Word Celebrity Blog

Donald LeRoy Truesdell



Donald LeRoy Truesdell, son of Earl Trantham Truesdell and Maggie [Lee] Truesdell,  was born on August 26, 1906,  in Lugoff, South Carolina. 

He enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in November 1924.


























Donald Truesdell served as a Corporal in the United Stares Marine Corps during the 2nd Campaign in Nicaragua.

Corporal Truesdell's bravery cost him his right forearm in Nicaragua and earned for him the Medal of Honor in April 1932.

Corporal Donald Truesdell (a lieutenant in the Nicaraguan native army)  was second in command of a patrol that was pushing through that country's trackless forests on the trail of bandits when a rifle grenade fell from the pack of one member of the patrol and hit a rock. The impact of hitting the rock, ignited the detonator of the grenade, threatening the safety of the entire patrol.  Without any hesitation, Corporal Truesdell grabbed the grenade and attempted to throw it away.

He was seconds late and the grenade exploded while it was  still in his grasp, blowing off his hand and inflicting multiple wounds to his body. For his heroism he was awarded the nation's highest award, the Medal of Honor and also the Nicaraguan Cross of Valor by the Nicaraguan Government.


























Corporal Truesdell is presented with  the Medal Of Honor.


Medal of Honor Citation

The President of the United States in the name of The Congress takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to

TRUESDELL, DONALD LEROY
(Name officially changed to Truesdale)

Rank and organization:
Corporal, U.S. Marine Corps.

Place and date:
Vicinity Constancia, near Coco River, northern Nicaragua,
April 24 1932.

Entered service at:
South Carolina.

Born:
August 8, 1906,
Lugoff, South Carolina.
















Citation:

Corporal Truesdell was second in command of a Guardia Nacional Patrol in active operations against armed bandit forces in the vicinity of Constancia,  near Coco River,  northern Nicaragua,  on 24 April 1932.  While the patrol was in formation on the trail searching for a bandit group with which contact had just previously been made, a rifle grenade fell from its carrier and struck a rock, igniting the detonator. Several men close to the grenade at the time were in danger. Cpl. Truesdell, who was several yards away, could easily have sought cover and safety for himself. Knowing full well the grenade would explode within 2 or 3 seconds, he rushed for the grenade, grasped it in his right hand, and attempted to throw it away from the patrol. The grenade exploded in his hand, blowing it off and inflicting serious multiple wounds about his body. Cpl. Truesdell, in taking the full shock of the explosion himself, saved the members of the patrol from loss of life or serious injury.


























In Quantico,  Virginia, on November 1, 1941,  Donald Truesdell married Gladys Garrity (born July 31, 1921, in Ocean City, N.J.). She was the daughter of Edwin Raymond and Gladys Mae [Phillips] Garrity.

Donald Truesdell changed his last name to Truesdale in 1942.

On July 9, 1944, Jefferey Truesdale was born at camp LeJeune, North Carolina.

Although he had lost an arm, Donald Truesdale continued to serve with the Marine Corps until his retirement as a Commissioned Warrant Officer. After 21 years  of service in the United States Marine Corps,  he retired in May 1946.


























He died in Lugoff, South Carolina, on September 21, 1993, at the age of 87.

The James Leroy Belk Post 17, American Legion, of which Donald Truesdale was a member for 50 years, unveiled a monument to honor this hero of Kershaw County. The ceremony took place in Quaker Cemetery`s Little Arlington where fellow Medal of Honor winners Richmond Hobson Hilton and John C. Villepigue are honored, along with the “Angel of Marye`s Heights,” Richard Kirkland.

Speaker Baxley then asked Donald Truesdale`s wife,  Gladys,  of  Lugoff,  and Jeffrey Truesdale,  his son,  of Charleston,  to come forward for the marker`s unveiling.




















Jeffrey Truesdale spoke on behalf of the family.

Jefferey Truesdale said: “As we get older and reflect on how some of today`s soldiers go off to service and come back complaining,  I remember that my father never did that,” said Truesdell. “He did what he had to do without question. Later in life, he met with dignitaries and with the military on aircraft carriers. They would salute him, and that made him uncomfortable. He didn`t like the spotlight.”




















There is a grave marker in the Truesdale Family Cemetery. There is also an account that Donald Truesdale was cremated and that his ashes were scattered as requested.
















Donald Truesdale  was later given a posthumous memorial by the South Carolina General Assembly on May 19, 2004.

























A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

TO COMMEND THE EXTRAORDINARY HEROISM OF THE LATE DONALD LEROY TRUESDALE WHO WAS AWARDED THE MEDAL OF HONOR FOR HIS VALOR, WHICH IS THE HIGHEST AWARD THAT CAN BE BESTOWED UPON A MEMBER OF THE ARMED FORCES OF THE UNITED STATES.

Whereas, throughout our nation's history, men and women in all eras from Concord and Lexington to Falleujah have gone in harm's way to protect and secure our country's freedom and way of life; and

Whereas, to recognize extraordinary heroism the Congress of the United States established the Medal of Honor which represents the highest award for valor that can be bestowed upon a member of the armed forces of the United States; and

Whereas, there have been more than three thousand four hundred recipients but fewer than one hundred forty remain with us today; and

Whereas, most recipients of the medal are ordinary Americans from ordinary backgrounds who, under extraordinary circumstances and at great risk to their own lives, performed an incredible act or a series of acts of conspicuous valor that clearly sets them apart from their comrades; and

Whereas, thirty-seven citizens with South Carolina roots have received the Medal of Honor since its inception; and

Whereas, the late Donald Leroy Truesdale of Lugoff is one of these South Carolinians; and

Whereas, Marine Corporal Truesdale, while second in command of a Guardia Nacional Patrol in active operations against armed bandit forces in northern Nicaragua in April 1932, grabbed an ignited rifle grenade in an attempt to throw it away from his patrol. By taking the full shock of the explosion, Corporal Truesdale gallantly saved the members of his patrol from disaster; and

Whereas, the members of the General Assembly, by this resolution, would like to publicly recognize and honor the memory of the late Donald Leroy Truesdale, this brave and courageous son of South Carolina for his extraordinary heroism in the defense of our country and her ideals which epitomizes the very best of what

America stands for. Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives, the Senate concurring:

That the members of the General Assembly commend the extraordinary heroism of the late Donald Leroy Truesdale who was awarded the Medal of Honor for his valor, which is the highest award that can be bestowed upon a member of the armed forces of the United States.

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to the family of the late Donald Leroy Truesdale.