Roger Donlon (1934–2024), first Vietnam War Medal of Honor recipient

Episode 2698 of the Vietnam Veteran News Podcast will feature a story about the passing of Roger Donlon, the first Vietnam Veteran to be awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for service in the Vietnam War. The featured story comes from Legacy.com and was titled: Roger Donlon (1934–2024), first Vietnam War Medal of Honor recipient. It was submitted by Linnea Crowther.

Roger Donlon was the first Medal of Honor recipient of the Vietnam War. He passed away on January 25, 2024 at Leavenworth, Kansas.

Donlon was born in Saugerties, New York, the eighth child of ten. He attended the New York State College of Forestry at Syracuse University for a year. He joined the United States Air Force in 1953 and was admitted to West Point in 1955, but resigned for personal reasons. He re-enlisted, this time in the United States Army, in 1958, went to Officer Candidate School, and served as a general’s aide. In August 1963 he joined the Special Forces. He earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Nebraska at Omaha in 1967.

A portion of his CMoH citation reads as follows: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while defending a U.S. military installation against a fierce attack by hostile forces. Capt. Donlon was serving as the commanding officer of the U.S. Army Special Forces Detachment A-726 at Camp Nam Dong when a reinforced Viet Cong battalion suddenly launched a full-scale, predawn attack on the camp. During the violent battle that ensued, lasting 5 hours and resulting in heavy casualties on both sides, Capt. Donlon directed the defense operations in the midst of an enemy barrage of mortar shells, falling grenades, and extremely heavy gunfire

Listen to episode 2698 and discover more about the passing of Roger Donlon, the first Vietnam Veteran to be awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for service in the Vietnam War.