Roger Donlon Roger Hugh Charles Donlon ( born January 30 , 1934 ) is a retired United States Army officer who was the first man to receive the Medal of Honor in Vietnam , as well as the first member of the Special Forces so honored . Biography . Donlon was born in Saugerties , New York , the eighth child of ten . He attended the New York State College of Forestry at Syracuse University for a year . He joined the United States Air Force in 1953 and was admitted to West Point in 1955 , but resigned for personal reasons . He re - enlisted in the Army in 1958 , went to Officer Candidate School , and served as a General ' s aide . In August 1963 he joined the Special Forces . In May , 1964 Donlon ' s team was sent to Vietnam where they established an outpost at Nam Dong , about from the border with Laos . Early in the morning of July 6 , 1964 , the base was attacked by a large force of Vietcong . Under Captain Donlon ' s leadership , the two - battalion attack was repelled . Donlon received the Medal of Honor for his actions . Donlon later retired at the rank of Colonel . Donlon was awarded the key to the city of Lexington , Kentucky by mayor Fred Fugazzi on June 28 , 1965 . Donlon has written two books about his Vietnam experiences , " Outpost of Freedom " and " Beyond Nam Dong " . He currently lives in Kansas with his wife Norma and children . Medal of Honor citation . Rank and organization : Captain , U . S . Army . Place and date : Near Nam Dong , Republic of Vietnam , July 6 , 1964 . Entered service at : Fort Chaffee , Ark . Born : January 30 , 1934 , Saugerties , N . Y . G . O . No . : 41 , December 17 , 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 .