The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Second Lieutenant John J. Donahue (MCSN: 0-53619), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity while serving as a Platoon Commander of Company A, First Battalion, Seventh Marines, FIRST Marine Division (Reinforced), in action against enemy aggressor forces in Korea on 28 May 1952. Leading his platoon in a determined attack against a well-fortified enemy hill position, Second Lieutenant Donahue bravely made his way up a slope covered with barbed wire, mines and booby traps and expertly directed his squads in a devastating assault on the trenches and bunkers. Repeatedly exposing himself to a wall of hostile machine-gun and hand-grenade fire, he courageously led his men in routing the hostile forces from the hill, personally accounting for at least five enemy dead. When he observed a wounded man lying in an exposed area as the platoon was returning to a defensive position, Second Lieutenant Donahue, aggressively firing his pistol point-blank at the enemy, fearlessly dashed through a murderous hail of hostile machine-gun fire, aided the stricken Marine and carried him back up the hill to the defensive perimeter. Although seriously wounded and weak from loss of blood as the position was subjected to heavy enemy artillery and mortar fire, he dauntlessly moved about the area, emplacing and encouraging his men and supervising the evacuation of casualties. Steadfastly refusing evacuation until all other wounded had been evacuated and his men were well emplaced, Second Lieutenant Donahue, by his outstanding courage, exemplary leadership and indomitable fighting spirit, served to inspire all who observed him and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.