TEC/5 DONALD R. ADAMS

(The below text was respectfully submitted by Brianne Chavez, 8th Grade West, Spearfish Middle School, Spearfish, South Dakota, February 29, 2000.  Information for this entry was provided by Earl Adams of Scotland, South Dakota, brother, and Donald L. Adams, nephew and namesake of Donald R. Adams.)  See also: http://www.state.sd.us/military/VetAffairs/sdwwiimemorial/)

   Donald Adams was born February 20, 1920, in Plankinton, South Dakota, son of Charles and Margaret Adams.  He went to school through the eighth grade and then went to work.  He enlisted in the Civilian Conservation Corps in 1936 and served in the Black Hills of South Dakota and Marshall, Missouri, until March 5, 1940.

   Donald also worked as a steeple jack, which involved climbing precariously high on some occasions.  Donald enlisted on October 20, 1942, did his basic training at Ft. Benning, Georgia, and was then trained with the paratroopers, part of the 508th Infantry Regiment / 82nd Airborne Division.

   When Donald went overseas, his first jump was in the Invasion of Italy.  He also jumped in Normandy on D-Day.  He met his death on a jump into Holland in September of 1944.  First, he was declared missing in action and was later declared killed in action in Nijmegen, Holland, in what has been called “Operation Market Garden.” He was buried in Ft. Snelling in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

   All of Donald’s surviving brothers served in the armed forces as well, but Donald’s brother, Earl, was not allowed in the service during the war since all of his other brothers were actively engaged in war zones.  Earl’s service, therefore, was from 1947-1950.  Donald was a cousin of William Doering, another Aurora County casualty of WW II.

The VFW in Plankinton has a picture of Donald Adams.

7 South Dakotans
   Get Action Wounds
   Washington, Sept. 27.  --- (AP) --- The war department made public today the names of 2,263 United states soldiers wounded in action in the European area, including the following South Dakotans: Pvt. Donald R. Adams; lather, Charles H. Adams, Plankinton.
[Argus-Leader, Sioux Falls, SD, 27 Sep 1944, Wed, Page 14]

South Dakota : Casualties

 In all these cases next of kin have previously been notified and have been kept informed directly by the war department of any change in status.
Killed
European Area
T5 Donald R. Adams Charles H. Adams, father, Plankinton
[Argus-Leader, Sioux Falls, SD, 16 Apr 1945, Mon, Page 7]

Bodies Of 19 SD War Dead Enroute Home
   Washington, March 18 --- (AP) --- A total of 19 Americans who lost their lives during World War II are being returned from Europe aboard the U. S. army transport Raiti Victory at the request of next of kin residing in South Dakota, the department of the army announced today.
   Armed forces dead originally interred in temporary military cemeteries in northern France, Holland and Luxembourg are among those being brought back to this country.
   Following is a list of remains being being returned at the request of next of kin residing in South Dakota:
   T5 Donald R. Adams, Charles H. Adams. White Lake.

[Rapid City Journal, Rapid City, SD, 18 Mat 1949, Di, Page 16]

CORPORAL DONALD R. ADAMS, Plankinton

   Awarded the Purple Heart for wounds received in action; Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal with Battle Star; American Defense Medal; European-African Campaign Medal.
   As a paratrooper, Cpl Adams participated in the first landings in the Italian Campaign (Sicily) in 1943. June 6, 1944, he dropped behind the enemy lines prior to the landings at Normandy, France, June 6, 1944, being wounded on July 4th.
   On September 23, 1944, he landed in Holland behind the German lines with the 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division.
   Cpl Adams was killed in action on September 25, 1944.  [source unknown]

   NOTE: T5 Adams received a Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster as a consequence of being killed in action.