Darel McKinney served in the

United States Marine Corps The United States Marine Corps (USMC), also referred to as the United States Marines, is the maritime land force service branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for conducting expeditionary and amphibious operations through combi ...

during

World War I World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...

. He would be awarded the

Navy Cross The Navy Cross is the United States Navy and United States Marine Corps' second-highest military decoration awarded for sailors and marines who distinguish themselves for extraordinary heroism in combat with an armed enemy force. The medal is eq ...

and

Distinguished Service Cross The Distinguished Service Cross (D.S.C.) is a military decoration for courage. Different versions exist for different countries. *Distinguished Service Cross (Australia) The Distinguished Service Cross (DSC) is a military decoration awarded to ...

for his actions during the

Battle of Belleau Wood The Battle of Belleau Wood (1–26 June 1918) occurred during the German spring offensive in World War I, near the Marne River in France. The battle was fought between the U.S. 2nd (under the command of Major General Omar Bundy) and 3rd Divisi ...

. His Navy Cross citation reads: :''The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Sergeant Darel Jesse McKinney (MCSN: 90613), United States Marine Corps, for extraordinary heroism while serving with the 83d Company, 6th Regiment (Marines), 2d Division, A.E.F. in action in the Bois-de-Belleau, France, on 8 June 1918. Although severely wounded, Sergeant McKinney refused to go to the rear for treatment. Despite his wounds, he continued to lead his platoon to the attack, inflicting great losses upon the enemy.'' His Distinguished Service Cross citation reads: :''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 Darel Jesse McKinney (MCSN: 90613), United States Marine Corps, for extraordinary heroism while serving with the Eighty-Third Company, Sixth Regiment (Marines), 2d Division, A.E.F., in action in the Bois-de-Belleau, France, on 8 June 1918. Although severely wounded, Sergeant McKinney refused to go to the rear for treatment. Despite his wounds, he continued to lead his platoon to the attack, inflicting great losses upon the enemy.'' McKinney was born in

Milwaukee, Wisconsin Milwaukee ( ), officially the City of Milwaukee, is both the most populous and most densely populated city in the U.S. state of Wisconsin and the county seat of Milwaukee County, Wisconsin, Milwaukee County. With a population of 577,222 at th ...

References

Year of birth missing Year of death missing Military personnel from Milwaukee Recipients of the Navy Cross (United States) Recipients of the Distinguished Service Cross (United States) United States Marines United States Marine Corps personnel of World War I {{USMC-bio-stub