POW/MIA INFORMATION:Name: R.D. McDonell
Rank/Branch: E6/US Army
Unit: Troop B, 1st Squad, 1st Cavalry, 23rd Infantry Division (Americal)
Date of Birth: 21 January 1943
Home City of Record:Sweetwater TX
Date of Loss: 25 March 1971
Country of Loss: South Vietnam
Loss Coordinates: 164252N 1064203E (XD813486)
Status (in 1973): Killed/Body Not Recovered
Category: 2
Aircraft/Vehicle/Ground: Ground
Other Personnel In Incident: Manuel R. Puentes; Richard J. Rossano (missing)
Remarks:KIA BY GRENADE/AMBUSH
SYNOPSIS: 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 Sgt. 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.