Senate Resolution No. 2540

BY: Senator HINCHEY

        MOURNING  the  death of Colonel Roger H.C. Donlon,
        distinguished  citizen,  meritorious   veteran   and
        devoted member of his community

  WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to pay tribute to
citizens  of  the  State  of  New  York whose military service and civic
endeavor served to enhance the quality of life in their communities; and

  WHEREAS,  Roger  H.C.  Donlon  of  Saugerties,  New  York,  died  on
Thursday, January 25th, 2024, five days short of his 90th Birthday; and

  WHEREAS,  Born  on  January 30, 1934, in Saugerties, New York, Roger
H.C.  Donlon was the Eighth of ten children of  the  late  Paul  A.  and
Marion (Howard) Donlon; and

  WHEREAS,  Roger  H.C.  Donlon,  a longtime member of American Legion
Post 172 in Saugerties, is mourned by the town and village,  who  remain
inspired  by his life and legacy; he'll always be remembered through the
dedication of the Saugerties Town Hall and the auditorium above  Village
Hall now bearing his name; and

  WHEREAS,  At  the  age  of 19, Roger H.C. Donlon enlisted in the Air
Force and in 1955, he was  admitted  into  the  United  States  Military
Academy in West Point, New York; but dropped out after two years; and

  WHEREAS,  After  working  in the private sector for 10 months, Roger
H.C.  Donlon decided to join the army, graduating from Officer Candidate
School as a second lieutenant at Fort Moore, Georgia; and

  WHEREAS, In 1963, Roger H.C.  Donlon  became  a  Green  Beret  after
training  at  Fort Liberty, North Carolina and would spend his entire 33
year-career in the Army; and

  WHEREAS, For his courageous  service  to  his  country,  Roger  H.C.
Donlon was awarded the first medal of honor given during the Vietnam War
on  December  5th,  1964,  by President Lyndon B. Johnson for his heroic
actions taken during the defense of Camp Nam Dong; and

  WHEREAS, After his service in Vietnam, Roger H.C. Donlon earned  his
bachelor's degree from the University of Nebraska and master's degree at
Campbell  University;  then, he moved to Leavenworth Kansas to become an
instructor at the Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth;
and

  WHEREAS, During his retirement,  Roger  H.C.  Donlon  worked  toward
reconciliation between the United States and Vietnam, returning multiple
times to promote peace; and

  WHEREAS,  As  part  of  his  work  toward reconciliation, Roger H.C.
Donlon  started  an   educational   foundation   which   funds   college
scholarships  for  Vietnamese and Vietnamese-American Youth and provides
summer internships for students to study in Vietnam; and

  WHEREAS, Roger H.C. Donlon is survived by  his  wife,  Norma  Shinno
Irving  Donlon; two of his brothers, Paul A. Donlon Jr. and Jack Donlon;
his daughter Linda Danninger (Paul); three of  his  sons  Damian,  Jason
(Lori),  and  Derek; his six grandchildren; and one great granddaughter;
and

  WHEREAS,  Armed  with a humanistic spirit and imbued with a sense of
compassion, Roger H.C. Donlon leaves behind a  legacy  which  will  long
endure the passage of time and will remain as a comforting memory to all
he  served and befriended; he will be deeply missed and truly merits the
grateful tribute of this Legislative Body; now, therefore, be it

  RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its  deliberations  to
mourn the death of Colonel Roger H.C. Donlon, and to express its deepest
condolences to his family; and be it further

  RESOLVED,  That  a  copy  of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to the family of Colonel Roger H.C. Donlon.