Scope and Contents

This collection contains printed copies of original poetry, and short stories written by McDonald while serving in Vietnam 1967 - 1969 and after. Also included are photographs, a glossary and a copy of McDonald's DD-214.

Biographical / Historical

Willis B. McDonald was born in Phoenix, Arizona on June 20, 1930. He enlisted in the United States Army on February 4, 1951 and received a Combat Infantry Badge as a Sergeant in a rifle company during the Korean War. McDonald entered Officer Candidate School in April 1954 and was commissioned in the Field Artillery in February 1955. As a Major, McDonald served as executive officer of the 5/22nd Artillery Battalion from December 1967 to April 1968. He then served as executive officer for Command and Control South (CCS), MACV-Studies and Observation Group (SOG) from April to December 1968. McDonald received a promotion to Lieutenant Colonel and became deputy commander of the 5th Special Forces Group, Installation Defense Command (IDC) from January to July 1969. He retired from the Army in March 1971.