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operations against an armed enemy in the
Republic of Vietnam on January 17, 1970. On that morning, Specialist Four Sloat's squad was conducting a patrol, serving as a blocking element in support of tanks and armored personnel carriers in the area. As the squad moved 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. As the grenade rolled down the hill, Specialist Four Sloat knelt and picked up the grenade. After initially attempting to throw the grenade, Specialist Four Sloat realized that detonation was imminent. He then drew the grenade to his body and shielded his squad members from the blast, saving their lives. Specialist Four 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 P. Sloat's extraordinary heroism and selflessness above and beyond the call of duty are in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself, Company D, 2d Battalion, 1st Infantry Regiment, 196th Light Infantry Brigade, Americal Division and the United States Army.
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February 6, 2017, was declared as
Specialist Donald P. Sloat Medal of Honor Day in Coweta. The remainder of Sloat's family had decided to donate the Medal of Honor, along with many other military decorations, to Robert Morton, mayor of the city of Coweta, for display. The medals will be permanently
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Specialist Four Donald P. 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
Machinegunner with Company D, 2d Battalion, 1st Infantry Regiment, 196th Light Infantry Brigade, Americal Division, during combat
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From 2002, the U.S. Army reviewed all 6,500 recipients of the
Distinguished Service Cross to see if any recipients had been short-changed; this led to two dozen medal upgrades in March 2014. In 2013, as part of the
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Donald Sloat was born to Ezra Paul Sloat and his wife, Beatrice Evelyn
Turnbow, in Coweta, Oklahoma, where he lived most of his life. He graduated from Coweta High School in 1967. He then attended
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presented the medal to Donald's brother, Bill Sloat (now deceased), in a ceremony at the East Room of the
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September, 1969. By then, he was a machine gunner in the 3rd Platoon, Company D, 2nd Battalion,
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Wheeland, Christy. "Sloat family presents Medal of Honor to the City of Coweta."
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670:"H.R. 3304 (113th): National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2014"
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697:"Obama to award 3 Medals of Honor, including 1 to Civil War soldier"
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passed a provision removing the time limit for Donald P. Sloat and
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626:"Vietnam War soldiers receive Medal of Honor: Why so late?"
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600:"Donald Paul Sloat." The Virtual Wall. November 23, 2014.
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National
Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2014
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United States Army personnel killed in the
Vietnam War
612:"Donald P. Sloat." Oklahoma History Center. Undated.
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Republic of
Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm Device
264:Sloat earned the following awards and decorations:
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575:"Medal of Honor:Specialist Four Donald P. Sloat"
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754:United States Army Medal of Honor recipients
652:"Senate Backs MoHs for Two Vietnam Soldiers"
196:(February 6, 1949 – January 17, 1970) was a
759:Recipients of the Gallantry Cross (Vietnam)
140:3rd Platoon, Delta Company, 2nd Battalion,
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676:. Civic Impulse, LLC. 26 December 2013
218:Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College
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624:Mulrine, Anna (15 September 2014).
650:Sisk, Richard (12 December 2013).
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695:Hlad, Jennifer (26 August 2014).
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250:196th Light Infantry Brigade
146:196th Light Infantry Brigade
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727:Accessed February 3, 2018.
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496:Medal of Honor citation
430:Army Good Conduct Medal
421:Army Commendation Medal
779:Deaths by hand grenade
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456:Vietnam Campaign Medal
260:Awards and decorations
254:23rd Infantry Division
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442:Vietnam Service Medal
393:Combat Infantry Badge
256:(Americal Division).
246:1st Infantry Regiment
142:1st Infantry Regiment
114:Years of service
581:. United States Army
522:Entered service at:
240:, he shipped out to
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519:, January 17, 1970
517:Republic of Vietnam
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513:Quảng Nam Province
478:American Civil War
198:United States Army
108:United States Army
72:Quang Nam Province
701:Stars and Stripes
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414:Purple Heart
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63:(1970-01-17)
20:Donald Sloat
749:1970 deaths
744:1949 births
723:Tulsa World
490:White House
206:Vietnam War
160:Vietnam War
738:Categories
556:References
212:Early life
131:Specialist
92:Allegiance
42:1949-02-06
238:Louisiana
234:Fort Polk
117:1969–1970
674:GovTrack
529:Citation
425:V device
409:V device
102:Service/
52:Oklahoma
706:1 March
680:1 March
661:1 March
635:1 March
166:†
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468:, the
174:Awards
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104:branch
82:Buried
48:Coweta
708:2015
682:2015
663:2015
637:2015
587:2014
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156:Wars
137:Unit
122:Rank
58:Died
35:Born
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