MAJ DONNIE L. DARROW, USMC
Lucky Bag Yearbook
From the 1960 Lucky Bag:
DONNIE LEN DARROW
Loss
Donnie was killed in action on November 30, 1967 when the UH-34D helicopter he was piloting crashed in Vietnam.
From USNA ‘60 Memorial Site1
On 30 November 1967, an HMM-362 UH 34D disappeared during a flight from Marble Mountain Air Field to Phu Bai with the loss of four crewmen. Since the wreckage could not be located and there was no positive evidence regarding what had happened to the four crewmen, they were classed as Missing in Action and remained in that status for almost a year. On 22 November 1968 the wreckage of a UH34D was found at 16 nm east of Phu Bai by the 1st ARVN Division, 154th Regiment. The wreckage was identified as an HMM-362 aircraft missing since 30 November 1967. The remains of the four crewmen were found and removed to the mortuary at Da Nang. Marine Air Group 36 records
Other Information
From the April 1968 edition of Shipmate, via the (now defunct) USNA ‘60 Memorial Site2:
Much to my distress, I received word in January that one of my other roommates, Donnie Darrow, has been reported missing in Vietnam since last November. He had just arrived about two weeks before and had the misfortune of having his helicopter shot down north of Da Nang. His wife Norma was notified that he is missing and that he was presumably captured by the North Vietnamese, although the information is rather inconclusive. Nevertheless, Norma, who moved with the three children to Jacksonville, NC, soon after Donnie left Monterey for Vietnam, is very optimistic and thinks all will turn out well. I know all our classmates sympathize with Norma in this period of uncertainty for her and share with her the hope that Donnie will return.
From researcher Kathy Franz:
Donnie was on the Lebanon “B” basketball team which won first place in the Harville Invitational tournament in January, 1954.
In April 1954, he took second in the 100-yard dash and the 440-yard dash in a nine-school meet in Rolla.
In May, he participated in the fourth annual industrial Arts Fair at Southwest Missouri State College. He won third place in the category “Working drawings.”
Donnie graduated from high school in 1955 and then entered the Navy and completed recruit training at Great Lakes Naval Training Center in Illinois in August.
He graduated from the Naval Academy Preparatory school in Bainbridge on May 18, 1956. He was on the basketball and track teams, and in a recent meet, he set a new record in the broad jump with a distance of 20 feet and placed second in the 440 yard run.
Donnie married Norma Jean Harrill at the Second Baptist Church in Lebanon on March 4, 1961.
His solo flight was in the Beech “Mentor” training aircraft on July 18, 1961, at Saufley Naval Auxiliary Field at Pensacola. He completed his six arrested carrier landings on USS Antietam in the Gulf of Mexico in April, 1962.
In February 1964, he was on the aircraft carrier Okinawa and was qualified to land a helicopter on any ship.
In May 1966, his brother Marvin, USMC, was on Okinawa when Donnie was in Monterey, California.
Donnie is buried in Missouri and listed at the National Vietnam Veterans Memorial. He was survived by “his wife; Norma J Darrow, his 3 children, Deretha A, Donieta L and Lonnie L Darrow all of Havelock, NC and his father, Lee L Darrow of Lebanon, MO.”
Photographs
Remembrances
From Wall of Faces:
Donnie graduated from Lebanon, MO High School, Class of 1955.
He was a star athlete in basketball and track. Donnie had the most beautiful left-handed jump shot and a wonderful smile for everyone. He was extremely well liked by all that knew him. Donnie may not be with us physically but he will always be with us in our memories. Rest in Peace Donnie. Your classmate, BILL KELLY, 2/11/01
References
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Previously accessible at http://www.usna60.com/obituaries/Obituary_DarrowDonnieL.pdf ↩︎
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Previously accessible at http://www.usna60.com/obituaries/Obituary_DarrowDonnieL.pdf ↩︎
Donnie is one of 27 members of the Class of 1960 on Virtual Memorial Hall.
