William D. McGee

Private, U.S. Army

Medal of Honor Recipient

World War II

Private William D. McGee (1923 - 19 March 1945) was a U.S. Army soldier who was posthumously awarded the U.S. military's highest award for valor, the Medal of Honor, for his heroic actions during World War II.

William D. McGee joined the Army from his birth city of Indianapolis, IN. On 18 March 1945, he was serving as a Private in the Medical Detachment of the 304th Infantry Regiment, 76th Infantry Division. Near Mülheim, Germany, that day he voluntarily walked into a minefield to aid two comrades who had been wounded by anti-personnel mines. After carrying one man to safety, he returned to rescue the second man but stepped on a mine and was himself seriously wounded. He ordered his fellow soldiers to stay out of the minefield and not risk their safety by trying to rescue him; McGee died of his injuries the next day. For these actions, he was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor.

Medal of Honor

Rank and organization: Private, U.S. Army, Medical Detachment, 304th Infantry, 76th Infantry Division.

Place and date: Near Mulheim, Germany, 18 March 1945.

Citation: A medical aid man, 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 1 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. 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.

Medals and Awards

Medal of Honor
Purple Heart

Death and Burial

Private William D. McGee died on 19 March 1945 from wounds sustained in action on 18 March 1945. He is buried at the Luxembourg American Cemetery and Memorial in Hamm, Luxembourg, in Plot C-7-13.