MoH Recipient, Founding Trustee, is Person of the Month – September 2019



MoH Recipient, Founding Trustee, is Person of the Month – September 2019
Roger and Norma Donlon at the surprise luncheon for Col. Donlon at the Riverfront Community Center in Leavenworth, Kan., Dec. 5, 2014. The CGSC Foundation hosted the luncheon in recognition of the 50th Anniversary of Donlon’s receiving the Medal of Honor. (photos by Mark H. Wiggins)

Roger and Norma Donlon at the surprise luncheon for Col. Donlon at the Riverfront Community Center in Leavenworth, Kan., Dec. 5, 2014. The CGSC Foundation hosted the luncheon in recognition of the 50th Anniversary of Donlon’s receiving the Medal of Honor. (photos by Mark H. Wiggins)

The CGSC Foundation has selected Col. (Ret.) Roger Donlon, Medal of Honor recipient and a founding trustee of the CGSC Foundation, as the Person of the Month for September 2019.

Donlon is also a former CGSC instructor and continues to support Foundation and College events each year in the Fort Leavenworth and Kansas City area. He was also inducted to the Fort Leavenworth Hall of Fame in 1995 and in 2008 he donated his medal to the College to be put on display with his shadow box already on display in the atrium of the Lewis and Clark Center.

After the Aug. 11, 2008, ceremony in which he gifted his Medal of Honor to the College, Col. (Ret.) Roger Donlon poses for a photo in front of his Fort Leavenworth Hall of Fame shadow box in the atrium of the Lewis and Clark Center.

After the Aug. 11, 2008, ceremony in which he gifted his Medal of Honor to the College, Col. (Ret.) Roger Donlon poses for a photo in front of his Fort Leavenworth Hall of Fame shadow box in the atrium of the Lewis and Clark Center.

“You can’t visit CGSC and Fort Leavenworth and not be aware of the history here,” said Foundation President/CEO Rod Cox. “And having a living recipient of the Medal of Honor walk these halls, attend and present awards at CGSC graduations, and be a part of our own Foundation’s history as a founding trustee is an honor. Roger and Norma Donlon are proverbial pillars of our community.”

The Foundation last honored Roger and Norma with a luncheon in December 2014 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of his award of the Medal of Honor, which President Lyndon B. Johnson presented to him on Dec. 5, 1964.

“We see Roger and Norma here at CGSC for all the major events like the annual flag ceremonies and graduations,” said Cox, “but we just wanted to use our Person of the Month recognition as a small way to remind Roger and Norma and the entire community that we’re tremendously proud of his service to the nation, to the College and to the Foundation.”

As commander of Detachment A-726, U.S. Army Special Forces, then-Capt. Donlon and his 12-man team successfully defended a small American outpost at Camp Nam Dong, Republic of Vietnam, on July 6, 1964. During five excruciating hours, in the inferno of a desperate night battle, Donlon and his men held off a reinforced battalion of Viet Cong and North Vietnamese regular army forces. For his valor at Nam Dong, Donlon became the first American Soldier of the Vietnam War to be awarded the Medal of Honor and the first U.S. Army Special Forces soldier so honored. See the Medal of Honor Society website for the full citation. Donlon’s book Beyond Nam Dong recounts the events of that day and more.

We are more than honored and proud to recognize Col. (Ret.) Roger H.C. Donlon as the CGSC Foundation’s “Person of the Month” for September 2019, for all of his contributions to the nation, the College and the CGSC Foundation.

Col. (Ret.) Roger Donlon poses with a CGSOC student after autographing a copy of his book Beyond Nam Dong during a book signing in the CGSC Foundation gift shop in March 2009.

Col. (Ret.) Roger Donlon poses with a CGSOC student after autographing a copy of his book Beyond Nam Dong during a book signing in the CGSC Foundation gift shop in March 2009.

Col. (Ret.) Roger Donlon, right, and Army Vice Chief General James C. McConville, left, present Major Jonathan Nielsen with the General George C. Marshall Award as the top U.S. graduate for the CGSOC Class of 2018 during graduation on June 15, 2018. The award is one of many sponsored by the CGSC Foundation.

