[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 196 (Friday, December 1, 2017)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1641]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




RECOGNIZING THE LIFE OF FALLEN MISSISSIPPI MARINE FIRST LIEUTENANT (1ST 
                    LT.) WILLIAM JAMES DONNELLY, IV

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                            HON. TRENT KELLY

                             of mississippi

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, December 1, 2017

  Mr. KELLY of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, today I rise in memory of 
fallen Mississippi Marine First Lieutenant (1st Lt.) William James 
Donnelly, IV who gave his life while in service to our nation on 
November 25, 2010, during Operation Enduring Freedom. 1st Lt. Donnelly 
was killed while conducting combat operations in Helmand Province, 
Afghanistan. This was 1st Lt. Donnelly's first combat deployment. 1st 
Lt. Donnelly was assigned to 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st 
Marine Division, 1st Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, 
California.
  According to the Associated Press, 1st Lt. Donnelly, of Picayune, 
Mississippi, always wanted to join the U.S. Marine Corps. He enlisted 
in the United States Marine Corps Reserve in June 2003 and served as an 
Assault Amphibious Vehicle (SSV) crewmember in the 4th Assault 
Amphibian Battalion, 4th Marine Division, Gulfport, Mississippi. He 
transferred to the U.S. Navy Reserve as a Midshipman to attend the 
officer training program at the United States Merchant Marine Academy 
in King's Point, New York where he served as a Midshipman Regimental 
Commander. 1st Lt. Donnelly was commissioned as a 2ndLt in the United 
States Marine Corps after graduating in June 2008 with a Bachelor of 
Science degree in Marine Engineering. After TBS, he was designated an 
infantry officer in October 2009 and served as a rifle platoon 
commander assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines, 1st Marine 
Division, 1st Marine Expeditionary Force, Kilo Company, 2nd Platoon, 
Camp Pendleton, California. 1st Lt. Donnelly married his wife, Linsey, 
on September 11, 2010. He deployed to Helmand Province, Afghanistan 15 
days later.
  1st Lt. Donnelly's family learned of his death on Thanksgiving Day 
2010. Melissa Donnelly-Weed, 1st Lt. Donnelly's sister, posted on her 
Facebook page that day. ``Always be thankful for family,'' Melissa 
said. ``I will always be thankful and grateful I had a wonderful 
brother. He gave his life today for his country doing what he loved--
being a Marine. I will miss him forever. I love you, Will!'' William J. 
Donnelly, III, 1st Lt. Donnelly's father, said his son would not have 
any regrets even though the loss is extremely hard to bear. ``Will was 
doing what he loved to do and what he always wanted to do,'' Mr. 
Donnelly said. ``I am sure if we could talk to him now, he would say he 
had no regrets.''
  In a release issued by Camp Pendleton, officials said that they had 
lost a member of their own family. ``The Marines and sailors of the 1st 
Marine Division mourn the loss of 1st Lt. Donnelly,'' the release read. 
``Our heartfelt condolences go out to his family.''
  After learning of 1st Lt. Donnelly's death, Picayune Mayor Ed Pinero 
said it is always hard to lose a hero and on behalf of the city, they 
extended their heartfelt condolences to the family. ``1st Lt. 
Donnelly's sacrifice and that of all the men and women who fall in 
combat protecting our country's freedom should never be forgotten,'' 
Mayor Pinero said. Additionally, Mayor Pinero announced that 1st Lt. 
Donnelly's name would be inscribed on a monument in front of the old 
city hall in Picayune to ensure the town's war heroes are never 
forgotten.
  A funeral service was held Tuesday, December 14 at the United States 
Naval Academy Chapel in Annapolis, Maryland. Internment was held at 
Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia. Friends of 1st Lt. 
Donnelly held a memorial service in Picayune at the same hour of the 
service at Arlington.
  1st Lt. Donnelly is survived by his parents, William Donnelly, III 
and Vicki Donnelly; his two sisters, Lieutenant Junior Grade (LTJG) 
Melissa Donnelly-Weed and Rebecca Donnelly; his wife, Linsey Becker-
Donnelly; and his nephew Christian Weed.
  1st Lt. Donnelly was awarded the Purple Heart, the National Defense 
Service Medal, the Korean Defense Service Medal, the Afghanistan 
Campaign Medal, and the Combat Action Ribbon.
  1st Lt. Donnelly's service and sacrifice to defend America will 
always be remembered.

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