Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

2nd Lieutenant (Second-lieutenant)

Unit:

Company G, 325 Glider Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division "All American", U.S. Army

Citation:
Second Lieutenant Donald B. Wason, Infantry, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action on 9 June 1944 in Normandy. Second Lieutenant Wason, commanding a rifle platoon of a glider infantry regiment, led the initial charge across the bridge and causeway over the Merderet River. The assault was launched in the face of heavy cross-fire from enemy machine guns nested in emplacements at the western end of the causeway. Setting an example of exemplary courage and initiative, Second Lieutenant Wason raced over the causeway and headed for the nearest machine gun nest. He wiped it out with grenades, and in the performance of this heroic action was killed by an enemy rifleman. His intrepidity set an example for others to parallel in the winning of the bridgehead in one of the bitterest battles fought during the early phase of the liberation. Entered military service from Connecticut.

Awarded posthumously.