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I hope you all have had a great day. If you haven't already, please save one backward glance for those that paid the ultimate price so that we may enjoy the freedoms we do and continue to honor them for the tomorrows they gave up for our todays.

For those of you who've served this great nation, I thank you from the bottom of my heart.

If you are able,
save them a place
inside of you
and save one backward glance
when you are leaving
for the places they can
no longer go.

Be not ashamed to say
you loved them,
though you may
or may not have always.
Take what they have left
and what they have taught you
with their dying
and keep it with your own.

And in that time
when men decide and feel safe
to call the war insane,
take one moment to embrace
those gentle heroes
you left behind.

Major Michael O'Donnell
Dak To, RVN Jan. 1, 1970


Major O'Donnell was later KIA March 24th, 1970.

http://virtualwall.org/do/OdonnellMD01a.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

SQLGeek wrote: Major Michael O'Donnell
Dak To, RVN Jan. 1, 1970


Major O'Donnell was later KIA March 24th, 1970.

http://virtualwall.org/do/OdonnellMD01a.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Not according to the link you provided.


Michael Davis O'Donnell
Major
170TH AVN CO, 52ND AVN BN, 17TH AVN GRP, 1 AVN BDE
Army of the United States
13 August 1945 - 07 February 1978
Springfield, Illinois

Someone made a mistake somewhere.

I found an account of the loss of Captain Michael Davis O'Donnell that has March 24, 1970 listed. They were listed as MIA. Maybe some of you military guys can explain why the date is listed as 1978 for him and the crew members and not the date of the loss.I would be interested in knowing why. According to the information in the link he was promoted to Major after receiving the medals. He appears to have been killed in the crash and his remains from the site were identified years later by DNA.
http://www.pownetwork.org/bios/o/o021.htm

Old Curly Wolf's llink has similar information with but lists deaths as 1978.
http://virtualwall.org/do/OdonnellMD01a.htm

Admittedly, I simplified it a little. He went MIA in Cambodia on March 24, 1970 but seeing as it was the result of his helicopter going down under withering enemy fire while attempting to extract a LRRP team and no rescue was able to be mounted, he was more than likely KIA then. Feb 7, 1978 is when the Army officially changed his status from MIA to KIA.

Sorry for the confusion...but regardless, the sentiment is the same.

SQLGeek wrote:Admittedly, I simplified it a little. He went MIA in Cambodia on March 24, 1970 but seeing as it was the result of his helicopter going down under withering enemy fire while attempting to extract a LRRP team and no rescue was able to be mounted, he was more than likely KIA then. Feb 7, 1978 is when the Army officially changed his status from MIA to KIA.

Sorry for the confusion...but regardless, the sentiment is the same.

Absolutely correct and I apologize for taking this ina different direction. Major o'Donnell besides being a hero was a man of wisdom far beyond his years.

SQLGeek wrote:Admittedly, I simplified it a little. He went MIA in Cambodia on March 24, 1970 but seeing as it was the result of his helicopter going down under withering enemy fire while attempting to extract a LRRP team and no rescue was able to be mounted, he was more than likely KIA then. Feb 7, 1978 is when the Army officially changed his status from MIA to KIA.

Sorry for the confusion...but regardless, the sentiment is the same.

Explains everything.

I found this blog with a search for Michael Davis O'Donnel from the 170th out of Kontum, RVN. My good friend CW-2 Richie Glover flew for the 170th Bakinis during the time Capt. O'Donnel was there in 69 and 70. I was an AC for the 119th Gators and Croc's and we worked with the Bakinis in the Dak To, Dak Seang, Dak Pek area in April and May of 70. Capt. O'Donnel was a gifted poet, and I am in possession of his poems titled "An Icecream Season...Letters from Pleiku" he penned from '69 thru his death in '70. If his family doesn't have a copy, can anyone put me on to them so I can send them one? Much appreciated, CW-2 Jack "Stick" Vansworth "Gator 11"/119th AHC Pleiku, An Khe '69-'70 Cheers