The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Sergeant [then Private First Class] Boyd W. McDonald (ASN: 33663849), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with Company H, 2d Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment, 3d Infantry Division, in action against the enemy in Germany. On 28 April 1945, at 1600 hours, near Feigenhofen, Germany, Sergeant McDonald and a comrade left covered positions and raced fifty yards to their front to man an abandoned machine gun. Despite shell fragments that twice deflected their weapon from its field of fire, these two soldiers remained exposed for more than one hour and raked the enemy with short bursts, killing eight and wounding twelve enemy soldiers. The gallant actions and dedicated devotion to duty demonstrated by Sergeant [then Private First Class] McDonald, without regard for his own life, were in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Army.