John Alan MacDonald
It has been said that the Vietnam War was fought on TV. Although one family member reported that TV is how John’s parents learned of his death, another family member later wrote to Clackamas County Fallen to correct that report. John's parents were formally notified of his passing when members of the military visited their home in Estacada.
Date of birth: 1 January 1948
Date tour began: 14 May 1967
Date of casualty: 22 November 1967
Home of record: Estacada, Oregon
Branch and Rank: Army, Specialist Four, Medical Specialist
Unit: 1st Cavalry Division, 2nd Battalion, 7th Cavalry, Headquarters Company
Awards: National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Purple Heart
Location of name on the Vietnam Wall: 30E, 64
Location of service: South Vietnam, Binh Thuan province
Died through hostile action .. small arms fire
Burial location: Willamette National Cemetery, Portland, Oregon
Memorials: Vietnam Veterans Memorial (Washington, DC), Oregon Vietnam Veterans Memorial (Portland), Veterans Memorial Coliseum (Portland)
These remembrances were left here: http://www.vvmf.org/Wall-of-Faces/35979/JOHN-A-MACDONALD
A good friend
John was great friend. When we were off duty we hung out together with Gerald McKinney. Have memories that i'll never forget.
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Gone but never forgotten...from your 1st cousin once removed, Tammi
I remember attending John's funeral service in Sweet Home, Oregon when I was about 10 years old; everyone there was just heartbroken so I knew John had to have been someone very special even though I had never met him before.
When I was in Washington, DC many years ago I went to the Viet Nam memorial looking for his name; I tried and tried to find it but could not--so just took a photo of a small section of the monument to remember the moment. When I got home and developed my film, I could hardly believe my eyes---there in the far right of the photo was the name "John Alan Macdonald." I have no doubt I was led to the exact spot on the memorial where his name was carved. Ever since then I have wondered how John and I were connected somehow.
I brought his name up at a family gathering this Thanksgiving and asked if anyone knew him---his dad Frank's brother Jimmy said that John was a very quiet young man...that his parents found out about John's death by seeing it on TV....it broke their hearts beyond belief to lose their precious son, and also to find about his death in that manner.
I am proud to be related to John---his Dad Frank was my mom Mari McDonald Peterson were first cousins. I will never forget attending John's funeral and the 21 gun salute; his death impacted me greatly and I am so sorry he died too soon for us to get acquainted on this side. I would have loved to have known him better but want him to know he still loved and not forgotten.
The Oregonian, December 1, 1967
MacDONALD – Nov. 22, Sp-4 John Allan, Rt. 1, Box 55, Estacada, Ore. Friends invited to services 11 am, Friday, at the Chapel of MT. SCOTT FUNERAL HOME, Foster Rd. at SE 59th. Interment Willamette National Cemetery.
Date of birth: 1 January 1948
Date tour began: 14 May 1967
Date of casualty: 22 November 1967
Home of record: Estacada, Oregon
Branch and Rank: Army, Specialist Four, Medical Specialist
Unit: 1st Cavalry Division, 2nd Battalion, 7th Cavalry, Headquarters Company
Awards: National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Purple Heart
Location of name on the Vietnam Wall: 30E, 64
Location of service: South Vietnam, Binh Thuan province
Died through hostile action .. small arms fire
Burial location: Willamette National Cemetery, Portland, Oregon
Memorials: Vietnam Veterans Memorial (Washington, DC), Oregon Vietnam Veterans Memorial (Portland), Veterans Memorial Coliseum (Portland)
These remembrances were left here: http://www.vvmf.org/Wall-of-Faces/35979/JOHN-A-MACDONALD
A good friend
John was great friend. When we were off duty we hung out together with Gerald McKinney. Have memories that i'll never forget.
********************************************************************
Gone but never forgotten...from your 1st cousin once removed, Tammi
I remember attending John's funeral service in Sweet Home, Oregon when I was about 10 years old; everyone there was just heartbroken so I knew John had to have been someone very special even though I had never met him before.
When I was in Washington, DC many years ago I went to the Viet Nam memorial looking for his name; I tried and tried to find it but could not--so just took a photo of a small section of the monument to remember the moment. When I got home and developed my film, I could hardly believe my eyes---there in the far right of the photo was the name "John Alan Macdonald." I have no doubt I was led to the exact spot on the memorial where his name was carved. Ever since then I have wondered how John and I were connected somehow.
I brought his name up at a family gathering this Thanksgiving and asked if anyone knew him---his dad Frank's brother Jimmy said that John was a very quiet young man...that his parents found out about John's death by seeing it on TV....it broke their hearts beyond belief to lose their precious son, and also to find about his death in that manner.
I am proud to be related to John---his Dad Frank was my mom Mari McDonald Peterson were first cousins. I will never forget attending John's funeral and the 21 gun salute; his death impacted me greatly and I am so sorry he died too soon for us to get acquainted on this side. I would have loved to have known him better but want him to know he still loved and not forgotten.
The Oregonian, December 1, 1967
MacDONALD – Nov. 22, Sp-4 John Allan, Rt. 1, Box 55, Estacada, Ore. Friends invited to services 11 am, Friday, at the Chapel of MT. SCOTT FUNERAL HOME, Foster Rd. at SE 59th. Interment Willamette National Cemetery.
