Donald Sloat

Donald Sloat
Born	February 6, 1949 (1949-02-06) Coweta, Wagoner County, Oklahoma
Died	January 17, 1970(1970-01-17) (aged 20) Que Son Valley, South Vietnam
Allegiance	United States of America
Service/branch	United States Army
Years of service	1969–1970
Rank	Specialist
Unit	3rd Platoon, Delta Company, 2nd Battalion, 1st Infantry Regiment, 196th Light Infantry Brigade, Americal Division
Wars	Vietnam War †
Awards	Medal of Honor Bronze Star Medal Purple Heart

Donald Paul Sloat (February 6, 1949 – January 17, 1970) was a United States Army soldier and a recipient of the Medal of Honor, the military's highest decoration. He was awarded posthumously in 2014 for his actions in the Vietnam War.^[1] President Barack Obama presented the medal posthumously to Donald's brother, Bill Sloat (now deceased), in a ceremony at the East Room of the White House.

Awards and decorations

During his military career (which lasted less than a full year), Sloat earned the following awards and decorations:^[1]

Combat Infantry Badge
Medal of Honor	Bronze Star Medal w/ V device	Purple Heart
Army Commendation Medal w/ V device	Army Good Conduct Medal	National Defense Service Medal
Vietnam Service Medal w/2 campaign stars	Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm Device	Vietnam Campaign Medal

Medal of Honor citation

Rank and organization: Specialist Four, United States Army, 3rd Platoon, Delta Company, 2nd Battalion, 1st Infantry Regiment, 196th Light Infantry Brigade, Americal Division.

Place and date: Que Son Valley, Quảng Nam Province, Republic of Vietnam, January 17, 1970

Entered service at: Coweta, Oklahoma

Citation

Specialist Four Donald P. Sloat distinguished himself by acts of gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life, above and beyond the call of duty, while serving as a machine gunner with 3rd Platoon, Company D, 2nd Battalion, 1st Infantry Regiment, 196th Light Infantry Brigade, Americal Division, during combat operations against an armed enemy in the Republic of Vietnam, Jan. 17, 1970. D Company operated out of Fire Support Base Hawk Hill in an area of I Corps. They were located south and southwest of Danang providing security for local villages and conducting regular searches for NVA units. The territory they patrolled stretched from the coastal lowlands to the mountains and jungle. North Vietnamese and Viet Cong activity was common in the area, and D Company suffered regular casualties from snipers and booby traps. On the morning of Jan. 17, 1970, Sloat's squad was conducting a patrol, serving as a blocking element in support of tanks and armored personnel carriers from F Troop in the Que Son valley. As the squad moved through dense up a small hill in file formation, the lead Soldier tripped a wire attached to a hand grenade booby-trap, set up by enemy forces. When the grenade rolled down the hill toward Sloat, he had a choice. He could hit the ground and seek cover, or pick up the grenade and throw it away from his fellow Soldiers. After initially attempting to throw the grenade, Sloat realized that detonation was imminent, and that two or three men near him would be killed or seriously injured if he couldn't shield them from the blast. In an instant, Sloat chose to draw the grenade to his body, shielding his squad members from the blast, and saving their lives. Sloat's actions define the ultimate sacrifice of laying down his own life in order to save the lives of his comrades. Specialist Four Donald P. Sloat's extraordinary heroism and selflessness are in keeping with the highest traditions of military service, and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.^[1]

Decorations donated to Coweta

February 6, 2017, was declared as Specialist Donald P. Sloat Medal of Honor Day in Coweta. The remainder of Sloat's family had decided to donate the soldiers Medal of Honor,along with many other military decorations, to Robert Morton, mayor of the city of Coweta, for display. Family members who made the presentation to Coweta at a special memorial service held in the First Baptist Church of Coweta were: Debbie Sloat, the widow of Dr. Bill Sloat, Karen Sloat McCaslin, his sister, and David Sloat, his nephew. Kathy Sloat Ahlstrom, another surviving sister, was unable to attend the ceremony. The medals will be permanently displayed at Coweta City Hall.^[2]

Sloat's earlier life

Donald Sloat was born to Ezra Paul Sloat and his wife, Evelyn (nee Turnbow) in Coweta, Oklahoma, where he lived most of his life.^[3] He graduated from Coweta High School in 1967, and was remembered by classmates as a fierce competitor on the basketball court. He then attended Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College in Miami, Oklahoma, before enlisting in the U.S. Army on March 19, 1969. After finishing basic training at Fort Polk, Louisiana, he shipped out to Vietnam in September, 1969. By then, he was a machine gunner in the 3rd Platoon, Company D, 2nd Battalion, 1st Infantry Regiment, 196th Light Infantry Brigade, American Division.^[4]

References