Donald Paul Sloat
Specialist Four, U.S. Army

After attending Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College in Miami, OK, Donald Paul Sloat enlisted in the U.S. Army on 19 March 1969, at the age of 20. Upon completion of his initial training at Fort Polk, LA, he was deployed to the Republic of Vietnam on 25 September 1969. There he was assigned as an M60 Machine Gunner with D Company, 2nd Battalion, 1st Infantry Regiment, 196th Light Infantry Brigade, Americal Division, in Quang Tin Province, South Vietnam.

On 17 January 1970, Specialist Four Donald Paul Sloat died when he picked up a live grenade triggered by a fellow soldier and used his own body to shield the blast and save his fellow soldiers. His body was recovered.

The Battle

Specialist Four Donald Paul 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 on 17 January 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 regularly suffered casualties from snipers and booby traps.

On the morning of 17 January 1970, SP4 Sloat's squad was conducting a patrol that was 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 Paul 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.

The Medal of Honor

On 15 September 2014, Specialist Four Donald Paul Sloat was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor in a White House ceremony. Dr. Bill Sloat, an optometrist practicing in Enid, OK, accepted the Medal of Honor for his brother.

Medals, Awards and Badges

Medal of Honor
Bronze Star Medal with Valor Device
Purple Heart
Army Good Conduct Medal
Army Commendation Medal with Valor Device
National Defense Service Medal
Vietnam Service Medal with 2 Bronze Stars
Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm Device
Vietnam Campaign Medal
Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation with Palm
Combat Infantryman Badge

Honors

The name Donald P Sloat is located on Panel W14 Line 41 of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall.