Don's Coming Home
Page 5
 

Through Tears She Accepted the Medals
This article appeared in the Houston Chronicle May 7, 1966

Lieutenant Donald Cornett's unit of Seventh Cavalry flew to Ia Drang Valley, Viet Nam last November 17.

Saturday morning a pretty blond mother holding her, handsome 18-month-old son wept quietly as she accepted a box of medals and decorations and was read a letter from Lieutenant Cornett's commanding officer.

Donald Cornett, 24, died in the Ia Drang valley. A Viet Cong ambush overran his company, Company C of the 2nd Battalion. Cornett took a bullet in the first wave of the attack.

As officer in charge of his company, he continued to rally his men until he died from his wounds half an hour later. The attack killed 157 Americans and left 203 wounded.

For gallantry and heroism under fire, Lieutenant Cornett was awarded the Bronze Star and two Vietnamese decorations, the National Order 5th Class and the Gallantry Cross with Palms.

General William Harris, deputy 4th Army Commander of San Antonio, presented Mrs. Cornett with seven other awards, the Purple Heart, Combat Infantryman Badge, Expert Infantryman Badge, Viet Nam Theatre Ribbon, Ranger Tab and the Airborne Qualification Award.

"Donald always accepted more than his share of the work load," his commanding officer, Captain John A. Fesmire wrote Mrs. Cornett. "His devotion to duty and personal courage contributed greatly to our operation and I am a better soldier for having served with him."

General Harris, indicating 18 month-old Kevin, said, "This young man will have something to treasure when he becomes a man and can take pride knowing the kind of a man his father was."

Mrs. Cornett is a secretary with Southern Pacific Railroad here. She and her husband met in Lake Charles and married there when they finished college.

He graduated from McNeese State College at Lake Charles where he was president of the student body and cadet colonel of the ROTC Corps.