Documenting the American South

Doc South header logo Home
Commemorative Landscapes of North Carolina
Commemorative Landscapes of North Carolina
Commemorative Landscapes banner

Source:  Pfc. Phill G. McDonald, Greensboro. Photo courtesy of Rusty Long

  • Monument Name

    Pfc. Phill G. McDonald, Greensboro

  • Type

    Marker

  • Subjects

    Vietnam War, 1960-1975

  • City

    Greensboro

  • County

    Guilford

  • Description

    A simple, unadorned, lectern shaped concrete marker commemorates Army Private First Class Phill McDonald. A square bronze tablet is attached to the top. The memorial marker stands in the Phill G. McDonald Plaza at the Guilford County Governmental Center.

    Images: Bronze plaque | Close-up view of the plaza

  • Inscription

    PFC. PHILL G. MCDONALD / SEPTEMBER 13, 1941 – JUNE 7, 1968 / U.S. ARMY, COMPANY A, 1ST BATTALION / 14TH INFANTRY, 4TH INFANTRY DIVISION

    CONGRESSIONAL MEDAL OF HONOR / FOR CONSPICUOUS GALLANTRY AND / INTREPIDITY OF ACTION AT THE RISK OF HIS / OWN LIFE AND ABOVE AND BEYOND THE CALL / OF DUTY. ON JUNE 7, 1968, NEAR KONTUM / CITY, SOUTH VIETNAM, PHILL MCDONALD / DISPLAYED OUTSTANDING COURAGE AND / BRAVERY WHILE UNDER HEAVY ENEMY FIRE; / SACRIFICING HIS OWN LIFE TO SAVE / THE MEMBERS OF HIS PLATOON. / “GREATER LOVE HATH NO MAN”

  • Custodian

    Guilford County

  • Dedication Date

    June 7, 1988

  • Decade

    1980s

  • Geographic Coordinates

    36.071680 , -79.792130 View in Geobrowsemap pin

  • Supporting Sources

      Archer, William R. Legendary Locals of McDowell County, (Charleston, SC: Arcadia Publishing, 2013), 58-59 Link

      “McDonald, Phill,” Congressional Medal of Honor Foundation, themedalofhonor.com, (accessed July 1, 2017) Link

      “Pfc. Phill G. McDonald,” The Historical Marker Database, HMdb.org, (accessed July 1, 2017) Link

      “Phill Gene McDonald,” Find A Grave, www.findagrave.com, (accessed July 1, 2017) Link

  • Public Site

    Yes

  • Materials & Techniques

    Bronze, concrete

  • Subject Notes

    McDonald was born in West Virginia but had moved to Greensboro prior to being drafted into the army in 1967. An Interstate 64 bridge over Glade Creek, Raleigh County, West Virginia is named in his honor as is a portion of Route 80 in McDowell County, West Virginia.

  • Location

    The Phill G. McDonald Plaza faces S. Green Street and is bracketed on three sides by the current Guilford County Courthouse to the west, the Greensboro Police Department to the south and the Old Guilford County Courthouse to the north. The Guilford County Vietnam and Iraq and Afghanistan memorials are just a few feet away. A short distance to the east is the Greensboro Millennium Gate. A short distance to the west and in front of the Old Guilford County Courthouse are the MSgt. Edwin V. Bain memorial marker, memorial to Dr. George Simkins, Jr., and Gertrude Weil Memorials.

  • Landscape

    The memorial marker stands on a paved plaza.

Icon for reporting missing/incorrect information Know anything else about this monument that isn't mentioned here? If you have additional information on this or any other monument in our collection fill out the form at the Contact Us link in the footer. Thank you.