1st Lt 167th Inf 42nd Div, D.S.C. Killed in action in the Argonne ForestBill MacDonald entered the University of Washington as a sophomore in 1913. He had previously been a year at Annapolis. He entered the Law School in '14 and received his degree in '17.
He enlisted in Company A, Second Washington, in 1916, when the Mexican trouble developed and went with the regiment to Calexico. After his return in the fall of '16, he was promoted to corporal, and when war was declared, was selected by his captain as on of two men from the company for the first Officers' Training Camp at the Presidio.
Upon completion of his work there, he was commissioned second lieutenant and assigned to the 364th Infantry at Camp Lewis. In December, 1917, Bill was transferred to his old regiment, now the 161st and sent to France.
He was on training duty and attending Corps School until July, 1918, when he was promoted to fist lieutenant and at his own request assigned to a company unit, Company I, 167th Infantry, 42nd Rainbow Division.
He was with his regiment in the Argonne and was killed on October 14th while attacking the Cote de Chatilon. Early in the attack he received a bad shrapnel would in the leg, but went on with his meant to his second objective.
When his platoon was established, Bill started to crawl back to a dressing station. he had gone but a short distance when a shell fell near him and he was instantly killed. Three days later the chaplain of his regiment found his body and he is buried on the north side of the Cote de Chatilon with three of his men who were lying near him.
He was a member of Kappa Sigma, Phi Delta Phi, honor law fraternity and Oval Club, a "Big W" man, and track captain in 1917. He won his athletic honors in the mile and two-mile.
William J.A. Macdonald was the son of Dr. and Mrs. Alexander MacDonald of Hatfield, Minnesota. His home in this city (Seattle) was with his uncle and aunt, Mr. and Mrs. Frank A. Steele. In April 1917, he married Miss Helen Bain, a University girl, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. David Bain, 1126 31st Avenue, Seattle.
In honor of Bill, one of the University athletic fields has been named "MacDonald Field."
-Source: University of Washington yearbook 1919
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to First Lieutenant (Infantry) William J. A. MacDonald, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with 167th Infantry Regiment, 42d Division, A.E.F., near Landres-et-St. Georges, France, 14 October 1918. When the platoon commanded by Lieutenant MacDonald began the attack, it encountered a tremendously heavy artillery and machine-gun fire. Lieutenant MacDonald, realizing the difficult and hazardous position his men were in, and with utter disregard of his own personal safety, valorously led the platoon forward and attained the objective. In the performance of this brave act Lieutenant MacDonald so encouraged his men that they continued to carry on after he had made the supreme sacrifice.
He enlisted in Company A, Second Washington, in 1916, when the Mexican trouble developed and went with the regiment to Calexico. After his return in the fall of '16, he was promoted to corporal, and when war was declared, was selected by his captain as on of two men from the company for the first Officers' Training Camp at the Presidio.
Upon completion of his work there, he was commissioned second lieutenant and assigned to the 364th Infantry at Camp Lewis. In December, 1917, Bill was transferred to his old regiment, now the 161st and sent to France.
He was on training duty and attending Corps School until July, 1918, when he was promoted to fist lieutenant and at his own request assigned to a company unit, Company I, 167th Infantry, 42nd Rainbow Division.
He was with his regiment in the Argonne and was killed on October 14th while attacking the Cote de Chatilon. Early in the attack he received a bad shrapnel would in the leg, but went on with his meant to his second objective.
When his platoon was established, Bill started to crawl back to a dressing station. he had gone but a short distance when a shell fell near him and he was instantly killed. Three days later the chaplain of his regiment found his body and he is buried on the north side of the Cote de Chatilon with three of his men who were lying near him.
He was a member of Kappa Sigma, Phi Delta Phi, honor law fraternity and Oval Club, a "Big W" man, and track captain in 1917. He won his athletic honors in the mile and two-mile.
William J.A. Macdonald was the son of Dr. and Mrs. Alexander MacDonald of Hatfield, Minnesota. His home in this city (Seattle) was with his uncle and aunt, Mr. and Mrs. Frank A. Steele. In April 1917, he married Miss Helen Bain, a University girl, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. David Bain, 1126 31st Avenue, Seattle.
In honor of Bill, one of the University athletic fields has been named "MacDonald Field."
-Source: University of Washington yearbook 1919
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to First Lieutenant (Infantry) William J. A. MacDonald, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with 167th Infantry Regiment, 42d Division, A.E.F., near Landres-et-St. Georges, France, 14 October 1918. When the platoon commanded by Lieutenant MacDonald began the attack, it encountered a tremendously heavy artillery and machine-gun fire. Lieutenant MacDonald, realizing the difficult and hazardous position his men were in, and with utter disregard of his own personal safety, valorously led the platoon forward and attained the objective. In the performance of this brave act Lieutenant MacDonald so encouraged his men that they continued to carry on after he had made the supreme sacrifice.
