Roger Donlon, First MOH Recipient of Vietnam War, Dies at 89 

The Congressional Medal of Honor Society announced January 25 that Roger H. C. Donlon, the first recipient of the Medal of Honor for the Vietnam War, passed away January 25, 2024, in Leavenworth, Kansas, at the age of 89—five days before his 90th birthday. President Lyndon Johnson presented Donlon with the Medal of Honor in the East Ballroom of the White House on Dec. 5, 1964, for his actions near Nam Dong. On July 6, 1964, then-Captain Donlon was commanding officer at Camp Nam Dong when a Viet Cong battalion launched a predawn attack. During the next five hours, Donlon repeatedly exposed himself to heavy fire while defending against the enemy, moving ammunitions and weaponry to effective positions, aiding the wounded, and rallying his men. Throughout the battle, he was severely injured several times but persevered and insisted others receive medical attention before him. When the sun finally came up, the enemy retreated into the jungle. Donlon’s bravery and leadership had resulted in the defeat of the attackers and preserving the lives of the friendly Vietnamese camp defenders and fellow Americans. Humble in every respect, Donlon didn’t feel what he had done was heroic: “In my situation and every other situation that leads to the Medal of Honor, there is absolutely no input from the recipient. It’s all done by observers. Heroism is a product of what other people see.”