Donald Sidney Skidgel
Donald Sidney Skidgel (October 13, 1948 – September 14, 1969) was a United States Army soldier and a Medal of Honor recipient for his actions in the Vietnam War. He was born in Caribou, Maine, and joined the Army from Bangor, Maine, in 1968. By September 14, 1969, he was a sergeant in Troop D, 1st Squadron, 9th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division.
Near Song Be, Vietnam, during Operation Toan Thang III, Skidgel’s convoy came under heavy enemy fire. He left the protect of his position and, manning a machine gun in his vehicle, fired to draw fire away from the convoy’s command group. He then ran about 60 meters across the battlefield to a new position and continued firing. He returned to his vehicle to rejoin the fight, even after being seriously wounded by a rocket-propelled grenade. He kept firing until he was mortally wounded.
His actions helped the command group withdraw to safety and inspired his fellow soldiers. He was buried in Sawyer Cemetery, Plymouth, Maine.
In 2011, Route 2 over the Sebasticook River in Newport, Maine was renamed the Donald Sidney Skidgel Memorial Bridge in his honor. The change was signed into law on May 26, 2011, and the dedication took place on October 15, 2011, with several officials in attendance.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 21:23 (CET).