Donald Sloat


Donald Paul Sloat was a United States Army soldier and a posthumous recipient of the Medal of Honor, the military's highest decoration for his actions in the Vietnam War.

Early life

Donald Sloat was born to Ezra Paul Sloat and his wife, Evelyn in Coweta, Oklahoma, where he lived most of his life. He graduated from Coweta High School in 1967. He then attended Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College in Miami, Oklahoma.

Military career

He enlisted in the U.S. Army on March 19, 1969. After finishing basic training at Fort Polk, Louisiana, he shipped out to South Vietnam in September, 1969. By then, he was a machine gunner in the 3rd Platoon, Company D, 2nd Battalion, 1st Infantry Regiment, 196th Light Infantry Brigade, 23rd Infantry Division.

Awards and decorations

Sloat earned the following awards and decorations:

Medal of Honor citation

Rank and organization: Specialist Four, United States Army, 3rd Platoon, Delta Company, 2nd Battalion, 1st Infantry Regiment, 196th Light Infantry Brigade, Americal Division.
Place and date: Que Son Valley, Quảng Nam Province, Republic of Vietnam, January 17, 1970
Entered service at: Coweta, Oklahoma
;Citation
President Barack Obama presented the medal to Donald's brother, Bill Sloat, in a ceremony at the East Room of the White House.

Decorations donated to Coweta

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 displayed at Coweta City Hall.