Don completed high school at Oakridge, Oregon during May 1943.

He was drafted into the Navy during May 1944.
He received boot camp training in San Diego, CA and was subsequently shipped
to St. Louis, MO for Electrical training.

The completion of his training was coincident with the final repairs to
the LST 133 as a result of hitting a German mine on June 15, 1944, during the D-Day
invasion of France. Don was shipped to New Jersey where he was assigned to
LST 133 as an Electrician.

LST 133 departed shortly thereafter for a cruise to Cuba, the Panama Canal, Hawaii,
then participated in the liberation of the Philippine Islands. LST 133 transported troops
and equipment to the western Philippine Island, Leyte.


After completion of assignment to the Philippine campaign, LST 133 began participation
in the invasion of Okinawa, during April 1945. Seven trips were completed, carrying men
and equipment from the Philippines Islands to Le Island, a tiny western island of Okinawa.

LST 133 survived the many Kamikaze attacks off Okinawa as well as the subsequent
typhoons in the area. Typhoon Louise created cracks in the deck of LST 133 which required
welding while huge waves were hitting the ship.

Subsequent to the Atomic Bomb drops of August 6th and 9th of 1945 and Japanese surrender
on August 14, 1945, LST 133 began delivering occupation troops to Tokyo, Japan.
Upon completion, LST 133 was then scheduled to be sunk as part of the Bikini Project.

During October, 1945, Don was assigned to
a repair ship, USS Sarpedon, until it's return to the US and his discharge from the Navy
during June 1946.

Don had a successful career as an Electrician, raising 6 children with his wife, Betty.


Don's Route: