Freedom Bird

Drafted in the army at the age of eighteen while living in Phoenix Arizona, Donnell completed his army training in the Deep South in middle sixties. Then shipped to Vietnam where he was assigned to The 2nd and 18th Infantry Unit with the 1st Army Division, on an operation assignment as his platoon was separated from the main unit and pinned down behind enemy lines. Had to fi ght their way out and back to their main unit. Then transferred to 2nd & 16th Rangers attached to the 1st Division. In a ranger unit and forced to be a sniper. Then lift in the jungle and reported dead and missing too his mother and family. Wounded in the jungles of Vietnam somehow he found his way back and was rescued by another unit. Med Evace. to Zama hospital near Tokyo Japan where he recovered from his wounds, his military records were lost and they did not know who he was for weeks. Then assigned to a radio and TV station located Soul Korea (AFKN) where he fi nished his military tour Before returning to the States.