The President of the United States of America
awarded in the name of Congress the Medal of Honor to
PRIVATE WILLIAM D. McGEE
United States Army
for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action
at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty
Private William D. McGee, Medical Aidman, Medical Detachment, 304th Infantry,
76th Infantry Division, distinguished himself near Mulheim, Germany, on
18 March 1945. He made a night crossing of the Moselle River endeavoring to
capture the town of Mulheim. The enemy had retreated in the sector where the
assaust 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, Private McGee entered the mine
field, 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 severly 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, Private McGee demonstrated a concern for the well-being of his fellow
soldiers that transcended all consideration for his own safety and a gallantry
in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service.
