Full Name: DONALD BRUCE CAMPBELL
- Wall Name: DONALD B CAMPBELL
- Date of Birth: 5/31/1936
- Date of Casualty: 7/28/1968
- Home of Record: RICHBORO
- State: PA
- Branch of Service: MARINE CORPS
- Rank: MAJ
- Casualty Country: SOUTH VIETNAM
- Casualty Province: THUA THIEN
Donald B. Campbell was born May 31, 1936 in Passaic, New Jersey. He attended schools in Clifton before his family moved to Alabama. He graduated from Ensley High School in 1954 and attended Auburn University for two years and then enrolled in the Naval Air Cadet Station, located in Pensacola, Florida. He enlisted in the US Marine Corps in June 1957 and began flight training the following spring. In December 1959, he was commissioned a Second Lieutenant.
“He was qualified to fly to A4E Skyhawk, the C130 Hercules and also flew refueling missions as well as support early on in Vietnam,” said Donald’s sister, Judy Stine.
While stationed at Chu Lai during his third tour of duty, Campbell, who now held the rank of Major, embarked on a bombing mission on July 28, 1968. His plane never returned. It was unclear whether the aircraft was hit by ground fire or failed to recover from a dive-bombing maneuver. Campbell was unable to eject and the aircraft crashed.
Campbell was declared killed in action on July 28, 1968.
He was buried with full military honors at Arlington National Cemetery.
Major Benett was a fixed-wing Marine Aviator who gave his life, when his aircraft made contact with ground on a napalm run, in Vietnam.
Michael Robert Patterson was born in Arlington and is the son of a former officer of the US Army. So it was no wonder that sooner or later his interests drew him to American history and especially to American military history. Many of his articles can be found on renowned portals like the New York Times, Washingtonpost or Wikipedia.
Reviewed by: Michael Howard