Medal of Honor: Michael A. Donaldson, World War I, October 14, 1918
When his regiment fell back under a storm of German fire, Sergeant Michael Donaldson refused to retreat—he went forward, again and again, to carry the wounded home.
October 14, 2025
Name: Michael A. Donaldson
Rank: Sergeant
War: World War I
Date of Action: October 14, 1918
Unit: Company I, 165th Infantry Regiment, 42nd “Rainbow” Division
Born: 1884 – Haverstraw, New York
Entered Service At: Haverstraw, New York
Summary of Action
On the road between Sommerance and Landres-et-St. Georges, France, the 165th Infantry—the storied “Fighting 69th” of New York—was pinned down by withering German machine-gun fire from the crest of a hill. The attack stalled, and the company fell back to a sunken road to reorganize, leaving several wounded men stranded in the open under enemy guns.
With no orders, Sergeant Michael Donaldson rose from cover and sprinted toward the hill, completely exposed to direct fire. One by one, he reached the fallen, hoisted them onto his back, and carried them through the bullets to safety. He made six trips in all, refusing to stop until every man was rescued. His courage in the open daylight—against a line of guns trained directly upon him—stunned even the enemy, who could not stop him.
His heroism embodied the creed of the “Fighting 69th”: “Gentle when stroked, fierce when provoked.”
Medal of Honor Citation
DONALDSON, MICHAEL A.
Rank and organization: Sergeant, U.S. Army, Company I, 165th Infantry, 42d Division. Place and date: At Sommerance-Landres-et St. Georges Road, France, 14 October 1918. Entered service at: Haverstraw, N.Y. Born: 1884, Haverstraw, N.Y. G.O. No.: 9, W.D., 1923.
Citation: The advance of his regiment having been checked by intense machinegun 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.
