Donald M. Watson (#33254122)


Place of Birth
Date of Birth
Rank

Platoon
Company
Battalion
Regiment
Division
Decorations
Youngstown, Ohio
August 5, 1920
Staff Sergeant (S/Sgt)

D
1st
331st
83rd Infantry
Combat Infantryman's Badge, Purple Heart Medal, ...



Donald Meyers Watson was born on August 5, 1920 in Youngstown, Ohio to the late Lawrence H. (1887-1948) and Ada E. (Meyers) Watson (1899-1979). His father Lawrence was Englisch-born and arrived in the US at age 17 on February 22, 1905 and worked as a coal miner before he served in the First World War. He married Ada Estelle Meyers in 1919. The family grew in 1922 with the birth of Donald's brother David, then the arrival of a sister, named Kathryn Jane, in 1923 and in 1928 with a second brother Robert.

 
Donald Watson as a baby, 1920   Donald (left) and his brother David with their mother Ada Estelle (Meyers) Watson

He enlisted (#33254122) on September 29, 1942 in Altoona, Pennsylvania. The Morning Report from July 5, 1944 listed 33254122 Watson, Donald M., Pvt. at that time, as SWA and transfered to the 34th Evacuation Hospital. Company D was at time in the vicinity of Carentan, Normandy, France. The Morning Report from November 1, 1944 listed "33254122 Watson, Donald M., Pvt. at that time, as promoted to Private First Class while in Moutfort, Luxembourg.

Don Watson before leaving for the ETO Donald Watson, at both photos on right, wearing his Sergeant stripes and leadership stripe.

Company D, 331st Infantry Regiment, Don is in upper right (with arrow 'Dad')

After the war Donald M. Watson married Jennie Catherine Orendorf on December 6, 1946 in Winchester, Virginia. They had two children, Donald Jr. and Barbara.


Jennie Chaterine Orendorf


Donald M.Watson died on November 10, 1993 and is burried at the Reformed Cemetery, Meyersdale, Somerset County, Pennsylvania.


If somebody has some more information on Donald M. "Don" Watson, please don't hesitate to contact me!!

Source Information:
Ancestry.com
83rdinfdivdocs.org
Photos courtesy of Don Watson Jr., son of Donald Watson Sr.