Medal of Honor: Donald Leroy Truesdell (Truesdale) - Nicaragua Campaign - April 24, 1932

Name: Donald Leroy Truesdell (officially changed to Truesdale)
Rank: Corporal
Branch: U.S. Marine Corps
Conflict: Nicaragua Campaign
Unit: Guardia Nacional Patrol
Date of Action: April 24, 1932
Location: Vicinity of Constancia, near Coco River, northern Nicaragua

Summary of Action

On 24 April 1932, Corporal Donald Leroy Truesdell distinguished himself while serving as second in command of a Guardia Nacional patrol in northern Nicaragua.

The patrol was conducting active operations against armed bandit forces near Constancia after recently making contact with the enemy.

While moving in formation along a trail, a rifle grenade accidentally fell from its carrier and struck a rock.

The impact ignited the detonator.

Several men standing nearby were in immediate danger, and the grenade was set to explode within seconds.

Truesdell was several yards away and could easily have taken cover.

Instead, fully understanding the danger, he rushed toward the grenade.

He seized it in his right hand and attempted to throw it clear of the patrol.

Before he could do so, the grenade exploded in his hand.

The blast severed his hand and inflicted multiple serious wounds across his body.

By absorbing the force of the explosion himself, he saved the lives of the men around him and prevented severe injuries within the patrol.

His instantaneous courage, self-sacrifice, and devotion to others reflected the highest traditions of the United States Marine Corps.

Medal of Honor Citation

TRUESDELL, DONALD LEROY (Name officially changed to Truesdale)

Cpl. Truesdale was second in command of a Guardia Nacional Patrol in active operations against armed bandit forces in the vicinity of Constancia, near Coco River, northern Nicaragua, on 24 April 1932. While the patrol was in formation on the trail searching for a bandit group with which contact had just previously been made, a rifle grenade fell from its carrier and struck a rock, igniting the detonator. Several men close to the grenade at the time were in danger. Cpl. Truesdale, who was several yards away, could easily have sought cover and safety for himself. Knowing full well the grenade would explode within 2 or 3 seconds, he rushed for the grenade, grasped it in his right hand, and attempted to throw it away from the patrol. The grenade exploded in his hand, blowing it off and inflicting serious multiple wounds about his body. Cpl. Truesdale, in taking the full shock of the explosion himself, saved the members of the patrol from loss of life or serious injury.