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to remember
ZIEGLER, Donald Russell (Don), LT.
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Contact Info
Home Town Born in Toledo, resided in Defiance, OH
Last Address Burial: Riverside Cemetery Defiance Defiance County Ohio, USA
Lieutenant Donald Russell Ziegler USN FIGHTER PILOT WWII
He was born July 24, 1923, in Toledo, Ohio, the son of Donald B. and Alma (Reiter) Ziegler. On Aug. 13, 1944, he married Ara Jean Treece, who died on Nov. 3, 2006. He was a laborer for ODOT and also worked for the Division of Wildlife in Williams County. He was a teacher at Miller City Schools and owned Hotel Wellington in Napoleon and Motel Westwood, Defiance. He was a member of Elks and Moose lodges, AMVETS, Eagles Aerie, Masonic Lodge and VFW Post of Defiance and Napoleon American Legion Post. He was a U.S. Navy veteran serving during World War II with Admiral Halsey and the 3rd Fleet in the Pacific against the Japanese, at Okinawa and other combat missions. He was a fighter pilot with the VF Squadron. He got to enjoy the Honor Flight with the veterans to Washington, D.C., in July 2007. "Just being here today for this great event makes me feel good," said Defiance Ohio resident Don Ziegler, a night fighter pilot in the Pacific Theater. "Many who served are gone now. Some didn't even make it home." Don passed away that November.
He loved his family and friends and enjoyed traveling. Now he will be laid to rest with his loving wife, Ara Jean.
Other Comments:
The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting
the PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION to the
U.S.S. HORNET
and her attached Air Groups participating in the following operations:
March 29 to May 1, 1944, Palau, Hollandia, Truk; June 11 to August 5, 1944, Mari- anas, Bonins, Yap; September 6 to 24, 1944, Philippines, Palau: AG-2 (VF-2, VB-2, VT-2, Part of VFN-76). October 10 to November 22, 1944, Ryukyus, Formosa, Philippines, Luzon; De- cember 14 to 16, 1944, Luzon; January 3 to 22, 1945, Philippines, Formosa, China Sea Ryukyus: AG-11 (VF-11 VB-11 VT-11). February 16 to June 10, 1945, Japan, Bonins, Ryukyus: AG-17 (F-17, VBF-17, VB-17 VT-17).
for service as set forth in the following
CITATION: "For extraordinary heroism in action against enemy Japanese forces in the air, ashore and afloat in the Pacific War Area from March 29, 1944, to June 10, 1945. Operating continuously in the most forward areas, the USS HORNET and their air groups struck crushing blows toward annihilating Japanese fighting power; they provided air cover for our amphibious forces; they fiercely countered the enemy's aerial attacks and destroyed his planes; and they inflicted terrific losses on the Japanese in Fleet and merchant marine units sunk or damaged. Daring and dependable in combat, the HORNET with her gallant officers and men rendered loyal service in achieving the ultimate defeat of the Japanese Empire"
For the President,
Secretary of the Navy
James Vincent Forrestal
World War II/Asiatic-Pacific Theater/Okinawa Gunto Operation
From Month/Year
March / 1945
To Month/Year
June / 1945
Description The Battle of Okinawa, codenamed Operation Iceberg. was fought on the Ryukyu Islands of Okinawa and was the largest amphibious assault in the Pacific War of World War II. The 82-day-long battle lasted from early April until mid-June 1945. After a long campaign of island hopping, the Allies were approaching Japan, and planned to use Okinawa, a large island only 340 mi (550 km) away from mainland Japan, as a base for air operations on the planned invasion of Japanese mainland (coded Operation Downfall). Four divisions of the U.S. 10th Army (the 7th, 27th, 77th, and 96th) and two Marine Divisions (the 1st and 6th) fought on the island. Their invasion was supported by naval, amphibious, and tactical air forces.
The battle has been referred to as the "typhoon of steel" in English, and tetsu no ame ("rain of steel") or ("violent wind of steel") in Japanese. The nicknames refer to the ferocity of the fighting, the intensity of kamikaze attacks from the Japanese defenders, and to the sheer numbers of Allied ships and armored vehicles that assaulted the island. The battle resulted in the highest number of casualties in the Pacific Theater during World War II. Based on Okinawan government sources, mainland Japan lost 77,166 soldiers, who were either killed or committed suicide, and the Allies suffered 14,009 deaths (with an estimated total of more than 65,000 casualties of all kinds). Simultaneously, 42,000–150,000 local civilians were killed or committed suicide, a significant proportion of the local population. The atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki together with the Soviet invasion of Manchuria caused Japan to surrender less than two months after the end of the fighting on Okinawa.
My Participation in This Battle or Operation
From Month/Year
March / 1945
To Month/Year
June / 1945
Last Updated: Mar 16, 2020
Personal Memories
Memories Don Ziegler was a U.S. Navy veteran serving during World War II with Admiral Halsey and the 3rd Fleet in the Pacific against the Japanese, and Okinawa and other combat missions. He was a fighter pilot with the VFCN Squadron.
