In Memoriam

Major Michael William "Big D" Donnelly

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Major Michael William "Big D" Donnelly

30 June 2005

Before retiring with military honors in 1996, Major Donnelly, a dedicated career fighter pilot, served his nation proudly. Over the course of his 15-year career, he flew first the A-10 and then the F-16. During Operation Desert Storm he completed 44 F-16 combat missions over Iraq as a member of the 10th TFS stationed at Hahn AFB, Germany.

When he retired, he was serving as Chief of Standardization and Evaluation while assigned to the 80th Flying Training Wing at Sheppard AFB. Upon his retirement Major Donnelly received the Meritorious Service Medal for outstanding service to the United States. In this role, Major Donnelly trained NATO fighter pilots from over 16 countries and developed entirely new flying operations for the largest flying training wing in the world.

His many other honors included the Air Medal with three oak leaf clusters, the Aerial Achievement Medal, the Air Force Commendation Medal with four oak leaf clusters, the Air Force Achievement Medal and the Top Gun award.

Diagnosed with ALS in 1996, Major Donnelly spent the next nine and a half years in the service of his fellow gulf war veterans, thousands of whom are suffering from a host of debilitating and life-threatening illnesses brought about by exposure to nerve agents and other toxins, spent depleted uranium munitions and experimental vaccines.

Major Donnelly received a BA in history from Fairfield University in 1981 and an MBA from Midwestern University in 1995. In 2003, Fairfield University bestowed an honorary Juris Doctor degree upon him for his selfless service to his nation and to others.

On June 30th, 2005 Major Michael Donnelly, age 46, died after a relentless ten-year battle with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease.

Visitor Comments

Martin Agüera, Apr 25, 2009 - 07:58 PM

Big D was one of the fearless "Sabres" who even after the war fought a tough and courageous battle. He will not be forgotten!!