Navy Federal Credit Union

Awards Received

  • Distinguished Service Cross

    Service:

    United States Army

    Rank:

    Sergeant

    Batallion:

    2d Battalion

    Regiment:

    8th Infantry Regiment

    Division:

    4th Infantry Division

    Action Date:

    February 28, 1945

    Headquarters, U.S. Forces-European Theater, General Orders No. 141 (July 1, 1945)

    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 Sergeant Michael H. Donovan (ASN: 32456106), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving with Company F, 2d Battalion, 8th Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Division, on 28 February 1945, at Hermespand, Germany. Although painfully wounded during a violent attack, Sergeant Donovan left his shelter to carry a seriously wounded officer, in the midst of bursting mortar shells, to safety. While conducting his wounded comrades across mine invested terrain, enemy fire from a machine gun killed an enlisted man. Seizing a grenade from a casualty, he stalked the position, killed the German crew and neutralized the gun. When halted a second time by enemy fire, he retrieved an abandoned machine gun nearby, eliminated the enemy weapon and covered his men to safety. Sergeant Donovan’s deeds merit inestimable praise and were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Army.