b. 1923 Indianapolis, Indiana. d. 18/03/1945 Landkreis Bernkastel-Wittlich, Germany.
DATE OF MOH ACTION: 18/03/1945 near Mulheim, Germany.
William D McGee MOH
Born in Indianapolis, Indiana, he served in the United States Army during World War II as a Private First Class, United States Army Medical Detachment, 304th Infantry Regiment, 76th Infantry Division.
On March 18, 1945, he was a medical aid man accompanying his unit during a night crossing of the Moselle River near Mulheim, Germany. Two soldiers of the advancing assault wave detonated mines on the east bank of the river, McGee went into the minefield to save them. He brought one of the wounded men out of the minefield. On his second trip, McGee stepped on a mine himself. Although in great pain and bleeding profusely, Pvt. McGee shouted to his comrades not to risk their lives in an attempt to save him, even though first aid might have saved his life.
His posthumous Medal of Honor was presented to his widow by Brigadier General John E McMahon at Fort Benjamin Harrison in Indiana on February 23, 1946.
MOH CITATION:
A medical aidman, he made a night crossing of the Moselle River with troops endeavoring to capture the town of Mulheim. The enemy had retreated in the sector where the assault boats landed, but had left the shore heavily strewn with antipersonnel mines. Two men of the first wave attempting to work their way forward detonated mines which wounded them seriously, leaving them bleeding and in great pain beyond the reach of their comrades. Entirely on his own initiative, Pvt. McGee entered the minefield, brought out one of the injured to comparative safety, and had returned to rescue the second victim when he stepped on a mine and was severely wounded in the resulting explosion. Although suffering intensely and bleeding profusely, he shouted orders that none of his comrades was to risk his life by entering the death-sown field to render first aid that might have saved his life. In making the supreme sacrifice, Pvt. McGee demonstrated a concern for the well-being of his fellow soldiers that transcended all considerations for his own safety and a gallantry in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service.
BURIAL LOCATION: ABMC LUXEMBOURG AMERICAN CEMETERY, HAMM, LUXEMBOURG.
SECTION C, ROW 7, LOT 13.
LOCATION OF MEDAL: INDIANA WAR MEMORIALS, INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA.
