World War II Honoree

Donald Lee 'Don' Poteet, Sr.

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Pawnee, Oklahoma

Honored By

Robert S. Cox

ENLISTED IN MILITARY SERVICE IN 1944. TRAINED IN THE AMERICAN THEATER AT THE HOSPITAL CORPS SCHOOL, NAVAL TRAINING AND DISTRIBUTION CENTER, FARRAGUT, IDAHO. SERVED OVERSEAS WITH THE NAVY HOSPITAL CORPS, IN THE ASIATIC-PACIFIC THEATER, INCLUDING ABOARD THE DESTROYER ESCORT USS HARMON (DE-678) DURING THE WAR. HIS VESSEL WAS BASED AT PEARL HARBOR, HAWAII WHERE IT WAS ENGAGED IN TRAINING UNTIL AUGUST, 1945. THEN RETURNED TO CALIFORNIA WHERE HIS SHIP WAS UNDERGOING REFITTING WHEN THE WAR ENDED. AFTER THE WAR, SERVED ABOARD THE DESTROYER IN THE PANAMA CANAL ZONE CONDUCTING TRAINING OPERATIONS WITH SUBMARINES. AWARDED THE AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL, AND WWII VICTORY MEDAL. HONORABLY DISCHARGED IN 1946 WITH THE RATING OF PHARMACIST'S MATE THIRD CLASS AND ISSUED THE WWII HONORABLE DISCHARGE LAPEL PIN.