– Vietnam War Veteran Medal of Honor recipient
– First Medal of Honor recipient from Vietnam War.
Captain Roger Donlon, First Vietnam War Veteran to Receive Medal of Honor, Dies at 89
A U.S. Army Captain, Roger Donlon, who made history as the first Vietnam War veteran to be awarded the highest U.S. military honor, the Medal of Honor, has passed away at the age of 89. The news of his death was reported by the Washington Post.
Captain Donlon, who had been battling Parkinson’s disease, a condition linked to his exposure to the toxic military herbicide Agent Orange, died in Leavenworth, Kansas. His second wife, Norma Shinno Donlon, confirmed the cause of his Parkinson’s disease, according to the report.
A Heroic Stand at Camp Nam Dong
Captain Roger Donlon earned his place in history for his brave defense of Camp Nam Dong, a South Vietnamese army outpost on the border with Laos, during the Vietnam War. In 1964, he became the first Medal of Honor recipient from the war.
On July 6, 1964, a force of around 800 Viet Cong guerillas launched a fierce attack on Camp Nam Dong, using mortars, grenades, and machine gunfire. Captain Donlon, as the commanding officer of a 12-member U.S. Special Forces Team A-726, led the defense alongside 300 South Vietnamese forces and an Australian military adviser.
Despite being wounded three times and narrowly escaping a direct mortar hit, Captain Donlon demonstrated incredible bravery. He provided emergency aid to his fellow soldiers, using strips from his shirt and one of his socks as makeshift bandages and tourniquets. He also eliminated two enemy fighters during the intense assault.
As the assault continued and the Viet Cong called for surrender, U.S. helicopters attempting to bring in reinforcements were forced back by heavy fire. However, at dawn, airstrikes successfully destroyed the enemy positions, allowing help to break through. The battle resulted in the loss of at least 57 South Vietnamese soldiers, two American soldiers, the Australian military adviser, and over 60 Viet Cong guerillas.
A Life of Service and Sacrifice
Captain Donlon’s dedication to duty extended beyond his heroic actions at Camp Nam Dong. He served a second stint in Vietnam in 1972, during which he sustained severe eye injuries. Returning to the U.S. during a time of heightened antiwar protests, he continued to serve as a trainer and adviser before retiring as a colonel in 1988.
Throughout his life, Captain Donlon shared his experiences and insights. He published two books, “Outpost of Freedom” in 1965 and “Beyond Nam Dong” in 1998, both of which recounted his time in Vietnam and the battle at Camp Nam Dong.
Born in Saugerties, New York, on January 30, 1934, Captain Roger Donlon initially aimed to become an Air Force pilot but was unable to pass the required eye tests. He subsequently joined the Army in 1958, beginning a lifelong commitment to military service.
With Captain Donlon’s passing, there are now 63 living recipients of the Medal of Honor, a reminder of the bravery and sacrifice displayed by those who have served their country.
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– Vietnam War Veteran
– Medal of Honor recipient.
