Donald Gary Detmer
Private First Class
L CO, 3RD BN, 4TH MARINES, 3RD MARDIV, III MAF
United States Marine Corps
Fort Lauderdale, Florida
April 14, 1946 to February 27, 1967
DONALD G DETMER is on the Wall at Panel 15E, Line 104

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Combat Action Ribbon
 
Donald G Detmer
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11 Dec 2001

"Not for fame or reward, not for place or for rank,
but in simple obedience to duty,
as they understood it."
Confederate Memorial, Arlington National Cemetery

From his brother,
Randy Detmer
rdetmer@barbham.com

 
20 Jan 2003

Donald Detmer was the grandson of my late stepmother, Irene Blair McNaughton. I did not have the oportunity to know him or his brother Randy very well, as we traveled in different circles.

I remember Don as a happy, very popular young man. He was a skilled diver and was interested in becoming involved in underwater construction in Texas on (the then new concept of) off-shore drilling platforms, to the best of my memory. I remember he had an old Austin Healy he worked on.

Don was sent off to Nam while I had been lucky enough to be stationed in Germany. I was a brash and very immature individual in those days, but when I got word of Don's passing, it made more of an impact on my life than one would expect. I associate the beginning of my adult life with his death. Shortly thereafter I was also sent to Nam, but was blessed once again in that I was allowed to return.

To those of us of that particular generation, those times were character forming, unavoidable, and at times unendurable. I doubt that there is an American who has lived through those years that can say he hasn't been indelibly marked by them.

God bless you, Don.

Paul McNaughton
phoenixrising01@hotmail.com


 

A Note from The Virtual Wall

A bitterly fought battle at the end of February 1967, which took place about 5 kilometers northwest of Cam Lo, cost the lives of 28 Marines and sailors:
  • A Co, 3rd Tank Bn:
  • F Co, 2nd Bn, 3rd Marines:
    • Cpl Ronald G. Grumling, Glenolden, PA
    • Cpl Stephen L. Miles, Bon Aqua, TN
    • LCpl Victor J. Homsley, Judsonia, AR
    • Pfc James Anderson, Compton, CA (Medal of Honor)

  • G Co, 2nd Bn, 3rd Marines:
    • Capt Carl E. Bockewitz, Bourbon, MO
    • Cpl Curtis E. Crawford, Dunkirk, NY (Silver Star)
    • LCpl James S. Goss, Mocksville, NC
    • LCpl James L. Ross, Hickory, NC (Bronze Star "V")
    • LCpl Douglas G. Street, Whitefish, MT
    • Pfc Richard A. Dewane, Buffalo, NY
    • Pfc Michael J. Glynn, Lake City, MN

  • H&S Co, 2nd Bn, 3rd Marines:
    • LtCol Victor Ohanesian, New York, NY (Silver Star)
    • SMaj Wayne N. Hayes, Oceanside, CA
    • HM3 John C. Agee, Lindsey, OH

  • I Co, 3rd Bn, 3rd Marines:
    • Cpl Donald W. Bollman, Norridge, IL
    • Pfc De Wayne R. Black, Toledo, OH
    • Pfc Reginald F. Carter, Washington, DC
    • Pfc Gary A. Hendrickson, Ottawa, KS

  • L Co, 3rd Bn, 4th Marines:
    • 1stLt Douglas E. Nichols, San Pedro, CA
    • LCpl Jose Holguin, El Paso, TX
    • LCpl Larry E. Ross, Navato, CA
    • Pfc Donald G. Detmer, Fort Lauderdale, FL
    • Pfc Patrick M. McKenney, McComb, MS
    • Pfc Charles S. Norris, Veradale, WA
    • Pfc Jimmie C. Ross, Woodville, MS

  • M Co, 3rd Bn, 4th Marines:
    • LCpl James T. Byrd, Wadesboro, NC

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