Rank and organization: Captain, U.S. Army. Place and date: Near
Nam Dong, Republic of Vietnam, 6 July 1964. Entered service at:
Fort Chaffee, Ark. Born: 30 January 1934, Saugerties, N.Y. G.O.
No.: 41, 17 December 1964. Citation: 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. Upon the initial
onslaught, he swiftly marshaled his forces and ordered the removal
of the needed ammunition from a blazing building. He then dashed
through a hail of small arms and exploding hand grenades to abort a
breach of the main gate. En route to this position he detected an
enemy demolition team of 3 in the proximity of the main gate and
quickly annihilated them. Although exposed to the intense grenade
attack, he then succeeded in reaching a 60mm mortar position
despite sustaining a severe stomach wound as he was within 5
yards of the gun pit. When he discovered that most of the men in
this gunpit were also wounded, he completely disregarded his own
injury, directed their withdrawal to a location 30 meters away, and
again risked his life by remaining behind and covering the
movement with the utmost effectiveness. Noticing that his team
sergeant was unable to evacuate the gun pit he crawled toward him
and, while dragging the fallen soldier out of the gunpit, an enemy
mortar exploded and inflicted a wound in Capt. Donlon's left
shoulder. Although suffering from multiple wounds, he carried the
abandoned 60mm mortar weapon to a new location 30 meters away
where he found 3 wounded defenders. After administering first aid
and encouragement to these men, he left the weapon with them,
headed toward another position, and retrieved a 57mm recoilless
rifle. Then with great courage and coolness under fire, he returned
to the abandoned gun pit, evacuated ammunition for the 2 weapons,
and while crawling and dragging the urgently needed ammunition,
received a third wound on his leg by an enemy hand grenade.
Despite his critical physical condition, he again crawled 175 meters
to an 81mm mortar position and directed firing operations which
protected the seriously threatened east sector of the camp. He
then moved to an eastern 60mm mortar position and upon
determining that the vicious enemy assault had weakened, crawled
back to the gun pit with the 60mm mortar, set it up for defensive
operations, and turned it over to 2 defenders with minor wounds.
Without hesitation, he left this sheltered position, and moved from
position to position around the beleaguered perimeter while hurling
hand grenades at the enemy and inspiring his men to superhuman
effort. As he bravely continued to move around the perimeter, a
mortar shell exploded, wounding him in the face and body. As the
long awaited daylight brought defeat to the enemy forces and their
retreat back to the jungle leaving behind 54 of their dead, many
weapons, and grenades, Capt. Donlon immediately reorganized his
defenses and administered first aid to the wounded. His dynamic
leadership, fortitude, and valiant efforts inspired not only the
American personnel but the friendly Vietnamese defenders as well
and resulted in the successful defense of the camp. Capt. Donlon's
extraordinary heroism, at the risk of his life above and beyond the
call of duty are in the highest traditions of the U.S. Army and
reflect great credit upon himself and the Armed Forces of his
country.