In War and Peace, Donald Christian Served Well
LEOMINSTER — When Donald R. Christian came home after experiencing first-hand the horrors of battle during World War II, his friends and family said he spent the rest of his life dedicated to other veterans and making the most of each day.
The highly decorated U.S. Army veteran died Monday at the age of 89.
“He loved to have a good time and was always full of jokes,” said his niece, Kathleen Vowles, adding that he also “liked the ladies, but in a gentlemanly way.”
And he liked to dance.
In fact, when asked about Christian, Vietnam veteran Ralph Sacramone said he remembered Christian doing a hip-swiveling Elvis impersonation once in the John Tata Auditorium at City Hall.
Mayor Dean Mazzarella confirmed that Christian did, in fact, once do an imitation of the king of rock ‘n’ roll.
“I don’t know if that was a high point, or low point, in his life, but thank God he didn’t have to rely on that for a career,” said one of his close friends, Richard Early, laughing that people still remembered the performance.
Early, who served as Leominster’s Veterans’ Services director, first met Christian when his wife, Mary, was terminally ill.
“He was completely dedicated to her care. He never flinched. He was amazing … an extraordinary human being,” said Early.
She died in 1998.
Christian was also very aware of his appearance, said Early.
“He had the look of a British officer and I started calling him General Don,” said Early.
In fact, Early recalled, Christian was once identified in a local newspaper as Gen. Don in a photo caption, and he said Christian was worried some might think he was a general, when in reality, he was honorably discharged from the Army at the rank of private.
And while Christian made the most of his full life, said Early, his experiences during the war forever changed him.
“He was a deeply affected combat vet. It made him a changed person,” he said.
Early recounted a legacy project Christian was working on with some students at the city’s high school.
“I remember him telling the students, ‘When I was 19, my life was over after my first infantry assault,’ ” said Early.
Rick Vouture, the city’s Veterans’ Services director, also said Christian’s service during the war left its mark.
“He lost friends and could get emotional,” he said, adding that Christian was 100 percent disabled as a result of the wounds he suffered while fighting.
Mazzarella said during Veterans and Memorial Day services each year, the report from the customary 21-gun salute was always difficult for Christian.
Christian saw action during D-Day, and in Italy and Germany, said Vouture.
For his service in Europe, he earned the Bronze Star, the Purple Heart, the Combat Infantry Badge with a blue shoulder patch, four campaigns with four Bronze Stars, the French Croix de Guerre Medal, and the French Medal of Honor, which are only a few of the nearly 20 medals he earned.
Early said one of Christian’s proudest moments was receiving the Croix de Guerre from the French ambassador on the deck of the USS Massachusetts.
His combat experience allowed him, said Early, to connect with other veterans.
That connection had Christian involved in nearly every veterans group in the Twin Cities.
“He attended every meeting of all the groups where he was a member,” said Vowles, adding that he served as chaplain for many of the groups.
He was a member of the American Legion, the Disabled Veterans of America, the Franco-American War Veterans Post 40 and 8, the Military Order of the Purple Heart, the Veterans of Foreign War, American Family Link, and AMVETS.
And while he didn’t serve in Vietnam, Christian was named an honorary chaplain for the Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 116.
“They adopted him,” said Vouture about Christian’s honorary role with the VVA.
Vouture echoed Christian’s niece about his participation in the local vet organizations and said he served as each group’s chaplain.
“He was just a fantastic guy,” said Vouture.
“He was a great guy who lived a great life. He never let a day go by without getting the most out of it,” said Mazzarella, who met Christian over 20 years ago during a charity walk from Fitchburg to Leominster.
“He was moving fast and when I finally caught him. It was one of the most enjoyable 15 minutes of my life,” said Mazzarella.
Christian was moving fast during the charity walk because, said Vowles, he walked at least five miles each day until declining health made him unable a couple of years ago.
“He was such an interesting guy and just loved people,” Mazzarella said, adding that Christian, in his 70s at the time, made what many would consider an unusual purchase — a Mazda Miata convertible.
Christian placed small U.S. flags every Memorial and Veterans Day on the gravestones of deceased veterans until unable to do so because of his health, said Vowles.
“He was the best and very generous and would help you if he could. His biggest thing was the veterans. He was very dedicated to them,” she said.
Tags: Veterans News
