Retired Col. Donald Jon Soland, 70, of Fayetteville, died Saturday, April 21, 2007, in Highsmith-Rainey Memorial Hospital.
He was a retired Army Special Forces colonel.
A memorial Mass will be celebrated at 7 p.m. Wednesday at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church, 700 Carnegie Drive, with the Rev. Willard Rucinski officiating. A private family burial will be held Thursday at Cross Creek Cemetery.
Col. Soland is survived by his wife, Helga Soland of the home; two daughters, Michelle Oxford, and son-in-law, Col. John R. Oxford Jr. of Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., and Nicole Soland of Fayetteville; and two brothers, Robert D. Soland of Springfield, Mo., and Randy Soland of Springfield, Ill.
Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society, 11 S. Boylan Ave., Raleigh NC 27603.
Colonel (Ret.) Donald J Soland was reared on his family farm in Illinois. Enrolling at Texas A & M, he chose to pursue a career in the United States Army. Graduating as a Distinguished Military Graduate from the Corps of cadets with Bachelor of Arts Degree in History and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant of Infantry in 1959. Later he received a Mast of Arts Degree in International Relations from the University of Texas at Austin.
His 30 year military career highlights include: Company command in the 2nd Infantry Division, Augsburg, Germany; Vietnamese Ranger Advisor; Operations Officer 3rd Battalion, 503rd Infantry, Commander, of the 173rd Airborne Brigade's Task Force Talon' Executive Officer, 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne) European Detachment; Deputy Commander, 1st Special Operations Command (Airborne) at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. Additionally he was a past president of the Society of the 173rd Airborne Brigade, and a Distinguished Member of the 1st Special Forces Regiment.
His awards include: the Legion of Merit, 2OLC; Bronze Star with "V" Device for Valor and 4OLC; Meritorious Service Medal, 1OLC; Air Medal, 7OLC; the Army Commendation Medal, Vietnam Service Medal with 7 campaign Stars, the Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm, and the Army Staff Identification Badge. He also earned the Expert Infantryman Badge, Combat Infantryman Badge, Master Parachutists Badge, Ranger and Special Forces Tabs; German, French, and Royal Thai Army Parachutist Badges. {fayetteville observer & memorial progam}
He was a retired Army Special Forces colonel.
A memorial Mass will be celebrated at 7 p.m. Wednesday at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church, 700 Carnegie Drive, with the Rev. Willard Rucinski officiating. A private family burial will be held Thursday at Cross Creek Cemetery.
Col. Soland is survived by his wife, Helga Soland of the home; two daughters, Michelle Oxford, and son-in-law, Col. John R. Oxford Jr. of Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., and Nicole Soland of Fayetteville; and two brothers, Robert D. Soland of Springfield, Mo., and Randy Soland of Springfield, Ill.
Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society, 11 S. Boylan Ave., Raleigh NC 27603.
Colonel (Ret.) Donald J Soland was reared on his family farm in Illinois. Enrolling at Texas A & M, he chose to pursue a career in the United States Army. Graduating as a Distinguished Military Graduate from the Corps of cadets with Bachelor of Arts Degree in History and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant of Infantry in 1959. Later he received a Mast of Arts Degree in International Relations from the University of Texas at Austin.
His 30 year military career highlights include: Company command in the 2nd Infantry Division, Augsburg, Germany; Vietnamese Ranger Advisor; Operations Officer 3rd Battalion, 503rd Infantry, Commander, of the 173rd Airborne Brigade's Task Force Talon' Executive Officer, 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne) European Detachment; Deputy Commander, 1st Special Operations Command (Airborne) at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. Additionally he was a past president of the Society of the 173rd Airborne Brigade, and a Distinguished Member of the 1st Special Forces Regiment.
His awards include: the Legion of Merit, 2OLC; Bronze Star with "V" Device for Valor and 4OLC; Meritorious Service Medal, 1OLC; Air Medal, 7OLC; the Army Commendation Medal, Vietnam Service Medal with 7 campaign Stars, the Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm, and the Army Staff Identification Badge. He also earned the Expert Infantryman Badge, Combat Infantryman Badge, Master Parachutists Badge, Ranger and Special Forces Tabs; German, French, and Royal Thai Army Parachutist Badges. {fayetteville observer & memorial progam}
Retired Col. Donald Jon Soland, 70, of Fayetteville, died Saturday, April 21, 2007, in Highsmith-Rainey Memorial Hospital.
