Person:Donald Lowe (2)

Service number 56958785. Dateline: Enlisted in the US Army 6/6/67 Fort Lewis 8/11/67 Fort Polk 10/27/67 Home 11/11/67 Fort Knox 12/9/67 Home 12/19/67 Fort Lewis 12/21/67 Viet Nam 5/5/68 Killed in action 5/14/68 Body arrived in Tacoma 5/17/68 Body buried in Mt View Cemetery 9/20/68 MEL was awarded Don's honors at Fort Lewis

1.   Donald received the Purple Heart, Air Medal, National Defence, Vietnam Service, Good Conduct Medal, Vietnam Gallantry Cross, Vietnam Campaign Medal, Expert Marksmanship in both Rifle and Machine Gun, and the Bronze Star for Heroic Achievement while serving in Vietnam. He was assigned to the 1st Cavalry and later to the 173rd Airborne unit. In a story told by a fellow soldier and friend James Fitzgerald, who was there to witness 5/5/68, Don died a hero. As noted in a published story he wrote "Donald Lowe and Robert Allen were heroes on May 5th. They attacked the NVA. These men met the enemy face-to-face. Their brave actions allowed other men to survive." Don was the driver of the APC and Robert Allen was the machine gunner. They both chose to sacrifice themselves so that they could protect and save the lives of many others. Their Company A was surrounded by the enemy and were forced to retreat. As a result, only eleven brave men from his company lost their lives that day instead of many more.
2.   I was with Donald for 3 months, 24 hours each day and night of true horror and terror. We saw so much death and shared the pain of the loss of our friends. Donald was a true hero. He could have drove away to safety like many others did on 5-5-68 but instead he drove forward attacking the NVA (North Vietnamese Army). He gave his life along with Robert Allen from New Jersey. His actions gave time for many others to escape and live. No one knew of his bravery but me, as I was laying in the rice paddy dikes wounded watching him attack to his death. God bless you Donald and Allen and the rest of the soldiers who gave their life for their country, James E Fitzgerald (Doc).