Donnelly, William James Iv
Male
Verified First Lieutenant William James Iv Donnelly, 27, of Picayune, Mississippi, was killed in Helmand province, Afghanistan, on November 25, 2010, while serving with the U.S. Marine Corps.
Their Story
William James Iv Donnelly was a 27-year-old from Picayune, Mississippi. He served as a First Lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps, assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, based out of Camp Pendleton, California. His unit was deployed to Afghanistan as part of Regimental Combat Team 2 under the I Marine Expeditionary Force Forward.
On November 25, 2010, Donnelly was killed by hostile action in Helmand province, a volatile region in southern Afghanistan. According to the Department of Defense, he died while supporting combat operations. The specific incident was not detailed in public releases, but his death occurred during a period of intense fighting for his battalion in the Sangin district.
Donnelly's death came during Operation Enduring Freedom, the U.S.-led military campaign in Afghanistan that began in October 2001. By late 2010, the conflict was marked by a significant troop surge, with U.S. and allied forces engaged in major counterinsurgency operations, particularly in Helmand and Kandahar provinces, against Taliban and other insurgent forces.
The Marine Corps announced his death in a press release. He was one of several Marines from the 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines killed during the unit's notoriously difficult 2010-2011 deployment to Sangin, which sustained high casualty rates. His death was reported by local and national news outlets, including his hometown paper.
First Lieutenant Donnelly is memorialized on the Afghanistan War casualty lists and by veterans' groups. His battalion, known as 'Darkhorse,' later received recognition for its service in Sangin. His name is inscribed on the Mississippi Veterans Memorial Cemetery wall in Newton County.
Explore Further
First Lieutenant Donnelly was killed during Operation Enduring Freedom (2001?2014). The conflict concluded in December 2014. See the full roster of those killed in this conflict.
Among those documented in the same conflict: Andrews, Evander Earl, Edmunds, Jonn Joseph, Stonesifer, Kristofor Tif, Davis, Bryant Leroy.
