Medal of Honor Story: Roger Donlon

Roger Donlon, the first recipient of the Medal of Honor in Vietnam, talks about his time in Nam Dong.

[@banditeastlick2471]

One way to show thanks and to keep these people's stories alive is to like and comment.

[@tiamatxvxianash9202]

I'm glad that this man was honored in national news after he passed away. The Vietnam veterans are all getting really up there now in age. To think that this first recipient of the Medal of Honor was still with us all these years, as loyal and dedicated to the needs of his nation right up to the end. A supreme example of a steadfast and unbreakable spirit. Who says that he was not part of an even greater generation?

[@ciaxrp3029]

Not only a great Special Forces Officer, Man, Loving Husband, Father, and Man of God. Roger treated me like a son. I thank God for him.

[@GSGExtreme44]

I met him when I was a little kid when I lived in Camp Zama, Japan - Lived right down the street from me - Went to school with his 2 sons, Justin and Derek -

[@tonygee6418]

I've had the honor to meet this great man...

[@RaphaelPolanco]

Thanks for your service, Sir.

[@pamhospodarsky6129]

Thanks to the American Legion for this presentation of our historic soldier, Roger Donlon. I will send this to what I hope will be the beginning of a lot of pass it on patriots. May God continue to bless our nation.

[@andrewwebb-trezzi2422]

Rest in peace sir

[@rodgertatum9530]

My father considered Col. Donlon his best friend. They served together in Alaska. Then Capt. Donlon received orders for Vietnam. My father was sent to Ft. Benning. I was born March 20th 1964. My father named me after "Uncle Donlon". Uncle Donlon his wife and sons spent many afternoons and weekends with our family after my father retired and Uncle Donlon was stationed at Ft. Benning. You would never know he won the MOH just by meeting him. He was always so kind and loving towards us. He made time out of his busy schedule to visit my father before he passed away. That meant the world to my father. From the family of Maj. Paul R Tatum to Col. Donlon we say Thank you. To America you are a hero. To us you will always be Uncle Donlon.

[@dadquestionmark]

Met him in 2013 or 2014 I think, when he was in Gettysburg, PA for a MoH event. We share the same last name and he loved that - got a picture together, chatted for a while, and he gave me a copy of his book. He wrote on the inner cover, “Great to meet another Donlon!” I’ll never forget that day, meeting that legend. Truly a kind man.

[@sixtycents7191]

I served with one of the men who was with Col. Donlon . The medic who was with him in his special forces team, Thomas Gregg. CW 4 Gregg imparted to me the standards he learned from the Col. , this made me a career soldier dedicated to the USA and United States Army . I heard first hand accounts of this mans courage and leadership in command driving his men to succeed in the face of the unbelievable to most of us . Thank you Col. , your spirit touched more branches of the tree then you could possibly imagine...

[@annc886]

Thank you!

[@sigixanten7680]

Congratulation Mr. Donlon! A BIG HELLO from Europe, I admire you.

[@sarahschmidt4177]

God bless you and your family, sir.

[@laurelinlorefield318]

Thanks for serving and giving us a peek into your life and experiences. My Dad was flying close air support in the F-100 Super Saber out of Danang beginning in the first few days of June and through August. He was the duty officer for the first official F-100 mission June 3 or 4th and went on to fly combat missions in Laos as well as North and South Vietnam that summer. He came back and did the same but flying F4C Phantoms out of Cam Rahn Bay in Oct. of 1965 through the summer of '66. I'd like to think he brought in support for you at some point. God bless you all.

[@charliesmith5189]

RIP American Hero!