Faithful Warrior
LTC Don B. Munson, USA (Ret)
Special Forces and 1st Cavalry Division soldier captures the significance of his career—and is remembered graciously by his family and community
Embedded Files
LTC Munson Recounts His Silver Star and Purple Heart Actions, Along with His Early Military Career
Original interview by courtesy of the United States of America Vietnam War Commemoration.
LTC Don B. Munson
United States Army (Retired)
Campaign: Vietnam War
Years of Service: 22 Years
Commissioned: 1960
Early Years
Tulane University
(Graduated 1960)
Army ROTC
Distinguished Military Graduate
Commander, Pershing Rifles
BA in Communications
Additional Education (Military Career)
Georgetown University
MA Russian Area Studies
Early Career
82nd Airborne Division
[Fort Bragg]
504th Airborne Battle Group
2nd Battalion
Company Commander
Platoon Leader
7th U.S. Army Mission Support Command
[Germany]
NATO Allied Command Europe Mobile Force
Aide de Camp to the Commanding General
10th Special Forces Group (Airborne)
[Bad Tolz, Germany]
Detachment A-1026
Detachment Commander
Vietnam War (1967–1968)
1st Cavalry Division
7th Cavalry Regiment
1st Battalion
Company Commander
U.S. Army Special Forces
S-3 Operations Officer Training
[Lopburi, Thailand]
Company B
Company Commander
1st Cavalry Division
7th Cavalry Regiment
2nd Battalion
Battalion Operations Officer
Post–Vietnam War
Senior ROTC Detachment
[University of Delaware]
Professor of Military Science
U.S. Army Airborne School
[Fort Benning]
507th Airborne Regiment
1st Battalion
Battalion Commander
75th Ranger Regiment
[Fort Benning]
U.S. Army Foreign Area Specialty Program for Russia and Eastern Europe
[Yugoslavia]
Foreign Area Officer
Defense Intelligence Agency
[The Pentagon, Washington, D.C.]
Current Intelligence Division
Division Chief
Office of the Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff
[The Pentagon, Washington, D.C.]
Military Awards
Silver Star
Distinguished Flying Cross
Bronze Star (with V device and 1 OLC)
Purple Heart
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal
Air Medal (with numeral 11)
Joint Service Commendation Medal
Army Commendation Medal
National Defense Service Medal
Vietnam Service Medal
Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal
Badges/Patches/Tabs
Combat Infantryman's Badge
Ranger Tab
Master Parachutist Badge
Pathfinder Badge
Jungle Expert
Parachutist (Germany, Belgium, Republic of Vietnam, and Thailand)
Military Order of the World Wars
Dallas Chapter
Commander
Chapter Newsletter Publisher (19 years)
Chapter Liaison: Girl Scouts
Youth Leadership Conference
Started the Texas A&M program
Led the program (10 years)
Speaker at the program (18 years)
LTC Munson on His Post–Vietnam War Military Career
Original interview by courtesy of the United States of America Vietnam War Commemoration.
LTC Munson Reflects on the Management, Legacy, and Meaning of the Vietnam War
Original interview by courtesy of the United States of America Vietnam War Commemoration.
LTC Munson Reflects on His Time Leading the Dallas Chapter of the Military Order of the World Wars
Original interview by courtesy of the United States of America Vietnam War Commemoration.
LTC Munson's National Citation for his leadership both starting and sustaining the MOWW Youth Leadership Conferences at Texas A&M University, of which he led and spoke at for nearly two decades, and for his nearly two decades of work publishing the chapter newsletter.
LTC Munson speaking at one of the many MOWW Youth Leadership Conferences at Texas A&M University.
LTC Munson front and center alongside Past Commanders of the Dallas Chapter of the MOWW.
LTC Munson attending the MOWW National Convention.
LTC Munson receiving the Gold Patrick Henry Award at a Dallas Chapter MOWW luncheon.
LTC Munson receiving an award from then Commander LtCol Michael Menefee, USMC (Ret) at a Dallas Chapter MOWW luncheon.
A Faithful Warrior, Laid to Rest
LTC Munson | August 27, 1938–November 10, 2025
LTC Munson—Remembered
LTC Munson's Officer Field Grade Service Cap with light blue Cap Band indicating his branch of Infantry.
LTC Munson's U.S. Special Forces Green Beret, with 5th Special Forces Group flash, replete with his LTC rank insignia; alongside his MOWW Commander's Neck Ribbon and Insignia.
LTC Munson's Service (Dress) Uniform belts and bow tie.
LTC Munson's Purple Heart cufflinks.
LTC Munson's Cav Hat with LTC rank insignia centered on the front of the hat; shadow box in back displaying LTC Munson's Silver Star, Distinguished Flying Cross, Bronze Star (with V device and 1 OLC), Purple Heart, Air Medal, Combat Infantryman's Badge, Master Parachutist Badge, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Army Commendation Medal, and National Defense Service Medal.
Commemorative Guidon given to LTC Munson upon his end of service with the U.S. Army Airborne School and 75th Ranger Regiment. Clockwise, from bottom left corner: 82nd Airborne "AA" Shoulder Sleeve Insignia with Airborne Tab; MOWW name tags (placed on top of guidon); U.S. Army Infantry Training School Shoulder Sleeve Insignia with Airborne Tab; Ranger Tab; Special Forces Association patch (placed on top); U.S. Army Airborne Command Shoulder Sleeve Insignia with Airborne Tab; (bottom right corner) U.S. Army XVIII Airborne Corps Shoulder Sleeve Insignia (blue) with Airborne Tab; (center) Master Parachutist Badge; (center middle) Pathfinder Patch; (center bottom) U.S. Army Special Forces Shoulder Sleeve Insignia with Airborne Tab.
This shadow box especially displays LTC Munson's Infantry Branch Insignia (crossed muskets—top, flanking the 1st Cavalry Division Shoulder Sleeve Insignia), with his Office of the Secretary of Defense and Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badges (flanking his Combat Infantryman's Badge, just below the 1st Cavalry Division SSI).
LTC Munson—Memorial and Committal
The Military Order of the World Wars serves our nation and local communities by providing and supporting activities that promote and encourage responsible citizenship, patriotism, youth leadership, military and public service, veteran support, and strong national security.
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This exhibit is part of the Dallas Chapter MOWW Gallantry & Service Museum. Click the museum logo below to experience more stories of courage in battle, and faithful service to our nation.
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