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 The
President of the United States
in the name of The Congress
takes pleasure in presenting the
Medal of Honor
to
DONLON, ROGER HUGH C.
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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.
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