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<em>Donald Renay Workman </em>was a friend to many, a professional soldier, a loyal leader and an inspiration to his classmates. He was raised in Missouri and graduated from Kirkwood High School in 1961. He enlisted in the Army and, after Basic Training at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri and was assigned to Sandia Base in New Mexico. Following a brief assignment in Germany as a nuclear weapons technician, he was reassigned to the Preparatory School at Fort Belvoir, Virginia. At Prep School, Don developed a love for the game of lacrosse that would carry over to West Point.</p>
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When we entered the Academy in 1964, Don quickly identified two things he wanted to accomplish: graduate and beat Navy at lacrosse. Those two goals were tough challenges for Don. He struggled academically and more than once added a large star to his bathrobe after successfully defending himself against an academic department at the end of a semester. The lacrosse challenge came easier to Don. This sport was a true calling for him and Firsty year he was elected team captain. He played goalie on Army’s nationally ranked team that went 8-2-1 for the season. The tie was against Navy, and one can never forget that hard-fought game that went into a double overtime. We watched Don successfully defend the Army goal as time after time the Navy attackers swarmed around the crease. At the end of the game, Don had given every last ounce of his energy; he was completely exhausted.</p>
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As one of the oldest members of the Class of ‘68, Don was looked up to as a leader from the first days of Beast Barracks. His leadership continued through all four years, and, despite his academic struggles, “The Troll” was a Regimental Commander Firsty year. Don’s enthusiasm for tasks and challenges was infectious. His wry sense of humor and his ready ability to laugh at himself and our predicaments made seemingly grave situations more tolerable. Don loved rock and roll and soul music, and Ray Charles was his favorite musician. Don was a fantastic dancer, and there was no one better at “shaking a tail feather”.</p>
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After graduation, Airborne and Ranger schools, Don was assigned briefly to the 24th Infantry Division before receiving orders to the 101st Airborne Division (Airmobile) in Vietnam. Don arrived in Vietnam in 1969, and his first assignment was as Recon Platoon Leader, 1st Battalion, 506th Airborne Infantry. In April 1970, he took over command of D Company and assumed the radio call sign of “Ranger.” Soon he was known by that moniker throughout the battalion. When one new lieutenant arrived as a replacement, the battalion executive officer said that he was assigning him to a company commanded by a future Chief of Staff of the Army. That is an indication of the high esteem in which Don was held by his superiors.</p>
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Commanding a rifle company in that time was an extremely challenging role. Not only did one have to fight a well-trained professional enemy, but a commander had to walk a fine line with his troops because of the political ramifications in the United States. Don was successful in both fighting the enemy and leading his men in those difficult times. Enemy contact was often and constant. One of Don’s soldiers wrote: “The enemy always had the upper hand. The only thing Delta (Company) didn’t lack was personal bravery. A medic received the Medal of Honor, and Purple Hearts, Air Medals and Bronze Stars were given out like popcorn. Captain Workman had great skill in calling in close air support, which ended enemy contact on numerous occasions.”</p>
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The combat operation that eventually led to Don Workman’s death began in March when a company from the 2nd Battalion, 506th Infantry, was combat assaulted onto Firebase Ripcord, a fire support base that had been abandoned during the winter monsoon season. The division had planned to use the Firebase as a stepping stone into the A Shau Valley, but the enemy had other ideas. It took the battalion until April, after a series of sharp firefights, to secure Firebase Ripcord.</p>
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The move into the A Shau Valley was scrapped, and Firebase Ripcord became a forward base to support interdiction of North Vietnamese infiltrators. Carefully and with great stealth, an enemy division built up defensive positions in the surrounding mountains and used their prepositioned artillery sites in the A Shau Valley and their hastily prepared hilltop positions to attack the Firebase. The 2nd Battalion, 506th Infantry was stretched thin, so Don’s Delta Company of the 1st Battalion was placed under the operation control of the 2nd Battalion.</p>
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The final battle between this reinforced battalion and a reinforced NVA division began on 1 July and lasted until 23 July. By the time the battle was over, the battalion suffered 61 KIA, including the Battalion Commander (Andre Lucas, USMA Class of ‘54, who received the Medal of Honor), 345 WIA and one MIA. The last two days of Don’s life tested his military skills to the maximum. His company was inserted into a hot Landing Zone and took immediate casualties. The enemy pressed their attack; the company was surrounded and in a heavy firefight. A classmate’s company, sent to link up with Don’s, also was cut off and taking casualties. Helicopter flare ships and gunships remained on station all night, and the next morning, the company was heavily mortared. Don’s company was down to only 30 men when the order was given to extract the company by helicopters.</p>
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This was to have been Don’s last combat mission before he rotated back to the States. Unfortunately, one of the helicopters sent to pick up Don’s company was shot down and Don was killed. One of Don’s soldiers writes, “I understand you were a friend of Don ‘Ranger’ Workman. I was too. I was a platoon sergeant for 2d Platoon while Ranger was with us. I owe him a lot. He was a great man and soldier.” Don was loyal to his country and to his command, and he is missed by his friends.</p>
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<em>Who is the happy Warrior? Who is he That every man in arms should wish to be? ... Who, not content that former worth standfast, Looks forward, persevering to the last, From well to better, daily self-surpast; Who, whether praise of him must walk the earth forever and to noble deeds give birth, Or he must fall, to sleep without his fame, And leave a dead unprofitable name—Finds comfort in himself and in his cause; And, while the mortal mist is gathering, draws His breath in confidence of Heaven’s applause; This is the happy Warrior; this is He That every Man in arms should wish to be.</em></p>
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<em>—“The Happy Warrior”</em></p>