- SURNAME
Kinnard
- FORENAME
Donel Clifford
- UNIT
U.S.N. UDT-12
- RANK
Chief Hospital Corpsman
- NUMBER
4410983
- AWARD
Navy Cross
- PLACE
Mekong Delta, South Vietnam 1970
- ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
attached Detachment Golf,2 Bn 5th Mobile Forces Command
born 1936 Logan, West Virginia
son of Clifford and Emmalene Kinnard
graduated Milton High School
U.S.M.C. 28.7.1954
U.S.N.
7 tours of vietnam
also awarded Bronze Star
WIA 21.1.1970 Cau Mau Peninsula,South Vietnam
married Rebecca McCann
died 14.2.2009
Donel C. Kinnard Memorial State Veterans Cemetery, Dunbar, West Virginia
CITATION:
Navy Cross : The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Chief Hospital Corpsman Donel Clifford Kinnard (NSN: 4410983), United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism while engaged in armed conflict against enemy forces in the Republic of Vietnam on 20 - 21 January 1970. During this period, Chief Petty Officer Kinnard was serving with Underwater Demolition Team TWELVE (UDT-12), Detachment GOLF, and operating with the Second Battalion, Fifth Mobile Forces Command during a sweep and clear mission in the Ca Mau Peninsula. On one occasion, Chief Petty Officer Kinnard was singled out as a target by an enemy force while he was attempting to beach a damaged sampan from which three of the enemy had leaped into the water and escaped. His courageous action resulted in the capture of the sampan and enemy weapons. On another occasion, when his unit was subjected to intense enemy rocket, machine-gun and automatic-weapons fire, Chief Petty Officer Kinnard was wounded in the arms and legs by shrapnel from an enemy hand grenade. He immediately hurled several hand grenades across a canal into enemy positions. During the ensuing battle, he was suddenly attacked by one of the enemy who had crept up behind him. After several minutes of a fierce hand-to-hand struggle, Chief Petty Officer Kinnard succeeded in overcoming his attacker who was later identified as a North Vietnamese Army Lieutenant. By his personal courage and inspiring devotion to duty, Chief Petty Officer Kinnard contributed materially to the success of a vital mission and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
WEB LINKS:
https://valor.militarytimes.com/hero/4017
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