Col. Hank Donigan: 30+ Years in the Marines, Brain Surgery, Now Racing His 500th Marathon At Age 68

Marines, Marathons, and Meaning: The Legacy of Col. Hank Donigan

In this week’s Team Neer Quit podcast, Marcus and Melanie speak with Retired Colonel Hank Donigan—a Marine whose life reads like a battle-hardened adventure novel. From his early days jumping out of airplanes at Fort Benning to leading troops through intense combat in Lebanon, Grenada, and Iraq, Col. Donigan has lived a life of sacrifice, courage, and service.

A graduate of the Naval Academy and a 30-year Marine Corps veteran, Donigan shares the emotional and physical toll of war, including his own battle with PTSD and traumatic brain injury. Yet, rather than slowing down, he has turned pain into purpose—running marathons nearly every week and using each mile to raise awareness and funds for wounded service members through the Semper Fi & America’s Fund. With $85,000 raised in 2023 alone, he stands as the nation’s top individual fundraiser for the cause.

At 68 years old and 46 marathons deep in a single year, Hank embodies resilience, leadership, and hope. In this episode, hear how staying in shape became both a coping mechanism and a mission to inspire others—and why, if given the chance, he’d proudly come back and do it all again as a United States Marine.

Col. Donigan shares his experiences with:
·         Surviving combat in Lebanon and the aftermath of the Beirut barracks bombing
·         The healing power of running and his marathons
·         Raising funds for wounded warriors and their families
·         Leadership, legacy, and living with purpose post-service

 In This Episode You Will Hear:
• We need to do a better job with American history, and make our kids aware of, and proud of our heritage. (1:47)
• I wanted to go where the action was, and was sent to Okinawa to serve battalion force Marines. (11:54)
• The Marine Corps made me a runner. (20:36)
• I had a grandfather who ran the Boston Marathon in 1916, so I always had this dream of running in it. (22:11)
• I was the first Marine Corps finisher [of the Boston Marathon]. (24:24)
• Everybody wants to be the popular guy; the likeable guy. But there are some things that your inexperienced troops don’t know, and you have to be the hard guy – a bit of a prick. But if you’re not willing to do that and you let things slide, people are gonna get hurt and you’re not gonna bring everybody home. (31:31)
• There was a group of engineers that were out playing football. All of a sudden, the first round came in, and one of the marines hit the deck and his helmet rolled off. The next round came in and a piece of shrapnel took the top of his head off. (32:47)
• “Nice guys kill Marines” is something I live by and continue to teach. (33:42)
• I learned how critical fitness was to leadership and combat leadership. (35:47)
• Marcus, three’s things about you, being a SEAL and being a sailor that will be with you till the day you die. (37:45)
• I’ve been able to take veterans in need, and connect them with case workers with a fund and see them get immediate assistance. (41:19)
• Walking is good. If you can get 10,000 steps a day, that really adds up to something good for your health. (45:50)

Support Hank
  - thefund.org
https://runsignup.com/Race/47358/Donate/rpy06X1vBee5NBTB

Support TNQ
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