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Remembrances:
Class Memorial Pages\L-1 Don Watlington.pdf
Assembly/Taps Memorial Article:
Donald Wayne Watlington
was born in South Boston,
VA, to Junius A and Carrie Ratliff Watlington. Don, the youngest
son, had three brothers and one sister. All four of the Watlington
brothers
served
their
country
in the
Armed
Forces,
two
in the
U.S.
Army and two
in
the U.S.
Air Force.
The third
son,
Bernard
Emmert,
graduated
in the
West
Point
Class
of
1959
and
served
over
20 years
in
the U.S.
Air
Force.
Donald's
mother
passed
away
in
2008,
just
a
few
weeks
short
of
her 102nd
birthday.
Donald's
father
was a
mail
carrier
for the
United
States Postal
Service
for many
years.
 South
Boston,
a small
town
of fewer
than
10,000,
is
located
in an agricultural
region
of southern
Virginia.
The
principal
crop
was
tobacco.
Donnie
and his
cousin
Bobby
worked
the tobacco
fields
during
the
summer
and
enjoyed
the freedom
of
youth
provided
by
this
community.
Swimming,
movies,
hunting
and fishing
were
their
normal
activities.
Bobby
fondly,
but
sadly,
remembers
15-year-old
Donnie
driving
his
new
motor scooter
into a
thorn
bush
and
totaling
it!
Donald
excelled
in Halifax
High
School,
especially
in mathematics,
and
developed
artistic
talents,
often
producing
pen and
ink
drawings
of South
Boston
scenes.
He
graduated
from high
school
in 1957
and
immediately
accepted
a
Congressional
appointment
from
Congressman
Tuck
of
the
5th District
to West
Point. He
joined
the
Class
of 1961
on a very
hot
but memorable
day
in
July.
South
Area
and
Company
L-1
were
home
for
Don for the
next
four
years.
As a
plebe,
he
found himself
taller
than
most
of
his
companymates,
especially
the upperclassmen. Prior
to the Class
of
1961,
cadet
companies
were
organized
by
height,
and
L-1
was home to
some of
the
shortest
cadets
in
the
Corps. As
a
plebe,
Don
was
constantly
harassed
for his
height and deep
southern
accent.
Don
overcame
these
harassments
with
a smile.
The
1961
Howitzer
quotes
Donald:
"There
is
not
a
damn
thing
wrong
with
my
accent!" His
slow
and
pleasant
Virginia
drawl
endeared
him
to classmates
and
others
and
set
a conciliatory
tone during
many
discussions.
During
his
four
years
at
the
Academy,
Don participated
in
a
myriad
of activities:
the
Ordnance,
French,
Skeet,
and
Fencing
Clubs
and many
a
night
playing
bridge
in the
sinks,
as
the barracks basement
was
called.
He
furthered his
artistic
talent
through
the
Art
Club
and
was
a
contributing
canoon
artist
for
The
Pointer
magazine.
Following graduation, Don was commissioned a Second
Lieutenant of Artillery and attended the basic course at Ft. Sill, OK. On
completion of the course, Don was assigned to 3rd Bartalion, 2nd Artillery, at
Ft. Hood, TX. It was here that he met and fell in love with Jacqueline "Jackie"
Miller, and they were married on 2 Sep 1963. Don's car was non-operational at
the time of the wedding and planned honeymoon, so he borrowed the car of his
best man, Ray Tilghman, and the day was saved. Ray and Don had been companymates
and bridge parmers at West Point, and their friendship continued after
graduation. Don and Jackie had two sons, Donald A "Del", 29 Jun 1964 and Thomas
W, 4 Dec 1969. Don's military career took him to Turkey in 1963, with a rerum to
Ft. Sill in 1964 for the Artillery advanced course, followed by twu tours to
South Viet Nam, 1967 and 1971, with Field Artillery units. Sandwiched between
these tours was an assignment to McConnell.Air Force Base, where Don
participated in the early efforts of the stealth bomber project. Don was awarded
the Bronze Star for service in Viet Nam, the medal presented by BG W.E. Davis,
Jr., Commander, 835th Air Division. Don also was awarded the Air Force
Commendation Medal for his service at McConnell Air Force base.
Following his second tour to Viet Nam, Don returned to Ft.
Hood with the 1st Barttalion, 78th Field Artillery. He was the executive officer
initially and later the protocol officer at Headquarters, 2nd Armored Division.
Don was instrumental in planning for and executing the state funeral for
President Lyndon B. Johnson in January 1973. He then branch transferred to the
Adjutant General's Corp in 1974, but, as a result of service connected illness,
was medically discharged from the Army in 1975. Don served his nation with
professionalism and dedication to the concept of Duty, Honor, Country for 14
years in the United States Army.
Don and his family moved to Lawton, OK, where he enrolled at
Cameron University and pursued a course of study to become a Certified Public
Accountant. He was employed by the City of Lawton and instrumental in the
conversion of the accounting department from paper to an electronic data
processing system. He was noted for his wit and great sense of humor. Don also
became a gardener of note with his backyard vegetable farm. His pride in the
fruits of his hands brought him back to his roots in South Boston. Don was
a member of the Mt. Cana Methodist Church of South Boston.
It was during this time that Don began to suffer back pain
which was diagnosed as advanced lung cancer. Don passed away on 2 Sep 1983. His
untimely passing at the prime of his life was a shock to all who knew Don and
shared in his life achievements. His family and friends are thankful for all the
wonderful times and only wish that his short stay with us could have been
longer. In unison, his family and friends say, "Be thou at peace."
Jackie remained in Lawron, employed by civil service at Ft.
Sill for 25 years before rerurning to Louisiana and her extended family.
-Classmates
Charles H.
Armstrong
and
Ray
L.
Tilghman,
with
assistance.from Jackie and
family and
Bobby
Ratliff,
a
cousin
TAPS JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2009 |
