Donald Ronald Lobaugh (February 7, 1925 – July 22, 1944) was a

United States Army The United States Army (USA) is the land warfare, land military branch, service branch of the United States Armed Forces. It is one of the eight Uniformed services of the United States, U.S. uniformed services, and is designated as the Army o ...

soldier and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration—the

Medal of Honor The Medal of Honor (MOH) is the United States Armed Forces' highest military decoration and is awarded to recognize American soldiers, sailors, marines, airmen, guardians and coast guardsmen who have distinguished themselves by acts of valo ...

—for his actions in

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposing ...

Biography

Lobaugh joined the Army from his birthplace of

Freeport, Pennsylvania Freeport is a Borough (Pennsylvania), borough in Armstrong County, Pennsylvania, Armstrong County in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania; it is situated along the Allegheny River in the southwest corner of the county. The population was 1,813 at the 201 ...

in May 1942, and by July 22, 1944, was serving as a

private Private or privates may refer to: Music * " In Private", by Dusty Springfield from the 1990 album ''Reputation'' * Private (band), a Denmark-based band * "Private" (Ryōko Hirosue song), from the 1999 album ''Private'', written and also recorde ...

in the 127th Infantry Regiment, 32nd Infantry Division. On that day, near

Afua Afua (, ) or Efua (, ) is an Akan day name traditionally given to girls born on a Friday; the equivalent male name is Kofi. Given name or day name * Afua Adwo Jectey Hesse, Ghanaian pædiatric surgeon and former president of the Medical Wome ...

Dutch New Guinea Dutch New Guinea or Netherlands New Guinea ( nl, Nederlands-Nieuw-Guinea, id, Nugini Belanda) was the western half of the island of New Guinea that was a part of the Dutch East Indies until 1949, later an overseas territory of the Kingd ...

, he single-handedly attacked an enemy machine gun emplacement which was pinning down one platoon of his company. Lobaugh was killed in the attack and, on April 17, 1945, posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor. Lobaugh, aged 19 at his death, was buried at Rimersburg Cemetery in Rimersburg, Pennsylvania. In 2004 he was inducted into the Hall of Valor at the

Soldiers and Sailors National Military Museum and Memorial Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hall and Museum (or often simply Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hall) is a National Register of Historic Places landmark in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. It is the largest memorial in the United States ded ...

Pittsburgh Pittsburgh ( ) is a city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, United States, and the county seat of Allegheny County. It is the most populous city in both Allegheny County and Western Pennsylvania, the second-most populous city in Pennsylva ...

Medal of Honor citation

Private Lobaugh's official Medal of Honor citation reads:

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty near Afua, New Guinea, on July 22, 1944. While Pvt. Lobaugh's company was withdrawing from its position on July 21, the enemy attacked and cut off approximately 1 platoon of our troops. The platoon immediately occupied, organized, and defended a position, which it held throughout the night. Early on July 22, an attempt was made to effect its withdrawal, but during the preparation therefor, the enemy emplaced a machinegun, protected by the fire of rifles and automatic weapons, which blocked the only route over which the platoon could move. Knowing that it was the key to the enemy position, Pfc. Lobaugh volunteered to attempt to destroy this weapon, even though in order to reach it he would be forced to work his way about 30 yards over ground devoid of cover. When part way across this open space he threw a hand grenade, but exposed himself in the act and was wounded. Heedless of his wound, he boldly rushed the emplacement, firing as he advanced. The enemy concentrated their fire on him, and he was struck repeatedly, but he continued his attack and killed 2 more before he was himself slain. Pfc. Lobaugh's heroic actions inspired his comrades to press the attack, and to drive the enemy from the position with heavy losses. His fighting determination and intrepidity in battle exemplify the highest traditions of the U.S. Armed Forces.

Recognition

In 1965, a vehicular

cantilever bridge A cantilever bridge is a bridge built using structures that project horizontally into space, supported on only one end (called cantilevers). For small footbridges, the cantilevers may be simple beams; however, large cantilever bridges designed ...

across the Allegheny River between Buffalo Township and Allegheny Township, Pennsylvania was named in Lobaugh's honor. Lobaugh was born in the nearby town of

Notes

References

: * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Lobaugh, Donald R. 1925 births 1944 deaths United States Army personnel killed in World War II United States Army Medal of Honor recipients People from Freeport, Pennsylvania United States Army soldiers World War II recipients of the Medal of Honor

Biography

Medal of Honor citation

Recognition

See also

Notes

References