Sergeant Donald Russell Long Character Analysis

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In life, it is sometimes hard to find people who possess strong, positive qualities that you would want to emulate. In even rarer cases, you find an individual who not only possesses one or two redeeming qualities, but many. One person possessing numerous, positive qualities was Sergeant Donald Russell Long, of the United States Army.
Sgt. Long was born in the community of Blackfork, Ohio on August 27, 1939 to Herman Long and Mildred Keels. He joined the Army in Ashland, Kentucky in 1963, and by June 30, 1966 he was serving as a Sergeant in Troop C, 1st Squadron, 4th Calvary, and 1st Infantry Division as an Armory Intelligence Specialist. Sgt. Long was just 26 years old when he gallantly lost his life during the Battle of Srok Dong in the Vietnam War. …show more content…

The Viet Cong regiment was attacking from concealed positions astride the road. Sgt. Long abandoned the relative safety of his armored personnel carrier and braved enemy fire to carry wounded men to evacuation helicopters. As the platoon fought its way forward to re-supply advanced elements, he constantly exposed himself to enemy fire at close range to provide needed supplies. He inspired his comrades by fearlessly standing unprotected to stop the enemy as they attempted to mount his carrier. When the enemy threatened to overrun a disabled carrier nearby, he again disregarded his own safety to help the severely wounded crew to safety. As he was handing arms to the less seriously wounded and reorganizing them to press the attack, an enemy grenade was launched onto the carrier deck. Immediately recognizing the imminent danger, he shouted a warning to the crew and pushed to safety one man who had not heard his warning over the roar of battle. He then threw himself over the grenade to absorb the blast and save the lives of eight of his fellow soldiers. Sergeant Long died of Multiple Fragmentation Wounds from

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