Sergeant Donald F. Myers

and at Tech in 1950


 

Donald F. Myers graduated from PS 21 the summer of 1949.

Starting the fall semester of '49 at Tech he played frosh football.

Many will remember Myers by his nickname he earned that was bestowed by Coach Howard Longshore by using his initials DM.  After a poor tackle one day Coach Longshore yelled at Myers, "I know what D M stands for - Daisy May!" Alas, poor Myers had to live with that name for the remainder of his stay at Tech.

Don played football three years for Tech until he decided to drop out of school and enlist in the U. S. Marine Corps in early 1952.  But as the famous newscaster would say "Now for the rest of the story."

After serving in Korea, Japan and Norfolk, Virginia, Don was transferred back to his hometown of Indianapolis where he served with the local Marine reserve unit.  Not satisfied with the GED he received in the service he enrolled at night school at Tech.   So, instead of the class of '53 Don finally graduated with the class of '61.

Returning to active duty Sgt. Myers soon found himself in the jungles of Vietnam as a platoon sergeant of Marines.  After almost three years of fighting in Vietnam he returned home to Indiana a combat causality.  He also brought with him an array of military decorations that made him Indiana's Most Decorated Marine of the Vietnam War.

Among his military awards are two Silver Star medals for gallantry, two Bronze Star medal of heroic achievement, the Navy Commendation medal for heroic achievement, five Purple Heart medals for wounds received in action, the Vietnam Medal of Honor, the Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm and the
Vietnam Medal of Military Merit.  In addition, he spent 21 years with the Indiana Guard Reserve and attained the rank of full colonel.  Then governor Evan Byah awarded him the Indiana Distinguished Service Medal.

Don was employed with the U. S. Department of Veterans Affairs ( VA) after his active military service where he retired as a senior counselor.

He now writes books.  His book titled "Your War - My War."   A Marine In Vietnam, earned the prestigious DeAngelis Award for literary excellence.   His book has been praised as the Red Badge of Courage of the Vietnam War.  Don has also written five other books.

Don married the former Dorothy Renforth of Beach Grove and they have two grown daughters.   He has two sons and a daughter from a previous marriage.

Myers devotes 25 hours a week in helping homeless veterans.  He is the Outreach Director for the Hoosier Veterans Assistance Foundation and was instrumental in helping the foundation getting five houses located
at the old Central State Hospital.

Don has been named a Distinguished Alumni from Tech.  He is also a Sagamore of the Wabash and Kentucky Colonel.

This photograph was taken by Marine Combat Correspondent
Cpl. John G. McCullough and won a "Stars and Stripes" award. 
It was captioned, "The Face of War."