The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Private First Class Donald A. Daigneault (MCSN: 1177703), United States Marine Corps, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy of the United Nations while serving as an Automatic Rifleman in Company D, Second Battalion, Seventh Marines, FIRST Marine Division (Reinforced), in action against enemy aggressor forces in the Republic of Korea on 12 September 1951. When his squad, assigned the mission of covering the company’s attack on an enemy-held hill, encountered an intricate net of anti-personnel mines and booby traps which inflicted seven casualties, Private First Class Daigneault immediately observed that the enemy were preparing to press their advantage by moving down the ridge to attack the helpless squad and, although suffering from multiple shrapnel wounds sustained in the minefield, advanced with his automatic rifle to meet the oncoming hostile troops. Crawling forward to an exposed position to draw the enemy’s fire away from the other wounded, he put his gun into action and, with deadly accuracy, killed four of the attackers, wounded three more and forced the others to withdraw. Steadfastly refusing evacuation until the enemy had been effectively repulsed, he was responsible for saving the lives of his comrades and for the accomplishment of his unit’s mission. His heroic initiative, selfless determination and valiant devotion to duty in the face of heavy odds reflect the highest credit upon Private First Class Daigneault and the United States Naval Service.