THOUGHTS:
The days before Don left for Afghanistan, he was very happy. He loved his job very much and he really wanted to deploy so that he could fly more often. On the day of deployment, he stood in line to board the bus to the airport waving and smiling towards his family. He had every confidence he would return. We never imagined that only three months into this, his second deployment to the middle east, that he would return in a coffin.
Self Explanatory
Happy Inside a Black Hawk
Training Above the Hawaiian Islands
At the Afghanistan Deployment Ceremony at Wheeler Army Airfield
Don’s Coffin Arrives at the Honolulu International Airport
With CW2 Wallick at Don’s Exclusive Vigil Wheeler Army Airfield and
Don’s Cousins in Front of the Black Hawk Memorial at his Vigil
Don’s Sister and his “first” Cousins in Hawaii at his Memorial and
Christiana with her “uncle” Don (her god father, now her guardian angel)
After the Burial Ceremony & Headed Towards Internment Site
Preparing the Coffin for Burial
Don’s Immediate Family at His Final Resting Place
COMMENTS:
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Sherry on 
Dan Curtis on 
Cindy Forrest on
You that little girl by the casket that’s my littl sis Christiana, isn’t she cute? And I hope she misses him. You know that she didn’t even know that uncle Don was her god father until he died April 19, 2012. Sad, right? They only see each other for a short time and now it’s face to headstone.
As long as Christiana remembers him, that is the most important thing. At the very least, she did get to know him, even a little, in life. And yes, she’s very cute – as always.
Okkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk! I get it now
Today you would’ve been 26 years old, Don. And even though you will never go past 25, know that I’ll always celebrate your special day. This year, the celebration was in Italy – Buon Compleanno e Tanti Auguri!
hey man! it’s ur bday….
You celebrating there?
=)
I am so sorry for your loss.
“They shall not grow old as we that are left grow old; Age shall not weary them, nor the years condem. At the going down of the sun and in the morning we will remember them. We few, we happy few, we band of brothers; for whoever has shed his blood with me shall be my brother. Someday, somewhere we will meet again, because we will always be brothers to the end.”
Sven Pautz
Warrant Officer Class 1
South African Air Force
South Africa