The Wall › Panel 1W › New York › Joseph William McDonald
JOSEPH WILLIAM MCDONALD
Major · U.S. Marine Corps
December 17, 1946 – May 3, 1972
Service recordJoseph William McDonald, of Wappingers Falls, New York, served as a Major in the U.S. Marine Corps. He was lost on May 3, 1972, in North Vietnam, and was later declared dead. His name is inscribed on Panel 1W, Line 12 of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.
On the Wall
Panel 1W · Line 12
Names are inscribed in the order of loss, starting at Panel 1E at the apex and ending at Panel 1W. At the Memorial, find the panel number at the base and count down from the top line.
Remember
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Service
- Branch
- U.S. Marine Corps
- Rank
- Major (MAJ)
- Service
- Regular
- Occupation
- Pilot Vma (Aw) (I), Frs Basic A-6 (7511)
- Unit (as recorded)
- VMA 224 USS CORAL SEA CVA 43
- Born
- December 17, 1946
- Home of record
- Wappingers Falls, New York (Dutchess County)
Casualty
- Date of loss
- May 3, 1972
- Country
- North Vietnam
- Casualty type
- Hostile
- Category
- Declared Dead
- Circumstance
- Aircraft Crash — crew
- First reported
- Missing in action
- Remains
- Not recovered as of the 2008 DoD record
Context · from the records
What was happening
Eight names on the Wall carry the date May 3, 1972. In May 1972, 113 Americans whose names are on the Wall died in the war.
He died in North Vietnam while the Easter Offensive was under way. On 30 March 1972, North Vietnam launched its largest offensive since 1968, attacking across the DMZ, toward An Lộc and into the Central Highlands. By then few U.S. ground troops remained; American advisers and air power fought alongside the South Vietnamese.
His remains had not been recovered when the 2008 record was compiled. The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency continues to search for Americans still missing from the war; families can find case information through dpaa.mil.
Read the history
On the Wall
Also on Panel 1W, Line 12
- DALE KYETTE PORTERFIELDSpecialist Four · May 2, 1972
- DAVID RODDY SLAGLECaptain · May 2, 1972
- JOSEPH CLIFFORD HOPPERStaff Sergeant · May 3, 1972
- THOMAS CARL WIDERQUISTFirst Lieutenant · May 3, 1972
From Wappingers Falls
- WAYNE ANTHONY WHITELEYLance Corporal · January 6, 1968
- WILLIAM MICHAEL CRUSIE JRPrivate First Class · June 6, 1969
Source. U.S. Department of Defense, Defense Casualty Analysis System, Vietnam Conflict Extract Data File (as of April 29, 2008), Records of the Office of the Secretary of Defense, Record Group 330, National Archives (NAID 2240992). Panel and line as recorded in that file. This page presents the official record and its historical context; no biography has been written for him yet. See something wrong? Report a correction.