[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 28 (Tuesday, February 13, 2018)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E178-E179]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




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

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. TRENT KELLY

                             of mississippi

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 13, 2018

  Mr. KELLY of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, today I rise in memory of 
fallen Mississippi Marine First Lieutenant (1stLt) William James 
Donnelly, IV who gave his life while in service to our nation on 
November 25, 2010, during Operation Enduring Freedom. 1stLt Donnelly

[[Page E179]]

was killed while conducting combat operations in Helmand Province, 
Afghanistan. This was 1stLt Donnelly's first combat deployment. 1stLt 
Donnelly was assigned to 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine 
Division, 1st Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, California.
  According to the Associated Press, 1stLt 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. 1stLt 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, 1stLt Donnelly 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. 1stLt Donnelly married his wife, Linsey, on September 11, 
2010. He deployed to Helmand Province, Afghanistan, 15 days later.
  1stLt Donnelly's family learned of his death on Thanksgiving Day in 
2010. Melissa Donnelly-Weed, 1stLt 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, 1stLt Donnelly's father, said his son would not have any 
regrets, even though the loss was 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 1stLt Donnelly,'' the release read. 
``Our heartfelt condolences go out to his family.''
  After learning of 1stLt Donnelly's death, Picayune Mayor Ed Pinero 
said it was always hard to lose a hero. On behalf of the city, he 
extended their heartfelt condolences to the family. ``1stLt 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 1stLt 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 14th, at the United States Naval 
Academy Chapel in Annapolis, Maryland. Internment was held at Arlington 
National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia. Friends of 1stLt Donnelly 
held a memorial service in Picayune at the same hour of the service at 
Arlington.
  1stLt Donnelly is survived by his wife, Linsey Becker-Donnelly; his 
parents, William Donnelly, III and Vicki Donnelly; his two sisters, 
Lieutenant Junior Grade (LTJG) Melissa Donnelly-Weed and Rebecca 
Donnelly; and his nephew Christian Weed.
  1stLt 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.
  1stLt Donnelly's service and sacrifice to defend America will always 
be remembered.

                          ____________________