Donald Sidney Skidgel Donald Sidney Skidgel ( October 13 , 1948 – September 14 , 1969 ) was a United States Army soldier and a recipient of the United States military ' s highest decoration — the Medal of Honor — for his actions in the Vietnam War . Biography . Skidgel joined the Army from Bangor , Maine in 1968 , and by September 14 , 1969 was serving as a Sergeant in Troop D , 1st Squadron , 9th Cavalry Regiment , 1st Cavalry Division . On that day , near Song Be in the Republic of Vietnam , Skidgel ' s unit was guarding a convoy when it came under enemy attack . In an attempt to draw the enemy fire away from the convoy ' s command group , Skidgel manned a machine gun in his vehicle while his driver steered through intense fire toward the command element . Skidgel , mortally wounded during the effort , was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions . Skidgel , aged 20 at his death , was buried in Sawyer Cemetery , Plymouth , Maine . Medal of Honor citation . Sergeant Skidgel ' s official Medal of Honor citation reads : For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty . Sgt . Skidgel distinguished himself while serving as a reconnaissance section leader in Troop D . On a road near Song Be in Binh Long Province , Sgt . Skidgel and his section with other elements of his troop were acting as a convoy security and screening force when contact occurred with an estimated enemy battalion concealed in tall grass and in bunker s bordering the road . Sgt . Skidgel maneuvered off the road and began placing effective machinegun fire on the enemy automatic weapon s and rocket - propelled grenade positions . After silencing at least 1 position , he ran with his machinegun across 60 meters of bullet - swept ground to another location from which he continued to rake the enemy positions . Running low on ammunition , he returned to his vehicle over the same terrain . Moments later he was alerted that the command element was receiving intense automatic weapons , rocket - propelled grenade and mortar fire . Although he knew the road was saturated with enemy fire , Sgt . Skidgel calmly mounted his vehicle and with his driver advanced toward the command group in an effort to draw the enemy fire onto himself . Despite the hostile fire concentrated on him , he succeeded in silencing several enemy positions with his machinegun . Moments later Sgt . Skidgel was knocked down onto the rear fender by the explosion of an enemy rocket - propelled grenade . Ignoring his extremely painful wounds , he staggered back to his feet and placed effective fire on several other enemy positions until he was mortally wounded by hostile small arms fire . His selfless actions enabled the command group to withdraw to a better position without casualties and inspired the rest of his fellow soldiers to gain fire superiority and defeat the enemy . Sgt . Skidgel ' s gallantry at the cost of his life were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself , his unit , and the U . S . Army . Donald Sidney Skidgel Memorial Bridge . In 2011 , the bridge on Route 2 spanning the Sebasticook River in Newport Maine was replaced and the bridge was dedicated to Skidgel ' s memory bearing the name " The Donald Sidney Skidgel Memorial Bridge " . The renaming of the bridge to honor the Medal of Honor recipient was signed into law on May 26 , 2011 by Maine Governor Paul LePage and the bridge dedication ceremony took place October 15 , 2011 . Among the speakers present at the dedication were Senator Susan Collins , U . S . Representative Mike Michaud , General John Libby , State Representative Kenneth Fredette and Gail Kelly representing Senator Olympia Snowe ' s office .