Donald Gerald Buchanan

Era: World War II

Military Branch: Army

Entered the Army April 1942.

Served as a Master Sergeant withthe Aviation Engineers in Philippines and Japan. Attended basic training at Ft. Leonard Wood, Mo., then Camp Young in Indio, Calif. Sent to the Philippines via "The Sea Witch". Served with the occupation forces of Japan. Honorably discharged January 1946.

Source: Hometown Heroes: The Saint Louis County World War II Project, page 352.

Mr. Buchanan served during World War II in the Pacific Theater. He entered the U.S. Army in April 1942.

He served as a Master Sergeant, supply platoon and Staff Sergeant with the Aviation Engineers in Philippines and Japan. Attended basic training at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, then to Camp Young in Indio, California, and then to March Field, Riverside, California. Sent to the Philippines via "The Sea Witch". Served with the occupation forces of Japan.

Mr. Buchanan was honorably discharged in January 1946.

He served in the Aviation Engineers in southern California under General George S. Patton. He was stationed in the Philippines and was part of the Army of Occupation in Japan. He was a member of the Honor Guard at President Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s funeral.

Don was born November 22, 1919, in a cabin on Lake Mille Lacs, Minnesota, the son of Earl and Ora (Marsh) Buchanan. He attended high school in Aitkin, Minnesota. A resident of Pike Lake, Minnesota, he died on Monday, March 3, 2008, at the age of 88. Source: Duluth News Tribune, March 4, 2008