Serving as a soldier in the U.S. Army, Corporal Donald Marshall Call received the Medal of Honor for his actions on September 26, 1918 near Varennes, France during World War I. At the time he was serving with 344th Battalion, Tank Corps. Call was 25 years old.
8 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on February 9, 1919. Chaumont, France - presented by General John J. Pershing.
Call was born on November 29, 1892 in New York, New York. Call died on March 19, 1984 in Bethesda, Maryland, at the age of 91. He is buried at Cremated Ashes in Flower Garden in Bethesda, Maryland.
Call is one of 132 Medal of Honor recipients from World War I.
Official Medal of Honor citation
During an operation against enemy machine-gun nests west of Varennes, Cpl. Call was in a tank with an officer when half of the turret was knocked off by a direct artillery hit. Choked by gas from the high- explosive shell, he left the tank and took cover in a shellhole 30 yards away. Seeing that the officer did not follow, and thinking that he might be alive, Cpl. Call returned to the tank under intense machine-gun and shell fire and carried the officer over a mile under machine-gun and sniper fire to safety.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
Timeline
- November 29, 1892Born in New York, New York
- September 26, 1918Act of valor — near Varennes, FranceAge 25. 344th Battalion, Tank Corps
- February 9, 1919Medal of Honor presentedChaumont, France - presented by General John J. Pershing
- March 19, 1984Died in Bethesda, MarylandAge 91.
- Resting placeCremated Ashes in Flower GardenBethesda, Maryland
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