--- title: "One of Disney’s most-loved characters came to be a leader of Marines" description: "Donnie Dunagan feared his fellow Marines discovering his pre-Corps life. The last thing he wanted was to be known forever as \"Major Bambi.\"" date: "2022-06-13" modified: "2022-06-13" authors: - name: "Blake Stilwell" job_title: "Editor-In-Chief, Air Force Veteran" link: "https://www.wearethemighty.com/authors/blake/" url: "https://www.wearethemighty.com/mighty-trending/disney-character-leader-of-marines/" categories: - "Entertainment" - "History" - "Marine Corps" - "Movies and TV" - "Vietnam War" - "War History" --- # One of Disney’s most-loved characters came to be a leader of Marines ![]() For the entirety of his Marine Corps career, Donnie Dunagan feared his fellow Marines discovering his pre-Corps life. The last thing he wanted was to be known forever as "Major Bambi." It was a nightmare he'd harbored for 21 years of Marine Corps service – and it almost came out just weeks before retirement. --- ![]() *Donnie Dunagan as a Marine Corps officer in 1974. (Donnie Dunagan)* Dunagan was a Marine recruiter's dream – except he was never recruited. He was drafted into the Corps in 1952, which certainly made his life interesting, but it was already interesting. As a young child, Dunagan's family struggled with poverty in Tennessee. After young Dunagan won 0 in a talent competition, the family moved to Hollywood where he became something of a child star. His last role was as the voice of Disney's beloved baby fawn, the title role of Bambi. His Hollywood past was a sharp contrast to his teen years. He earned money as a lathe operator in a boardinghouse before being drafted into the Marine Corps. But he took to the life of a Marine. He was promoted 13 times in his 21 years, which was a record at the time. He was also the youngest drill instructor to ever don the campaign hat. All the while, he harbored a secret he was desperate to keep from his fellow Marines. ![]() *This f\*cking adorable secret could have wrecked him. (Walt Disney Productions)* He fought three tours in Vietnam and over the years earned a promotion to Major along with a Bronze Star and three Purple hearts. A few weeks before he was set to retire from the Corps, secret intact, he was called into his CO's office. The CO wanted him to "[audit the auditors]()" – and When the Major asked when he would ever have the time to do what his commander asked, the CO patted a big red folder and said: "You will audit the auditors. Won't you, Maj. Bambi?" His secret finally caught up to him. ![]() *Things like this don't just go away when you're a Marine.* "I have some holes in my body that God didn't put there. I got shot through my left knee. Got an award or two for saving lives over time," Dunagan told StoryCorps. "But I think I could have been appointed as the aide-de-camp in the White House, it wouldn't make any difference — it's Bambi that's so dear to people." ## Author Blake Stilwell is We Are The Mighty's Editor-in-Chief, covering military news, entertainment, and history, along with veteran education, employment and entrepreneurship. He is a former U.S. Air Force combat cameraman with degrees in Graphic Design, Television and Film, International Relations, Public Relations, Business Management and Middle Eastern Affairs. After leaving the military, he began working in film and television production in New York and Los Angeles, work that included ABC News, NBC Olympics, and HBO Sports. He then spent two years in Washington with White House Communications, before joining the Near East Foundation. At NEF he served as an International Development Fellow, then Communications Officer, and finally, Media Officer for the Middle East and Africa. Based in the Palestinian Territory, he coordinated strategic communications between eight country offices, international media, and government and NGO partners. He began a career focused on writing and editing in 2015 with We Are The Mighty. He left in 2019 for Military.com, but returned as Editor-in-Chief in 2025. Blake’s work has been seen on CBS News, Fox News, CBC, The Chicago Tribune, Task & Purpose, Military Times, Recoil, Skillset, American History, and was shockingly even used in a Supreme Court argument. He is an avid traveler and small business owner in Ohio, where he spends most of his energy fixing up a very old house. ### Author social links [Facebook]() [Twitter]() [Instagram]() [LinkedIn]()