He was a retired Army Special Forces colonel.
A memorial Mass will be celebrated at 7 p.m. Wednesday at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church, 700 Carnegie Drive, with the Rev. Willard Rucinski officiating. A private family burial will be held Thursday at Cross Creek Cemetery.
Col. Soland is survived by his wife, Helga Soland of the home; two daughters, Michelle Oxford, and son-in-law, Col. John R. Oxford Jr. of Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., and Nicole Soland of Fayetteville; and two brothers, Robert D. Soland of Springfield, Mo., and Randy Soland of Springfield, Ill.
Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society, 11 S. Boylan Ave., Raleigh NC 27603.
Colonel (Ret.) Donald J Soland was reared on his family farm in Illinois. Enrolling at Texas A & M, he chose to pursue a career in the United States Army. Graduating as a Distinguished Military Graduate from the Corps of cadets with Bachelor of Arts Degree in History and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant of Infantry in 1959. Later he received a Mast of Arts Degree in International Relations from the University of Texas at Austin.
His 30 year military career highlights include: Company command in the 2nd Infantry Division, Augsburg, Germany; Vietnamese Ranger Advisor; Operations Officer 3rd Battalion, 503rd Infantry, Commander, of the 173rd Airborne Brigade's Task Force Talon' Executive Officer, 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne) European Detachment; Deputy Commander, 1st Special Operations Command (Airborne) at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. Additionally he was a past president of the Society of the 173rd Airborne Brigade, and a Distinguished Member of the 1st Special Forces Regiment.
His awards include: the Legion of Merit, 2OLC; Bronze Star with "V" Device for Valor and 4OLC; Meritorious Service Medal, 1OLC; Air Medal, 7OLC; the Army Commendation Medal, Vietnam Service Medal with 7 campaign Stars, the Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm, and the Army Staff Identification Badge. He also earned the Expert Infantryman Badge, Combat Infantryman Badge, Master Parachutists Badge, Ranger and Special Forces Tabs; German, French, and Royal Thai Army Parachutist Badges. {fayetteville observer & memorial progam}
He was a retired Army Special Forces colonel.
A memorial Mass will be celebrated at 7 p.m. Wednesday at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church, 700 Carnegie Drive, with the Rev. Willard Rucinski officiating. A private family burial will be held Thursday at Cross Creek Cemetery.
Col. Soland is survived by his wife, Helga Soland of the home; two daughters, Michelle Oxford, and son-in-law, Col. John R. Oxford Jr. of Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., and Nicole Soland of Fayetteville; and two brothers, Robert D. Soland of Springfield, Mo., and Randy Soland of Springfield, Ill.
Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society, 11 S. Boylan Ave., Raleigh NC 27603.
Colonel (Ret.) Donald J Soland was reared on his family farm in Illinois. Enrolling at Texas A & M, he chose to pursue a career in the United States Army. Graduating as a Distinguished Military Graduate from the Corps of cadets with Bachelor of Arts Degree in History and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant of Infantry in 1959. Later he received a Mast of Arts Degree in International Relations from the University of Texas at Austin.
His 30 year military career highlights include: Company command in the 2nd Infantry Division, Augsburg, Germany; Vietnamese Ranger Advisor; Operations Officer 3rd Battalion, 503rd Infantry, Commander, of the 173rd Airborne Brigade's Task Force Talon' Executive Officer, 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne) European Detachment; Deputy Commander, 1st Special Operations Command (Airborne) at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. Additionally he was a past president of the Society of the 173rd Airborne Brigade, and a Distinguished Member of the 1st Special Forces Regiment.
His awards include: the Legion of Merit, 2OLC; Bronze Star with "V" Device for Valor and 4OLC; Meritorious Service Medal, 1OLC; Air Medal, 7OLC; the Army Commendation Medal, Vietnam Service Medal with 7 campaign Stars, the Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm, and the Army Staff Identification Badge. He also earned the Expert Infantryman Badge, Combat Infantryman Badge, Master Parachutists Badge, Ranger and Special Forces Tabs; German, French, and Royal Thai Army Parachutist Badges. {fayetteville observer & memorial progam}
