Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

1st Sergeant

Unit:

Company C, 1st Battalion, 8th Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Division "Ivy Division", U.S. Army

Awarded on:

January 22nd, 1946

Citation:
"For heroic achievement in connection with military operations against an enemy of the United States near Gondenbrett, Germany, 7 February 1945. Sergeant DURKIN was the communications sergeant in a unit which was preparing to meet an enemy armored counterattack. Since coordination for the defense was essential, Sergeant DURKIN voluntarily set out to install sound-power communications, though a storm of enemy artillery and mortar fire was raining on his unit's positions. Despite the fact that a guide accompanying him was killed, he continued forward until he had installed sufficient wire communications to assure his company of coordinated defensive fire. Sergeant DURKIN's courage and perseverance reflect credit upon himself and the military service."

General Orders No. 4, Headquarters 4th Infantry Division (22 January 1946).
At the time of the action he still held the rank of Sergeant.