REMEMBERING DONNIE
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Donald Turso was born on April 5, 1948 in
Port Chester, New York. He died on May 19,
1969 in South Vietnam while serving his country
in the United States Marine Corps. He graduated
from Harrison High School in Westchester
County, New York, in 1966. He also attended
Hyram Scott University in Nebraska and South
Hampton College on Long Island, New York. He
enlisted in the Marine Corps. on September 27,
1967. His tour in Vietnam started on November
22, 1968 and ended with his death. Donnie's
military occupation specialty (MOS) was
telephone technician. Donnie was a very
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intelligent guy, and I'm sure that the Marine Corps. recognized this,
therefore sending him to tech school in San Diego. Donnie was on the
Harrison High School football team, and it was here in high school that
he received his nickname, "Maynard." He had a strong resemblance
(or so we all thought) to the actor Bob Denver. Denver played Maynard G.
Krebbs on the TV show Dobie Gillis. Even Donnie's high school yearbook
photo has the nickname Maynard below the photo.
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I was not Donnie's closest friend, by far.
We were high school classmates. I've always
remembered Donnie in the 37 years since his
death. I think of a life cut short and all
the things that might have been. My memory
of Donnie shall remain with me forever.
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I recently discovered his gravesite and that was a pretty emotional yet
rewarding experience. His Marine Corps. friend, James Napier, and I
have put together this website to honor him. James was with Donnie in
Vietnam and he also has remembered him through these many years.
Our hope is that others, not only strangers but maybe family members
and old friends, will see our memorial to Donnie so they can also think
of him and keep his memory alive.
Anthony Amendola
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It was late October of 2005 when James Napier first contacted Anthony Amendola. Both had posted
remembrances of Donald Turso on several Vietnam memorial websites. Anthony was a classmate of
Donnie's in Harrison, NY in the 60's. They graduated together from high school in 1966.
Jim served with Donnie in Vietnam. Jim's first email to Anthony began, "I knew your buddy in Vietnam."
Jim had an idea to create a tribute to Donnie on a USMC website. It turned out well, but greater access
for families and friends was needed, and the idea for this website was born. see ... Contact Us
REMEMBRANCES OF DONNIE
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We Were Young Marines |
Posted: 2008-11-22 |
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We were young Marines. I called him "DAT" because of his initials and he called me "Mount" because my first two initials are M.T. We both had bushy, black moustaches but his was better than mine. I still can't grow a decent moustache. DAT was a funny guy with a wry sense of humor; the kind we normally think of when we think of Robin Williams. We were good friends in that irreverent way that Marine warriors relate to other Mairines whom they like and respect.......... We talked. We talked a lot about things you wouldn't expect Marines to think about, let alone talk about. DAT was an intellectual underneath his thick Marine hide. We talked about politics and existentialism and Nihilism and other philosophies, and we talked about art and literature and psychology. He confided in me about his childhood and his family and really personal stuff about his background. He was a fearless Marine who volunteered for all the most dangerous missions and he told me that he didn't care if he lived or died. We talked about that a lot but I never fully understood his reasons and when I tried to explain the good things about life and why he should look forward to the experiences we had before us, he never seemed to understand my positive outlook.......... On my last day in Vietnam, DAT was one of a couple of guys I made a point of seeing and saying goodbye to before I grabbed my "Willie Peter bag," walked up that orange-dirt road to the steel-mat combat-runway, and jumped on a C-123 to Da Nang. I was happy to be going home but I knew I would miss our conversations. We promised to look each other up when we got "back to the world." Soon after I got home, another Marine buddy wrote and told me that Turso was dead. I won't describe here the way he died but if you are a personal friend, you probably know. In the many years since Vietnam, Donald A. Turso, my good freind "DAT," has been a constant companion in my memories of that time and remains one of the people in my life whose names and faces I will never forget. Semper Fi, DAT. You were a good Marine..........
Mark Van Noy - -
Sergeant of Marines - -
USMC 62-69 - -
3rd MarDiv, Dong Ha, Nam 68-69 - -
Parris Island, Jul - Oct 62, Platoon 245
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