Remembering the First Medal of Honor Recipient from the Vietnam War:
Colonel Roger H.C. Donlon, USA
Earlier this year, on January 25, 2024, Colonel Roger H. C. Donlon passed away, and with his loss, marked a new phase in the collective memory of the Vietnam War. With the passing of Colonel Donlon, America lost its first Medal of Honor Recipient from the war—a war that changed the way Americans viewed the nation’s military and political leaders. Although the Korean War of the early 1950s represented a stark change from the black-and-white ethics of America’s involvement in World War I and World War II, the Vietnam War left many conflicted about the nation’s involvement. Many Americans were often unwilling to distinguish between their opposition to the war and the dutiful, courageous service of the nation’s armed forces. Nevertheless, despite years of discord surrounding the war’s meaning, the sacrifice of America’s service members has been well established.
Since 1964, 269 of the nation’s bravest servant leaders have been awarded the Medal of Honor for placing themselves in harm’s way above and beyond the call of duty; for some, they earned the Medal earned through their last full measure of devotion. Now that Colonel Donlon has received his final salute, his story calls to mind an uncommon sacrifice and dedication to his unit, mission, service branch, and nation. With his passing, we are further reminded that only 44 Medal of Honor Recipients from the Vietnam War remain with us today.
On July 6, 1964, then Captain Donlon, (originally from Saugerties, New York, in the Hudson Valley), found himself in the fight of his life—before the United States had even thrust its forces into full-fledged combat. While commanding U.S. Army Detachment A-726, 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne), 1st Special Forces, near Nam Dong in the Republic of Vietnam (South Vietnam), Captain Donlon led the defense of Camp Nam Dong from an early morning siege by a Viet Cong battalion. In addition to being under siege from outside forces, a majority of the Vietnamese soldiers that Captain Donlon and his Special Forces Detachment had been training spontaneously revealed themselves as Viet Cong infiltrators and joined in the fight from inside the camp. Midway through the battle, the invading Viet Cong further tried to turn the tide by engaging in psychological warfare, calling for Republic of Vietnam soldiers to lay down their arms and cease defending the camp. Only through much encouragement, especially by Captain Donlon, were some of the Republic of Vietnam soldiers persuaded to re-engage the enemy.
Despite being seriously wounded numerous times, including in the stomach, shoulder, leg, and face, from a relentless volley of mortars and grenades, Captain Donlon repositioned and directed friendly mortar teams, dragged a wounded comrade to safety, dragged vital weapons and ammunition to fellow soldiers, and rendered aid to wounded comrades as he came upon them. During the course of the five-hour battle, Captain Donlon continually placed himself in exposed positions to direct defensive fires, evacuate the wounded, and ensure that his soldiers were supplied and in position to suppress the relentless assault.
At one point, Captain Donlon instinctively rushed to the main gate to neutralize three enemy sappers preparing explosive charges, but had to manually load three rounds into his rifle just to be able to dispatch the sappers before they could blow the main gate. Despite defeating the Viet Cong siege, Captain Donlon had only been part of a force that numbered less than one hundred; alternatively, the battalion they had faced numbered roughly one thousand. Yet without hesitation, Captain Donlon and the American Special Forces had agreed to fight to the death; in retrospect, Captain Donlon believed that making that commitment became a force multiplier. By daybreak, the Viet Cong’s attack had been repelled and many American and Republic of Vietnam soldiers’ lives had been saved.
Colonel Donlon spent the rest of his military career and especially his years in retirement inspiring many to great acts of service. Mike Meyer, one of The National Vietnam War Museum’s board members, had the honor of helping Colonel Donlon reconcile America’s relationship with post–war Vietnam in the mid-1990s. During that period Mr. Meyer took several students who had been awarded scholarships by Colonel Donlon back to Vietnam, and in addition, built libraries across Vietnam, including one for Colonel Donlon at the site of his Medal of Honor battle in Nam Dong. Mr. Meyer then brought Colonel Donlon back to Nam Dong for the dedication of the library in the early 2000s. Mr. Meyer remembers Colonel Donlon as “instrumental in bringing Vietnam back to the forefront and supported to the point where the United States and Vietnam are now engaged in a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.” Mr. Meyer, reflecting on Colonel Donlon’s character, recalls that “Roger never said a bad word about anyone. He was always positive in life and a very strong family man. His ability to bring people together and find solutions was his strength.”
Art Fillmore, also a board member of The Museum, had taken Mr. Meyer on the first American airlift to Vietnam since the war’s end; he too grew to know Colonel Donlon personally. Mr. Fillmore remembers that in addition to his courage on the battlefield and distinguished military career, he was equally revered by those he served in retirement. Mr. Fillmore remembers him as “a kind, giving mentor to thousands of veterans and non-veterans alike. He was a role model and hero for all who knew him. Both the 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne) Headquarters building and Chapter 75 of the Special Forces Association bear his name. He was revered by all and justifiably so.”
In the decades following his Medal of Honor action, Colonel Donlon emphasized that he (and other Medal of Honor Recipients) had acted selflessly more so for comrades in arms than out of a desire to kill the enemy. This, he felt, was an important distinction in what motivated him to unwavering courage. Colonel Donlon was unshy about sharing his deep, devoted religious faith. He regularly drew connections between his story of sacrifice and what it meant in the context of a life called to a higher purpose. By earning the Medal of Honor, Colonel Donlon became the first U.S. Army Special Forces soldier to earn the decoration.
Image: Roger Donlon (Back Row, Center) and Mike Meyer (Back Row, Right) with Vietnamese youth during a visit back to Vietnam.
Image courtesy of Mike Meyer
Article Authors:
Ryan Sisak, Vice President, Board of Directors, & Historian
Mike Meyer, Member, Board of Directors
Art Fillmore, Member, Board of Directors
