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REMEMBERING DONNIE

    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
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.
    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.
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
 
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 ...
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REMEMBRANCES OF DONNIE

Title:  Spirit, Will and Dignity - Cpl. Donald A. Turso Posted: 2006-10-26

 
The following poem was written by Donnie's late uncle Rocco Turso, who had it read into the Congressional Record on June 18, 1969 as a tribute to Donnie and all those who served their country. It has been provided for this website by Donnie's niece Patti. Please look at the "Congressional Record" Photo Album for an actual copy of the Congressional Record. Thanks, Patti!..... Oh God, help me to see again the will, spirit and dignity that made this country free..... Let me see the spirit of 1776, and the fighting men on Bunker Hill..... Let us not forget the suffering of Valley Forge or the gallantry of the Alamo..... Let me see again the battles of Bull Run and the bravery of the men in Blue and Grey..... Let me see the Great Emancipator at the battlefields of Gettysburg..... Let me see Teddy and his riders going up San Juan, Whose sons later were the spirit of the Marne..... Let me see the Yankee Doodle Boys, marching up Broadway, With George M. Cohan leading all the way..... Let me not forget the 7th of December, Those of Pearl Harbor we shall remember..... Let me not forget the spirit of Corregidor or Bataan..... Let me not see again the anguish of man..... Let me see again Old Glory rising on Iwo Jima, Let me see again the landing at Normandy, Salerno, and let us not forget Casino..... Let me see again the battle of the Bulge, And that brave American who said "NUTS"..... Let me see again in far away Korea, Yes and now in Little Viet Nam..... Oh God I pray that I am worthy of that Spirit, Will and Dignity, Of those who made the great sacrifice for me and Old Glory.




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