The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pride in presenting the Medal of Honor (Posthumously) to Private First Class Phill Gene McDonald (ASN: 51713890), United States Army, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as a team leader with the 1st Platoon, Company A, 1st Battalion, 14th Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Division, in action against enemy aggressor forces at Kontum City, Republic of Vietnam, on 7 June 1968. While on a combat mission Private First Class McDonald platoon came under heavy barrage of automatic weapons fire from a well concealed company-size enemy force. Volunteering to escort two wounded comrades to an evacuation point, Private First Class 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 Private First Class McDonald’s position, seriously wounding him. Despite his painful wounds, Private First Class 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 machinegun to his front, Private First Class McDonald crawled toward the enemy position to destroy it with grenades. He was mortally wounded in this intrepid action. Private First Class 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 United States Army.