Roger Hugh Charles Donlon (born January 30, 1934) is a retired officer of the United States Army who became widely known for his leadership during an early engagement in Vietnam. He is recognized as the first person awarded the Medal of Honor in the Vietnam War and the first member of the U.S. Army Special Forces to receive that decoration.

Military career and early service

Donlon began a career in the Army that placed him in Special Forces units during a period when American involvement in Southeast Asia was escalating. He served in advisory and command roles with Special Forces detachments assigned to work with local forces. By mid-1964 he was a company-level commander at a remote Special Forces outpost that came under a determined enemy attack.

Action at Nam Dong and Medal of Honor

In early July 1964 the Special Forces camp at Nam Dong was assaulted by a large enemy force. Donlon organized the defense, directed the wounded to safety, exposed himself to heavy fire while tending to casualties, and coordinated support that ultimately repelled the attackers. For his conspicuous gallantry and leadership during that engagement he was awarded the Medal of Honor, a recognition that highlighted both individual valor and the unique challenges faced by small Special Forces teams in Vietnam.

Later life and legacy

After the action that earned him the nation's highest military decoration, Donlon continued to be associated with veteran affairs and the Special Forces community. His award established an early public example of the role Special Forces played in Vietnam and shaped perceptions of the conflict's outset. He has been cited in histories of U.S. special operations and used as an example in discussions about leadership under fire.

Notable distinctions

  • First Medal of Honor recipient for the Vietnam War.
  • First member of U.S. Army Special Forces to receive the Medal of Honor.
  • Recognized for leadership, casualty care, and small-unit defense during the early phase of American involvement in Vietnam.

For additional context on the engagement and Donlon's citation, readers can consult official military histories and collections of Medal of Honor citations. Contemporary accounts and later historical treatments place his actions in the broader narrative of Special Forces operations during the 1960s.