1st Lt 167th Inf 42nd Div, D.S.C. Killed in action in the Argonne ForestBill MacDonald entered the University of Washington as a sophomore in 1913. He had previously been a year at Annapolis. He entered the Law School in '14 and received his degree in '17.
He enlisted in Company A, Second Washington, in 1916, when the Mexican trouble developed and went with the regiment to Calexico. After his return in the fall of '16, he was promoted to corporal, and when war was declared, was selected by his captain as on of two men from the company for the first Officers' Training Camp at the Presidio.
Upon completion of his work there, he was commissioned second lieutenant and assigned to the 364th Infantry at Camp Lewis. In December, 1917, Bill was transferred to his old regiment, now the 161st and sent to France.
He was on training duty and attending Corps School until July, 1918, when he was promoted to fist lieutenant and at his own request assigned to a company unit, Company I, 167th Infantry, 42nd Rainbow Division.
He was with his regiment in the Argonne and was killed on October 14th while attacking the Cote de Chatilon. Early in the attack he received a bad shrapnel would in the leg, but went on with his meant to his second objective.
When his platoon was established, Bill started to crawl back to a dressing station. he had gone but a short distance when a shell fell near him and he was instantly killed. Three days later the chaplain of his regiment found his body and he is buried on the north side of the Cote de Chatilon with three of his men who were lying near him.
He was a member of Kappa Sigma, Phi Delta Phi, honor law fraternity and Oval Club, a "Big W" man, and track captain in 1917. He won his athletic honors in the mile and two-mile.
William J.A. Macdonald was the son of Dr. and Mrs. Alexander MacDonald of Hatfield, Minnesota. His home in this city (Seattle) was with his uncle and aunt, Mr. and Mrs. Frank A. Steele. In April 1917, he married Miss Helen Bain, a University girl, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. David Bain, 1126 31st Avenue, Seattle.
In honor of Bill, one of the University athletic fields has been named "MacDonald Field."
-Source: University of Washington yearbook 1919
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to First Lieutenant (Infantry) William J. A. MacDonald, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with 167th Infantry Regiment, 42d Division, A.E.F., near Landres-et-St. Georges, France, 14 October 1918. When the platoon commanded by Lieutenant MacDonald began the attack, it encountered a tremendously heavy artillery and machine-gun fire. Lieutenant MacDonald, realizing the difficult and hazardous position his men were in, and with utter disregard of his own personal safety, valorously led the platoon forward and attained the objective. In the performance of this brave act Lieutenant MacDonald so encouraged his men that they continued to carry on after he had made the supreme sacrifice.
He enlisted in Company A, Second Washington, in 1916, when the Mexican trouble developed and went with the regiment to Calexico. After his return in the fall of '16, he was promoted to corporal, and when war was declared, was selected by his captain as on of two men from the company for the first Officers' Training Camp at the Presidio.
Upon completion of his work there, he was commissioned second lieutenant and assigned to the 364th Infantry at Camp Lewis. In December, 1917, Bill was transferred to his old regiment, now the 161st and sent to France.
He was on training duty and attending Corps School until July, 1918, when he was promoted to fist lieutenant and at his own request assigned to a company unit, Company I, 167th Infantry, 42nd Rainbow Division.
He was with his regiment in the Argonne and was killed on October 14th while attacking the Cote de Chatilon. Early in the attack he received a bad shrapnel would in the leg, but went on with his meant to his second objective.
When his platoon was established, Bill started to crawl back to a dressing station. he had gone but a short distance when a shell fell near him and he was instantly killed. Three days later the chaplain of his regiment found his body and he is buried on the north side of the Cote de Chatilon with three of his men who were lying near him.
He was a member of Kappa Sigma, Phi Delta Phi, honor law fraternity and Oval Club, a "Big W" man, and track captain in 1917. He won his athletic honors in the mile and two-mile.
William J.A. Macdonald was the son of Dr. and Mrs. Alexander MacDonald of Hatfield, Minnesota. His home in this city (Seattle) was with his uncle and aunt, Mr. and Mrs. Frank A. Steele. In April 1917, he married Miss Helen Bain, a University girl, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. David Bain, 1126 31st Avenue, Seattle.
In honor of Bill, one of the University athletic fields has been named "MacDonald Field."
-Source: University of Washington yearbook 1919
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to First Lieutenant (Infantry) William J. A. MacDonald, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with 167th Infantry Regiment, 42d Division, A.E.F., near Landres-et-St. Georges, France, 14 October 1918. When the platoon commanded by Lieutenant MacDonald began the attack, it encountered a tremendously heavy artillery and machine-gun fire. Lieutenant MacDonald, realizing the difficult and hazardous position his men were in, and with utter disregard of his own personal safety, valorously led the platoon forward and attained the objective. In the performance of this brave act Lieutenant MacDonald so encouraged his men that they continued to carry on after he had made the supreme sacrifice.
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