Col. (Ret.) Roger Donlon, right, and Army Vice Chief General James C. McConville, left, present Major Jonathan Nielsen with the General George C. Marshall Award as the top U.S. graduate for the CGSOC Class of 2018 during graduation on June 15, 2018. The award is one of many sponsored by the CGSC Foundation.

Col. (Ret.) Roger Donlon and Col. (Ret.) Scott Weaver, executive VP of the Greater Kansas City Chapter of AUSA, left, present the first “Col. Roger H.C. Donlon Patriot Award” to Gary Sinise during a luncheon in Kansas City on Feb. 25, 2019. The Greater Kansas City Chapter of AUSA instituted the award in Donlon’s name to recognize to provide a prestigious and visible means of recognizing and honoring citizens, military and civilians, who distinguish themselves through outstanding achievement to the U.S. Army, Soldiers, their community or their country.

Col. (Ret.) Roger Donlon and Col. (Ret.) Scott Weaver, executive VP of the Greater Kansas City Chapter of AUSA, left, present the first “Col. Roger H.C. Donlon Patriot Award” to Gary Sinise during a luncheon in Kansas City on Feb. 25, 2019. The Greater Kansas City Chapter of AUSA instituted the award in Donlon’s name to recognize to provide a prestigious and visible means of recognizing and honoring citizens, military and civilians, who distinguish themselves through outstanding achievement to the U.S. Army, Soldiers, their community or their country.

Foundation trustees of the CGSC Foundation gather at a reception in the Lewis and Clark Center on Aug. 12, 2007 and unveil a bronze plaque commemorating the CGSC Foundation’s incorporation. Donlon is third from left. The Foundation hosted the reception in honor of the College’s official dedication of the building on Aug. 14, 2007.

Foundation trustees of the CGSC Foundation gather at a reception in the Lewis and Clark Center on Aug. 12, 2007 and unveil a bronze plaque commemorating the CGSC Foundation’s incorporation. Donlon is third from left. The Foundation hosted the reception in honor of the College’s official dedication of the building on Aug. 14, 2007.

President Lyndon B. Johnson presented the first Medal of Honor of the Vietnam War to Captain Roger H. C. Donlon (standing right, at attention) at the White House on December 5, 1964, for his actions while at Camp Nam Dong in Vietnam. (U.S. Army photo)

President Lyndon B. Johnson presented the first Medal of Honor of the Vietnam War to Captain Roger H. C. Donlon (standing right, at attention) at the White House on December 5, 1964, for his actions while at Camp Nam Dong in Vietnam. (U.S. Army photo)

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4 thoughts on “MoH Recipient, Founding Trustee, is Person of the Month – September 2019

  1. Roger Donlon is a Great American in every sense of the words. I’m pleased that he is such a great supporter of the Army, CGSC, and the CGSC Foundation.

  2. Our father SFC (ret.) Vernon Lee Beeson fought in that battle with then Capt. Donolon. He has always shown such dignity and grace as a SOLDIER. After the death of our father in March 1992 Col. (ret.) Donolon made the a point to come to our home town in NC and visit Dad’s grave. To see this man literally lay the Medal of Honor on our Dad’s grave and say a few words for only God and Daddy to hear shows my family that what he said about the Medal belonging to the entire team is truly how he feels. Our Best Wishes go out to Col Donolon and Norma and we want them to know they are always in our thoughts and prayers. I feel it is fitting that now he shares this medal for all to view.

    • MRS. Beeson your father is in Valhalla with some my guys!! for the record. I served with 5th SFG,ODA-244, A-Team under Lt. Colonel Donlon. Hell of a man and a soldier…..God bless your father !!!!!!

  3. I had the pleasure to serve not with!! but under LT. Colonel Donlon command in Vietnam with SFG,ODA-244, A-TEAM!! hell of a leader and a man. “Le Oppressor Libre”

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