McDonell, R. D., SSG

FINAL MISSION OF SSGT R.D. MCDONELL - On March 25, 1971, PFC Manuel R. Puentes, PFC Richard J. Rossano, and SSGT R.D. McDonell were rifleman and members of a 12 man combat patrol operating in northwest Quang Tri Province, South Vietnam, a few miles south of the demilitarized zone (DMZ). Their patrol leader was Jimmy C. Johnson. During the patrol, the team was ambushed by enemy forces. It was reported that PFC Rossano was the first man to be hit, apparently by a blast from a grenade. Puentes was seen wounded, but moving under his own power seeking cover. The patrol was forced to withdraw. Johnson, Puentes, Rossano and McDonell were left behind. Attempts by reaction forces to reenter the area were unsuccessful. Johnson was later recovered with bad wounds in the lower body. He reported that SSGT McDonell had picked up a grenade to throw it back at the enemy, but the device had exploded in his hand, killing him immediately. McDonell was listed as killed, body not recovered. Rossano was also considered to be dead, but his body was not recovered. Puentes was declared Missing in Action, since he was last seen alive. There is a distinct possibility that he was captured. [Taken from pownetwork.org]