Phill Gene McDonald
Private First Class, U.S. Army
Medal of Honor Recipient
Vietnam War

Private First Class Phill Gene McDonald (13 September 1941 - 7 June 1968) was a U.S. Army soldier and a recipient of the U.S. military's highest award for valor, the Medal of Honor, for his actions in the Vietnam War.

Phill Gene McDonald was born on 13 September 1941 in Avondale, WV. He joined the Army from Beckley, WV, and served as a Private First Class in Company A, 1st Battalion, 14th Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Division. He was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions during a 7 June 1968 firefight near Kontum City, Republic of Vietnam, during which he was killed.

Medal of Honor

Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. Pfc. McDonald distinguished himself while serving as a team leader with the 1st platoon of Company A. While on a combat mission his platoon came under heavy barrage of automatic weapons fire from a well concealed company-size enemy force. Volunteering to escort 2 wounded comrades to an evacuation point, Pfc. McDonald crawled through intense fire to destroy with a grenade an enemy automatic weapon threatening the safety of the evacuation. Returning to his platoon, he again volunteered to provide covering fire for the maneuver of the platoon from its exposed position. Realizing the threat he posed, enemy gunners concentrated their fire on Pfc. McDonald's position, seriously wounding him. Despite his painful wounds, Pfc. McDonald recovered the weapon of a wounded machine gunner to provide accurate covering fire for the gunner's evacuation. When other soldiers were pinned down by a heavy volume of fire from a hostile machine gun to his front, Pfc. McDonald crawled toward the enemy position to destroy it with grenades. He was mortally wounded in this intrepid action. Pfc. McDonald's gallantry at the risk of his life which resulted in the saving of the lives of his comrades, is in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflects great credit upon himself, his unit, and the U.S. Army.

Death and Burial

Private First Class Phill Gene McDonald was killed in action on 7 June 1968. He is buried at Guilford Memorial Park in Greensboro, NC.