Roger Donlon, first Medal of Honor recipient from Vietnam War, dies at 89:
1. Roger Donlon Medal of Honor recipient from Vietnam War
2. Roger Donlon Vietnam War veteran and Medal of Honor recipient.
Camp Nam Dong Attack: Heroic Army Captain Roger Donlon Dies at 89
January 25, 2023
In a tragic incident that unfolded in the early hours of July 6, 1964, Camp Nam Dong, an outpost of South Vietnamese forces near the Laotian border, came under heavy attack. The first round of incoming fire ignited a fire on the roof, setting the camp ablaze. Within minutes, North Vietnamese fighters unleashed a barrage of mortars, grenades, and machine gunfire.
Amidst the chaos, Army Captain Roger Donlon, the commanding officer of Team A-726, was thrown through a door by a blast. Acting swiftly, a staff sergeant radioed for assistance from the air base in Danang, desperate for a flare ship and an airstrike to combat the relentless mortar fire.
The camp, surrounded by North Vietnamese soldiers and Viet Cong guerrillas, found itself in a dire situation. The burning mess hall illuminated the night sky, casting an eerie glow over the camp. Capt. Donlon, who would later become the first Medal of Honor recipient from the Vietnam War, described the relentless onslaught of mortar fire zeroing in on the camp.
Days prior to the attack, there were growing expectations that the North Vietnamese would attempt to overrun Camp Nam Dong. Villagers in the vicinity had become increasingly nervous, possibly sensing the impending danger. Although not a major military site, the camp’s strategic location provided a critical vantage point to monitor and disrupt the movements of North Vietnamese guerrillas.
When the initial attack wave hit, Capt. Donlon was checking the guard roster. As shells pounded the camp, the command post caught fire. With bravery and determination, Capt. Donlon and Master Sgt. Gabriel Ralph Alamo rushed inside to salvage as much ammunition and weaponry as possible.
Tragically, a Vietnamese interpreter standing nearby was struck by a blast, losing both his legs below the knees and succumbing to his injuries within seconds. The North Vietnamese forces, consisting of two Viet Cong battalions totaling over 800 fighters, pushed forward, reaching the camp’s last line of defense. U.S. helicopters attempted to provide reinforcements but were forced to turn back due to heavy fire.
In a desperate attempt to fend off the attackers, Capt. Donlon called for a flare to illuminate the main gate. In the burst of light, he engaged three North Vietnamese fighters, eliminating two and injuring the third with a grenade blast. However, he too sustained injuries, with shrapnel tearing into his left forearm and abdomen.
Undeterred by his wounds, Capt. Donlon crawled between defensive pits to assess the status of his team and others. Tragically, both the Australian adviser, Warrant Officer Kevin Conway, and another member of Capt. Donlon’s team, Sgt. John L. Houston, lost their lives. Capt. Donlon was struck again, this time in the left leg, experiencing excruciating pain for the first time.
Moments later, as a mortar exploded mere yards away, Capt. Donlon believed his time had come. Knocked unconscious and lying partially inside an ammunition bunker, he suffered wounds to his left shoulder and abdomen. Sgt. Alamo, who had fought alongside him, was also killed in action.
Using strips of his T-shirt and a sock as makeshift bandages and tourniquets, Capt. Donlon tended to his injuries. The North Vietnamese, through loudspeakers, demanded surrender or the camp would be overrun. The mortar barrages continued relentlessly.
At daybreak, the sound of approaching aircraft brought a glimmer of hope. Airstrikes pounded the North Vietnamese positions, signaling the end of the battle for Camp Nam Dong. The casualties were devastating, with at least 57 South Vietnamese fighters, two Americans, Conway, and over 60 North Vietnamese attackers losing their lives.
For his unwavering bravery and heroism, Capt. Donlon was awarded the Medal of Honor by President Lyndon B. Johnson in December 1964. His actions on that fateful day would forever cement his place in history as a true American hero.
Roger Hugh Charles Donlon, born on January 30, 1934, in Saugerties, New York, led an extraordinary life beyond his heroic actions at Camp Nam Dong. After enlisting in the Army in 1958, he earned the green beret of the Special Forces and served in various command and training roles worldwide.
Sadly, Capt. Donlon’s first marriage ended in divorce. In 1965, he met Norma Shinno Irving, a widow whose husband had also been killed in the Vietnam War. They married three years later and remained deeply committed to supporting veterans’ groups, including Wreaths Across America.
On January 25, 2023, Capt. Donlon passed away at the age of 89 in Leavenworth, Kansas. His legacy as a courageous soldier and a compassionate advocate for veterans will continue to inspire generations to come..
– Roger Donlon, first Medal of Honor recipient from Vietnam War, dies at
– Roger Donlon, first Medal of Honor recipient from Vietnam War, passes away at.
