Today, we honor the life and sacrifice of Staff Sergeant Donald Coleman Gay, a brave U.S. Army Soldier who gave his life in service to our country on this day in 1970 during the Vietnam War. He was just 33 years old.
A resident of Frankfort, Kentucky, Sergeant Gay served with unwavering commitment as a Construction Equipment Supervisor (MOS 62N40) with 137th Engineer Company, 45th Engineer Group, 18th Engineer Brigade, United States Army Vietnam.
At the time of his death, Sergeant Gay was deployed in the Quang Tin Province of South Vietnam. His body was recovered, and his memory has been preserved with honor ever since.
Beginning his tour in Vietnam on May 3, 1970, Sergeant Gay’s service exemplified the courage and devotion of a Soldier who upheld the values of honor, courage, and commitment to the very end.
Sergeant Gay’s service and sacrifice are permanently memorialized on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall, at Panel W6, Line 11, and here at the Kentucky Vietnam Veterans Memorial.
To learn more about Sergeant Gay and his service to our country, click here. To leave a tribute to him on the Wall of Faces, click here.
If you have any additional information, photos, or videos related to Sergeant Gay or any other Kentucky veteran who made the ultimate sacrifice during the Vietnam War, we kindly invite you to share them with us here.
