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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Uncle Donnie died before I was born |
Posted: 2006-11-01 |
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I'm really not sure if I'm qualified to write a rememberance of someone who was killed before I was even born, but I feel like I have to say something.
My father (William, Donnie's older brother) didn't talk about him very much, but that didn't mean he didn't think about him often. When dad did talk about Uncle Donnie, it was always with a mixture of sadness, regret and, strangely, joy. Joy that Donnie was his little brother.
Even though I never met Uncle Donnie, his presence has always been felt at family gatherings. He even influenced my life, as he was the primary reason I joined the military (US Army). I felt that by serving my country, as he and both my parents did, I was carrying on a family legacy and somehow honoring Uncle Donnie's memory. I hope that he's proud of my service and knows that even though I never met him, I think of him often (I have a rubbing of his name from the Vietnam Veteran's Memorial posted in my office and it's never more than a very small turn of my head away from being in the center of my field of vision.)
I want to thank everyone associated with this amazing tribute to my uncle. I know that if my father was alive to see this, he would be very proud that his little brother inspired so many people and was loved as much by his Marine brothers as his blood brothers..............................by Andy Turso, son of Donnie's brother William
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