WOODALL, DONALD R.
SAUGATUCK, Jan. 3 (Special)—New Year’s Day was one of tragedy for the family of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Woodall of Saugatuck who received a message stating their son, Marine Pfc. Donald Richard, 19, veteran of Guadalcanal and Munda battles, had been killed in action [November 29, 1943]. The telegram which was sent by Lieut. Gen. T. Holcomb of the Marine Corps gave no details except that temporary burial had been made and that a letter would follow.
Communications between the Marine and his family here had been difficult and far between, and his last letter of November, 1943 expressed a hope that he would be able to come home in the spring. His previous letter, written in October, 1943, tried to tell of his war experiences but was heavily censored.
Although the telegram gave no indication where the Marine was killed, his parents assume it was in the Pacific area and may have occurred during an invasion landing.
Donald was born on October 15, [1925] in Saugatuck and during his senior year in high school he enlisted November, 1941 in the Marines. He received his boot training at Parris Island, S.C., then was sent to San Diego, Calif. for further training and was sent to the southwest Pacific area October 11, 1942. He had not had a furlough since his induction.
Besides his parents, he is survived by two sisters, Mrs. Maurice Paris, Lakewood, Oh. And Mrs. Lloyd Vickery, who with her family reside at home; four brothers, three of whom are in the armed forces, Tech. Sgt. William of Italy, Pvt. Charles Darwin of Camp Ibis, Calif., and Pfc. James of Camp Livingston, La. And Robert of home, and three nieces and two nephews.
Donald was a member of All Saints Episcopal Church here.