Roger Hugh Charles Donlon

Roger Hugh Charles Donlon was a distinguished United States Army officer and the first person to receive the Medal of Honor during the Vietnam War. He was also the first member of the U.S. Army Special Forces to be awarded the nation's highest military decoration for valor. Born in Saugerties, New York, Donlon enlisted in the Air Force before attending West Point and being commissioned in the Army. He joined the nascent Special Forces, embodying the elite qualifications of the Green Berets.

On July 6, 1964, then-Captain Donlon was commanding Detachment A-726 at Camp Nam Dong, a remote outpost in South Vietnam. The camp came under a ferocious pre-dawn attack by a reinforced Viet Cong battalion. Despite being severely wounded multiple times by shrapnel from mortar rounds, Donlon continuously moved throughout the battlefield under intense fire. He directed the defense, repositioned weapons, administered first aid to the wounded, and repeatedly risked his life to extinguish fires and resupply ammunition to besieged positions.

His leadership and conspicuous gallantry were instrumental in rallying the vastly outnumbered American, South Vietnamese, and Nung forces to repel the determined enemy assault. His actions throughout the five-hour battle saved the camp from being overrun and saved the lives of numerous comrades. For his extraordinary heroism and self-sacrifice, President Lyndon B. Johnson presented him with the Medal of Honor. Donlon continued his military service, completing multiple tours and eventually retiring at the rank of Colonel. His legacy is one of supreme courage and inspirational leadership, setting a standard for Special Forces soldiers who followed.