Georges, his company retired to a sunken road to reorganize their position, leaving several of their number wounded near the enemy lines. Of his own volition, in broad daylight and under direct observation of the enemy and with utter disregard for his own safety, he advanced to the crest of the hill, rescued one of his wounded comrades, and returned under withering fire to his own lines, repeating his splendidly heroic act until he had brought in all the men, six in number.