GREEN BERETS Doney, Norman Allen

John Robertson

Administrator
Staff member
  • SURNAME
Doney
  • FORENAME
Norman Allen
  • UNIT
5 SF Group (Det B-52) (Project Delta)
  • RANK
Sergeant First Class
  • NUMBER

  • AWARD
Silver Star
  • PLACE
South Vietnam 1966
  • ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
from Hammond, Oregon
born 8.10.1928 Warrenton, Oregon
father Charles Leslie Doney (1901-1978)
mother Etta May (nee Andrews) Doney (1906-1993)
1949 married Delores Virginia (nee Wheatley)
1953 married Patricia Darleen McDermott
1962 married Shirley Jean (nee Johnson)
son Eugene Allen Doney (1964-1988)
awards Silver star, Bronze Star with V with 5 leaf clusters, Purple Heart, Air Medal with oak leaf cluster, Army Commendation Medal, Air Force Commendation Medal
retired as Sergeant Major
died 20.2.2013 Warrenton, Oregon (Aged 84)
Fort Stevens Cemetery, Warrenton, Clatsop County, Oregon
Born October 1928 in Warrenton, Oregon, the second son of Charles and Etta Doney, he grew up in Hammond, Oregon attending public school there. Hammond is located adjacent to Fort Stevens, on the mouth of the Columbia River in the N.W. corner of Oregon. He has been divorced, widowed, and currently married to the former Hazel Patricia (Patti) Sorensen. He has 4 sons (one deceased) and two daughters, all adults with families of their own.​
In January 1946, Norman quit high school and joined the U.S. Navy. He spent most of his time in the Navy as an original member of The U.S.S. Valley Forge CV-45, put into commission in Philadelphia, PA in November 1946. Norman was discharged as a Seaman First Class in November 1947. He returned to high school and graduated in 1950 from Warrenton High school. He enrolled in College at the University of Oregon but dropped out and joined the National Guard. In March 1953, he joined the U.S. Army with basic infantry at Fort Ord, CA, then to Fort Leonard Wood, MO for combat engineer basic, from there to Fort Belvoir, VA for 14 weeks advanced training. He completed school in March '54 and received orders for the 70th Combat Engineer's located in Saalfelden, Austria. In 1955, the unit transferred to Salzburg, Germany.​
Discharged upon his return to the States in June 1956, he stayed out for 89 days before re-enlisting, and joining the 5th Infantry Division at Fort Ord, CA where he trained recruits. The division was deactivated and he was sent to Camp Roberts, CA. where he requested airborne training, and was assigned to the 326th Combat Engineer Battalion, 101st ABN Div. in Camp Campbell, KY. He completed jump school in November '57. In April 1959, he was assigned to company A, 8th Engineer Battalion, 1st Cavalry Division, in South Korea. In 1960, he returned stateside to the 307th Combat Engineers, 82nd ABN Div., Fort Bragg, NC. Early in 1961, he requested Special Forces Training and in March, was assigned to B Co, 7th SFGA at Fort Bragg, NC. The remainder of his military career was spent in the following Special Forces units: Operation "White Star" Laos. Nov.’61 - May '62; B Co. 8th SFGA, Panama Canal Zone. Dec.’62 - ‘65; Special Forces Training Group, Ft. Bragg, NC. Dec. ’65 - April ‘66; DET B-52, "PROJECT DELTA", 5th SFGA, Vietnam, July ‘67- July ‘67; C Co, 6th SFGA, Ft. Bragg, NC. April ’67 - July ‘67; DET B-52 "PROJECT DELTA" 5TH SFGA, Vietnam, July ’67-July ‘68; B Co, 6th SFGA, Ft. Bragg, NC Aug. ’68 - March ‘69; CCC, MACV SOG, Vietnam Mar. ’69 - Mar. ‘70; A Co, 8th SFGA, FT Gulick, Canal Zone, Mar ’70 - Jan. ‘71; SMAG, 5th SFGA, Vietnam, Feb ’71 - Jan. ‘72; D Co, 10th SFGA, Ft Devens, MA, Jan - ’72 - June ‘72; USA transfer point (3155) Ft. Bragg, NC. Retired 30 June ‘72. Norm was transferred to the retired reserve 1 July, 1972​
 
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