My walk today was dedicated in honor of:
Army Capt. Michael Davis O’Donnell, Age 24 of Springfield, IL.
KIA Mar. 24, 1970 Vietnam
He was a member of the 170th Helicopter Assault Company, 52nd Aviation Battalion, 17th Aviation Group, 1st Aviation Brigade.
On March 24, 1970 he was the aircraft commander of a Bell Iroquois Utility Helicopter (UH-1H) with a mission of extracting a long-range reconnaissance patrol from Ratanokiri Province about 14 miles inside Cambodia. The aircraft picked up the team of eaight and was ascending when it was hit by enemy fire, exploaded and crashed in the jungle. His remains were recovered on April 12, 1995 and identified on June 20, 2001. His name is inscribed on the Courts of the Missing at the Honolulu Memorial.
Maj. O’Donnel was awarded: Distinguished Flying Cross, Bronze Star(merit), Purple Heart, Air Medal, National Defense, Vietnam Service and Vietnam Compaign Medals.
He is honored at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall on Panel 12W, Line 40.
He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery.
We had an amazing walk this morning. The weather was perfect. I want to thank everyone who honked , waved, saluted in helping me honor this hero.
He will not be forgotten !
