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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
Veterans depart Defiance in high spirits (Honor Flight, 2007)
Date
Jul 8, 2007
Last Updated: Sep 25, 2013
Comments
An excited and grateful 128-member northwest Ohio contingent of "the greatest generation" received a royal send-off to the nation's capital from nearly 300 people Saturday morning at the Northtowne Mall.
The prime destination was the three-year-old National World War II Memorial, built to honor the 16 million who served in the U.S. armed forces during World War II and the millions who supported the war effort from home.
"Just being here today for this great event makes me feel good," said Defiance resident Don Ziegler, a night fighter pilot in the Pacific Theater. "Many who served are gone now. Some didn't even make it home."
The 170 Honor Flight passengers included 118 from Defiance County, 19 from Paulding County, 18 from Henry County, nine from Williams County, four from Fulton County and two from Putnam County.
The group returned safely Saturday evening (see follow-up story and pictures by C-N reporter and photographer Jenny Derringer in Monday's Crescent-News).
Upon their early morning arrival, the veterans were chauffeured in golf carts from the parking lot to inside the mall for check-in, coffee, sweet rolls and a brief ceremony.
"Everyone is bending over backwards for us," remarked decorated Marine veteran Mike Curtis of Sherwood. "It really makes you feel good. This is a real thrill for me."
"I've been looking forward to this for a long time," added Defiance resident Bill Andrews, who was part of the D-Day invasion. "I'm excited just to be with all these other veterans."
"This is fantastic," said rural Hicksville resident Roger Zeedyk Jr., a Vietnam veteran who accompanied the group as a guardian. "We can't do enough for these guys."
Three veterans were assigned to each of the guardians, who numbered more than 40 and included emergency medical personnel. Trip organizers packed over 25 wheelchairs to aid those who had difficulty walking.
Defiance residents Helen Straman and Helene Clemens, two former Army nurses who treated U.S. soldiers abroad during the war, also made the trip as honored guests.
The ceremony held at the mall food court included remarks from VFW Post 3360 men's auxiliary member Dan Ball, U.S. Rep Paul Gillmor, state Rep. Bruce Goodwin and Defiance Mayor Bob Armstrong.
"There's a reason we call this the greatest generation," said Ball, who teamed up with Mike Boff and Bob Lehman to organize the trip. "I want to thank you for all you did."
"What you did is one of the most important things in American history," stated Gillmor. "It was the most important event of the 20th century. We're all grateful."
"All I know is that I wouldn't be here -- most of us wouldn't be here -- without your service," said Goodwin.
"I wish you all the best trip ever," added Armstrong.
While at the National World War II Memorial, the northwest Ohio group met other Honor Flight groups which flew from Dayton, Columbus and Detroit. Since its creation in 2005,
Honor Flight has helped fly nearly 3,000 veterans to the nation's capital and hopes to transport another 5,000 this year.
The veterans also visited the Vietnam and Korean War memorials and Lincoln Memorial. Their buses drove by Arlington (Va.) National Cemetery, located across the Potomac River from Washington, D.C.
Prior to the send-off ceremony, Herb Hart of Hicksville called the trip "a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity."
"We didn't do anything special," he said. "We just answered the nation's call and got the job done. Then we came home and went to work, got married and didn't protest. We got on with our lives."