The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 2, 1926, takes pleasure in presenting the Soldier’s Medal to Sergeant Donnie S. Colwell (ASN: US-52862090), United States Army, for heroism not involving actual conflict with an enemy of the United States on 25 March 1970 in the Republic of Vietnam. Sergeant Colwell was serving as Track Commander of the Medical Armored Cavalry Assault Vehicle in Troop A, 1st Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment. On this date, a mortar round exploded in a mortar tube, mortally wounding three crewmen. As explosions rip[ped the air and fragments started flying, Sergeant Colwell raced toward the site of the explosion and found two severely wounded crewmen. He quickly examined the crew chief in chare of the evening fire mission and determined that he was dead. He then moved to the second crewman whom, with the assistance of another crewman, he was able to evacuate. Suddenly, the rapidly intensifying temperatures produced by burning diesel fuel and mortar propellant charged began to ignite additional mortar rounds stored inside and near the burning vehicle. Sergeant Colwell and the other crewman barely escaped injury while evacuating the wounded crewman during these new explosions. After the mortar rounds explosions ceased, he resumed his efforts to assist wounded crewmen. Sergeant Colwell’s actions were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.
Sponsored by:
Awards Received
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Silver Star
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Silver Star
Service:
United States ArmyRank:
SergeantBatallion:
1st SquadronRegiment:
11th Armored Cavalry RegimentAction Date:
March 26, 1970
Department of the Army, Permanent Order 037-30 (February 6, 2006)The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918 (amended by an act of July 25, 1963), takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Sergeant Donnie S. Colwell (ASN: US-52862090), United States Army, for gallantry in action while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force on 26 March 1970. Sergeant Colwell was serving as Armored Cavalry Assault Vehicle Commander of the medic vehicle with Troop A, 1st Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, in the Republic of Vietnam. On this date, Troop A and an attached infantry company were acting as a reactionary force for a company of infantrymen trapped northwest of Fire Support Base Illingworth. As Troop A and the attached infantry company entered the contact area, they immediately shielded the survivors of the infantry company and began to receive intense rocket-propelled grenade, small arms and automatic weapons fire from two companies of North Vietnamese soldiers entrenched in a bunker complex. As the assault line was formed, a Soldier directed attention to the left and well in front of the line of vehicles where two infantrymen had been hit. Sergeant Colwell joined a medic who went immediately to the two infantrymen. Despite enemy incoming fire, he crawled forward of the infantrymen and provided covering fire. He continued to provide covering fire while the medic crawled from the first infantryman to the second, determining that both were dead. Sergeant Colwell engaged the enemy while he crawled to the medic’s new position and with complete disregard for his personal safety, helped the medic drag the bodies back to the aid station. One hour after the assault began, a rocket propelled grenade struck a nearby tank, killing the sergeant and damaging the vehicle. Sergeant Colwell, while under enemy fire, bravely climbed onto the still-smoking tank and attempted to operate the tank’s .50 caliber machine gun, inspiring the crewmen and nearby infantrymen to move forward and engage the enemy. He then repeatedly guided wounded crewmen and infantrymen under enemy fire to the aid station for care. Sergeant Colwell’s actions were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.