DONNELY: 1984 3-7 CAX 29-Palms
15 September 1943 – 10 April 1994
Arlington National Cemetery, VA 22212
Col. William R. Donnelly was born in McMinnville, Oregon. He enlisted in the Marines in 1961 and was appointed to the Naval Academy and graduated in 1967.
Rick’s USNA yearbook biography reads: “Rick came to the banks of the Severn from duty with the Marine Corps and a year at NAPS. If he were to have choose from all the good things in life, Rick would undoubtedly choose his rack as the most meaningful. Most afternoons Rick could not be found, but his appearances on the company 150’s helped make them the terrors of the Brigade. Adapting easily to the academic routine, Rick mastered most of his courses and was always ready to lend a hand. Always an avid participator in the nightly bull sessions, Rick added many laughs to the lives of his friends. Rick will take back to the Corps a firm desire for succeed and this, coupled with his ability to make the best out of every situation will ensure his continued success in his career.”
Rick and I married just after graduation from the Naval Academy and had 27 years together…Our 3 children are all happy and successful and Rick would be delighted to know he now has 8 grandchildren. Through pictures and remembrances the grandchildren are now getting to know the grandfather they never met. He will always be greatly missed…. Danny Donnelly
Service History: After NAPS, USNA and The Basic School, Rick began his long and successful 29 year career in the United States Marine Corps.
His early commands included Platoon Cdr, 1/1 in Vietnam and 1/27 in Kaneohe, Hawaii, Company Cdr, Okinawa and 3/7 Battalion Cdr, Camp Pendleton, California. He was Aide-de-Camp to the DepCG of FMFPAC, Hawaii and in between a series of schools, Dep C-5, Combined Forces Command, Republic of South Korea, HDQTRS Marine Corps, MCDEC, Quantico and Marine Barracks, Washington, D.C.
He attended Amphibious Warfare School, Quantico, Georgia Tech, Atlanta, Georgia, Command and General Staff, Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas and the Naval War College, Newport, Rhode Island. His final duty station was Camp Lejeune, North Carolina as the Chief of Staff and Assistant Division Commander of Second Marine Division.
Rick passed away in April, 1994 while serving as the Director, Marine Corps War College, Quantico, Virginia.
USMC Resume:
The Basic School Class 1-68 Alpha Company, 2nd Platoon, Jun-Nov 1967
Vietnam: Company A,1st Bn, 1st Marines, 1st Marine Division (Rein.), FMF (A/1/1)
Director of the Marine Corps War College at Quantico, Va.
Silver Star, Purple Heart
Personal Reflections about Rick Donnelly:
From Jules Seldon: Yes, “Rick” Donnelly was a classmate at USNA, and we were in the same battalion. After TBS he fought in the Battle for Hue City. Years later, in one of the many books that were written about the battle, he was mentioned with the anecdote that he was called “the kid”.
