|
Donald Cantley Stafford was born 3 January
1941 in Beckley, West Virginia. Don joined the Army in January 1958 just
after his 17th birthday. He went through basic training at Fort Knox,
Kentucky and on to Advanced Infantry Training at Fort Dix, New Jersey.
After AIT he was assigned to Fort Bragg,
North Carolina where he underwent training as an Army Paratrooper. He
served with Co. E 504th Parachute Infantry (The Devils in Baggy Pants)
of the 1st Airborne Battle Group until December 1958 when he was
assigned to Mainz, Germany. He served there until 1961 when he was again
assigned to Fort Bragg, North Carolina. He was selected for Ranger
School and in 1964 was assigned to Mountain Ranger Camp for his first
tour as a Ranger Instructor. He served with distinction teaching
military mountaineering to Ranger Students and also North Georgia
College Cadets. He assisted greatly with the Order of Colombo. This is
when I first met Don Stafford.
In 1968-1969 he deployed to Vietnam
with the 101st Airborne Division. After his combat assignment with the
101st, he was sent to Vietnamese Language School and then back to
Vietnam as a Ranger Advisor from 1970-1971. After a second combat tour,
he returned to the Mt. Ranger Camp and served on the combat patrolling
committee. He was selected as NCOIC of RM1R36N, the vehicular Ambush FTX
. During this time I had the pleasure of again serving with Don
Stafford. He trained thousands of Ranger students during his two tours
at Camp Merrill.
He was selected for the Sergeant Major
Academy at Fort Bliss near El Paso TX. After serving as 1st Sergeant of
the Honor Guard in Washington, D.C., he was selected for another
assignment to Germany. In 1982 he was assigned to Fort Benning, Georgia
where he served with General Ed Scholes until he retired in January
1984.
CSM Don Stafford was frequently
described as the best soldier that they had ever known. I certainly echo
that opinion. He was truly a soldier's soldier.
CSM Don Stafford was awarded the
following:
The Silver Star; Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal with 2 Bronze Oak
leaf Clusters and "V" device; Meritorious Service Medal with Oak Leaf
Cluster; Air Medal: Army Commendation Medal with five Oak Leaf Clusters
and "V" Device; Purple Heart with 1 Oak Leaf Cluster; Good Conduct Medal
(8th Award); National Defense Service Medal; Vietnam Service Medal with
1 Silver Service Star and 1 Bronze Service Star; The NCO Professional
Development Ribbon with numeral 5, Army Service Ribbon; Overseas Service
Ribbon, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal; Combat Infantryman Badge,
Master Parachutist Badge; Ranger Tab; Pathfinder Badge, Vietnamese Cross
of Gallantry with Palm, (2nd Award); Vietnam Ranger Badge; Vietnamese
Cross of Gallantry with Bronze and Silver Stars; Vietnamese Civil
Actions Medal, German Army Marksmanship Badge in Bronze and 4 Overseas
Service Bars. CSM Don Stafford was a great Ranger, and it is an honor to
recognize him here today. |
 |
