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<em>Donald Gribble MacWilliams </em>was born the fourth of five children to John and Anna G. MacWilliams at Ft. Bliss, TX. His father was an Army chaplain. "Mac" entered West Point on 1 Jul 1941. A classmate wrote in the <em>Howitzer,</em> "Whether as ‘Machilovitch, the Russian Dancer,’ or just ‘WacWilly,’ he was a bright spot at any formation. His favorite pastimes were yearling picnics, regaining lost sleep, and ‘dragging.’ An experienced ‘Army brat,’ Mac will have no trouble adjusting himself as an officer." CDT MacWilliams participated in the Cadet Chapel Choir and the 100th Nite Show, and was on the swim team.</p>
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After Mac pinned on the golden bars of an Infantry second lieutenant, graduation leave, and the Basic Officer Course at Ft. Benning, he joined the 66th Infantry Division on maneuvers at Camp Rucker, AL. "Pulled out for the ETO in November 1944 for one month in England, then sitzkrieg on the coast of France for the duration." Despite this cursory description, LT MacWilliams earned the Soldier’s Medal for rescuing soldiers when the transport taking part of the division to France was torpedoed. According to classmate Bob (John Robert) Flynn, "The undisciplined [Belgian] crew took over the emergency boats, abandoning ship without notifying the American troops that the ship was sinking... Don MacWilliams was decorated for heroism for his part in rescuing soldiers during this catastrophe." He received the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Bronze Star, and the Purple Heart.</p>
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In the fall of 1945, Don was assigned to Headquarters, U.S. Forces, European Theater, Frankfurt, Germany. The tour was broken in the middle by rest and relaxation to the States, and he married Jeanne Elizabeth Kenney in June 1946. She joined Mac in Frankfurt, where they remained until June 1947.</p>
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On return to the U.S. in 1947, he reported to the Ground General School at Ft. Riley, KS. John Kenney was born in October 1947 and Bonnie arrived in November 1948. In 1949 he studied radiological defense engineering at the Naval Postgraduate School, after which he enrolled at Ohio State University and emerged two years later with a master’s in physics. Daughter Chris was born in Columbus, OH, in October 1951.</p>
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MAJ MacWilliams’ next assignments were at the Chemical Corps School and then the 1st Radiological Safety Support Unit at Ft. McClellan, AL. James Malcolm was born in April 1953, and Cathie Jane came along in April 1955. After a year at the Army Chemical Center, Edgewood, MD, Don reported to the Academy in 1956 as an instructor in the department of physics and chemistry. Robert was born in February 1958, and Thomas followed in November 1959, at which time Don was attending CGSC at Ft. Leavenworth, KS. After completing that course, Don was assigned to the Office of the Chief Chemical Officer in Washington, DC. Two years later, he was back in the department of P&C at West Point and, in due time, was selected as a permanent professor.</p>
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In 1967, he received a Ph.D. in chemistry from Rensselear Polytechnic Institute, after which he was appointed head of the department of chemistry, USMA, serving in that position until retiring as a colonel in 1977, at which time he received the Distinguished Service Medal. He was subsequently promoted to brigadier general of the retired list.</p>
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Having retired, Jeanne and Mac first took a look in the southwest where, "During this period I spent a couple of months gainfully employed by my oldest son as an apprentice carpenter at $3 per hour. That is the extent of my post retirement employment. Jeanne and I volunteered for the Recording for the Blind, and at the local hospital."</p>
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"After looking, but not leaping, in the west," Don and Jeanne retired to the ski house they had built in 1970 in Readsboro, VT. They added a passive solar addition, making it their permanent home. "While Readsboro is really home, it is better described as home base, as we travel frequently and widely. Our travels focus on our close knit but scattered family, distributed over five states, from Massachusetts to California to Africa."</p>
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When a Habitat for Humanity formed in their area, Jeanne joined in public relations and Mac in site selection and construction. Later, in the mid-90s they moved "down from our mountain retreat to Stamford, VT, population approximately 350!"</p>
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Don and J eanne were proud of all their seven children and 18 grandchildren but especially proud of their youngest son, Tom, who spent two and a half years with the Peace Corps in Africa, then in Kenya with Habitat for Humanity. At present he works for the Joint Volunteer Agency of the Church World Service in Nairobi. To quote Mac, "all of our children are ‘givers,’ a fact of which we are particularly proud."</p>
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Mac was a man of great faith, was greatly loved, and is greatly missed.</p>