Col Roger H.C. Donlon

U.S. Army Special Forces (Retired)
01/30/34 – 01/25/2024

By Norma Donlon

Roger Hugh Charles Donlon, beloved husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother, uncle, friend, and Medal of Honor recipient, lost his 12-year battle with Agent Orange Parkinson’s Disease and died on January 23, 2024.

Roger was the 8th of 10 children born to Paul A. and Marion (Howard) Donlon of Saugerties, New York. Both his parents preceded him in death. In addition to his parents, his sisters, Marion, Mary Bernadette, Adrienne, and Barbara (Huff), along with brothers Joseph, Michael, and Gerard, also preceded him in death. Two other brothers, Paul A. Jr. of Saugerties, NY, and Jack in Panama City, FL, survive.

Graduating from Saugerties High School in 1952, Roger enlisted in the US Air Force in 1953. He attended the US Military Academy at West Point for 2 years before leaving to achieve his dream of serving as an Infantry Officer through Officer Candidate School. He earned his BA from the University of Nebraska at Omaha, his MS from Campbell University in North Carolina, an Honorary Master of Military Arts and Sciences from the Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, KS, and an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from Benedictine College in Atchison, KS. Roger served for a total of 33 years in his specialties as an Infantry, Special Forces, and Foreign Area Officer before retiring in 1988 in Leavenworth, KS.

On July 6, 1964, then Captain Donlon and his Special Forces Team A-726, along with 60 Chinese Nungs, defended Camp Nam Dong, Vietnam, when they were attacked by a force of 900 enemy troops. It was the first battle of the Vietnam War where the Regular North Vietnamese Army joined forces with the Viet Cong from the south to try to overrun an American outpost. For his actions at Nam Dong, Roger became the first American soldier to be awarded the Medal of Honor in Vietnam.

In November of 1965, while on a flight to Fort Benning, Georgia, Roger sat next to a young widow whose husband had been KIA in Vietnam. Neither was aware that this was the beginning of a love affair that would last to infinity and beyond. Three years later, Roger married Norma Shinno Irving on November 9, 1968.

Col. (ret.) Roger Donlon, MOH, delivering the keynote address at the Special Operations Association Reunion in October 2017. (Photo by Lonny Holmes)

Col. (ret.) Roger Donlon and his wife, Norma, at the Special Operations Association Reunion in 2017.

Gen. Westmoreland and Roger Donlon at a surprise birthday party SF community threw for the general aboard the Queen Mary. (Photo by Marc Yablonka)

Roger Donlon poses next to his life-size bronze bust, draped with a special Medal of Honor presented to the Special Forces officer in 1964. The bust was part of the formal dedication and naming of the 7th Special Forces Grp. (Abn) Headquarters on Eglin Air Force Base, Fl, in 2019, on the 54th anniversary of the day President Johnson awarded him the first MOH to a Green Beret during the Vietnam War. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Sean Hall)

At the Special Operations Forces Ball held by SFA Chapter 29 on May 6, 2023. From left: John Hughes, standing to Donlon’s right, CSM (R) Ross Worley, behind Donlon, John S. Meyer, and SFA Chapter 29 Treasurer Roy Williams, to John Meyer’s left. (Photo courtesy Geoff Helm)

Roger Donlon and Bald Eagle Magissuwa at the 2022 SFA National Convention. (Photo courtesy Mic Clinger)

Roger Donlon presented the winning trophy at SFA Chapter 78’s inaugural Shooter’s Cup in 2011. (Photo courtesy Lonny Holmes)

His surviving family is Linda Danninger (Paul) (daughter with his first wife, who preceded him in death), his wife of 55 years, Norma, and his three sons, Damian, Jason (Lori), and Derek. His youngest son, Justin, also preceded him in death. In addition, there are 6 grandchildren, Alicia Robbins, Justine (and Adam Donlon-Jeschke) Griffin Danninger, Elise, Jordan, and Aurelia Donlon, and one very special great-granddaughter, Willow Faye Donlon-Campbell, 17 nieces and nephews, 21 grand nieces and nephews, and 5 great-grand nieces and nephews.

Roger achieved many awards, honors, and accolades during his lifetime, but he considered his two reconciliation projects in Vietnam as his contribution to “Heal the wounds of war.” Both he and his wife, Norma, believed that “those who have invested the most of themselves in war should be the first to reach out in peace.”

Roger Donlon will be remembered as a devoted family man, faithful to God and his church, a patriot to the core, and always a friend and mentor to those with whom he came into contact.

Visitation was held on Monday, January 29, 2024, at Leintz Funeral Home in Leavenworth, KS.

A Mass of Christian Burial was held at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Leavenworth, KS, on January 30, 2024.

A Celebration of Life will be held on April 10, 2024, beginning at 1300 hours at the Frontier Conference Center, 350 Biddle Avenue, Fort Leavenworth, KS. Burial service to follow at Fort Leavenworth National Cemetery.

In lieu of cards or flowers, please consider a memorial donation to the Gary Sinise Foundation.