Donald LaVern Nielsen was born and raised on a farm near Viborg, South Dakota. He attended a rural country school, District 36, until his middle school years when he moved with his parents, Hans and Maggie Nielsen, to a farm north of Hurley, South Dakota. Donald then attended school in Hurley and completed high school there graduating in 1938. While in high school he was very active in football. He walked two and a half miles home every evening on the railroad so that he could attend practice. He was the captain of his team all four years of high school and was voted All-State Star Captain his senior year. After graduating Donald worked along the side of his father in carpentry.

In January 1942, Donald enlisted in the U.S. Navy. He received his Naval training at the Great Lakes Naval Station before being assigned to an Air Carrier at San Francisco in September 1942. He was then sent to the Hawaiian Islands. He received the rank of Aviation Machinist Third Class.

Navy Aviation Machinist Third Class Donald LaVern Nielsen was killed in the line of duty as a result of a naval airplane crash while on a scheduled flight. The accident is believed to have occurred near Hawaii on December 13, 1942. Av. Mach M3C Nielsen’s family received a letter from the Secretary of Navy, and it read as follows:

It is with deep regret that I learned of the death of your son, Donald LaVern Nielsen, Aviation Machinist in third class, United States Naval Reserve which occurred on December 13, 1942 as a result of a plane crash.

I desire to extend to you my sincere sympathy in your deep sorrow. The Navy shares in your sense of bereavement and will feel the loss of his service.

A memorial marker has been erected in Hawaii for Av. Mach. M3C Nielsen and all other service men who were lost in the Pacific. His family has provided a memorial marker in the Hurley cemetery and a marker for him is also in the National Cemetery located in Sturgis, South Dakota.

Surviving him at the time of his death were his parents Hans and Maggie Nielsen and his sisters Mildred, Florence, Virginia, and Sylvia. He was preceded in death by his brother Eugene Merle.

This entry was respectfully submitted by Megan DeNeui and Nolan Adamson, 11^th Grade, Parker High School, Parker, South Dakota, April 30, 2002. Information for this entry was provided by Mrs. Florence Nielsen Geersema, Yankton, South Dakota, sister of Navy Aviation Machinist Third Class Donald Nielsen.