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<em>Donald William Sawtelle</em>, son of Henry Martin and Jane Crouch Sawtelle, was born at Athens, Pa., on 7 April 1897.</div>
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After completing grammar and high school he attended LaFayette University for a year. In 1916 he entered the US Military Academy and was graduated therefrom on 1 November 1918.</div>
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For his branch he chose the Coast Artillery Corps and was sent to the Coast Artillery School at Fort Monroe, Va., for a basic orientation course. Upon completion of the course in 1919 he was ordered to Europe where he was assigned the usual duties of new lieutenants. He drew one particular assignment, the accompanying of and distribution of relief supplies to the destitute Poles in Poland. When this work was completed he returned to the United States and shortly thereafter transferred to the Cavalry.</div>
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He attended the Basic Troop Officers Course at the Cavalry School at Fort Riley, Kans. Upon completion of the course he began the routine duties of a line officer at the various Cavalry posts up and down the border, with one break when he was detailed as Aide-de-Camp to General Harry Smith at Fort Leavenworth, Kan., and Omaha, Nebr. After this detail he returned to troop duty, and while serving at Fort Ringold, Tex., he met and wooed Miss Vivian Thomas. They were married at Corpus Christi, Tex., on 26 December 1935. The next year he was ordered to the Cavalry School and while there, on 7 July 1937 their son Donald, Jr., was born. From Fort Riley he got a change from border duty and was sent to Fort Meade, S.D. It was while serving there that the War Department sent out a questionnaire requesting officers who were interested to take a detail in or transfer to the Coast Artillery Corps to relieve the severe shortage of officers in that branch. Having started out in the Coast Artillery, he decided to return to it. In 1940 he was ordered to the Philippines. As war clouds gathered, late in 1941 his wife and son were evacuated back to the United States. Don was on General Jonathan Wainwright’s staff on Corregidor and was with him when Bataan fell. From May 1942 when he became a prisoner of war he was confined by the Japanese at Cabanatuan Prison in Manila. In January 1945 the well-trained Rangers of General MacArthur’s forces raided Cabanatuan and released Don and other prisoners. After their release they made their way through 20 miles of Japanese-held territory back to our lines. His release was accomplished on 30 January 1945, he having been held a POW for almost three years.</div>
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Don’s normal weight was around 200 pounds, but the extreme rigors of the POW prison and the inadequacy of his diet had reduced him to 114 on the day of his release. His health was broken; he was almost blind, and was suffering from an aggravated heart condition. He was placed on a transport and arrived in the US on 8 March 1945. For the next 20 months he was in and out of hospitals. He was fighting for his health and life. On any improvement in condition he would ask to be returned to duty, but his physical condition was such that he could not stand under the strain of active duty and he would be back in the hospital. Finally while a patient at Valley Forge General Hospital, Phoenixville, Pa., on 31 October 1946 he was retired from the service for physical disability incurred in the line of duty.</div>
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After retirement Don established a home at Corpus Christi, Tex., and spent the rest of his life trying to rebuild his health. He was in and out of hospitals for years for correction of his wartime disabilities. He lost completely the sight in one eye and it had to be removed. Other operations were necessary. The time between tours in the hospitals became shorter and shorter. He kept his chin up and never doubted in his own mind but that he would eventually get his health back. Early in August 1961 he entered Brooke General Hospital at Fort Sam Houston, Tex. The doctors had to perform an emergency throat operation and every step known to science was resorted to in the hope of bringing him through the crisis. It was to no avail. His weakened and pain-racked body could stand no more, and on 20 August 1961 he answered the last roll call and joined the Long Gray Line.</div>
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Don, for years you have put up a terrific battle against overpowering odds, never asking for quarter, never despairing. That you may rest in peace free from the pain and agony that has dogged you for years is the hope and prayer of your classmates and friends.</div>
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He is survived by his widow, Vivian Sawtelle, Corpus Christi, Tex.; their son, Lt. Donald W. Sawtellc, Jr. (USMA 1961), now attending the Infantry School, Fort Benning, Ga.; and a brother, Martin Henry Sawtelle, Jr., Binghampton, NY.</div>
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<em>—Fred Pearson, a classmate</em></div>