Navy Federal Credit Union

Awards Received

  • Distinguished Service Cross

    Service:

    United States Army

    Rank:

    First Lieutenant (Infantry)

    Regiment:

    142d Infantry Regiment

    Division:

    36th Division, American Expeditionary Forces

    Action Date:

    October 8, 1918

    War Department, General Orders No. 50 (1919)

    The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to First Lieutenant (Infantry) Donald J. McLennan, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with 142d Infantry Regiment, 36th Division, American Expeditionary Forces, near St. Etienne, France, 8 October 1918. Leading a patrol of ten men with orders to gain contact with the enemy, Lieutenant McLennan was suddenly subjected to terrific machine-gun fire which wounded two of his men. He quickly ordered his men to shelter, and in order to insure their safety, he ran across an open space for a distance of 30 yards to draw the enemy’s fire. Rejoining his patrol by passing through the same deadly fire, he ordered them to withdraw, covering their withdrawal, and reporting back to his company commander with his two wounded men and much valuable information.