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Colonel <em>Donovan Swanton</em> was born in New York City on 21 September 1891, the son of Margaret and James F. Swanton, a New York attorney. He attended Xavier Grammar and High School and a year at Xavier College in New York City, prior to his appointment to the Academy.</div>
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He graduated from the Academy in April 1917.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>This early graduation date was due to the United States entry into World War I.</div>
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In World War I, Colonel Swanton served with the American Expeditionary Forces as a temporary captain of a Machine Gun Company in the 30th Infantry Regiment of the Third Infantry Division. He saw combat in the Aisne-Mame Defensive, in the Chateau-Thierry Sector, in the Champagne-Mame Defensive, in the Aisne-Marne Offensive, in the Fismes Offensive and on the Vesle River, where on 10 August 1918 he survived a gas attack. After recuperating from the effects of mustard gas he was transferred to the Eighth Machine Cun Battalion and fought in the Saint Mihiel Offensive and the Meuse-Argonne Offensive. His bravery, capability in battle and demonstrative leadership abilities did not go unrecognized by his superiors and he was awarded the Victory Medal, Six Clasps and a Silver Star with an Oak Leaf Cluster.</div>
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Upon the conclusion of the war, Colonel Swanton served in Germany with the Army of Occupation in the Adjutant Ceneral’s Office in Paris as Secretary to the General Staff. He was promoted to captain in 1919.</div>
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During the post war years, he was assigned to various stateside posts and also was attached to the American Embassy in Paris. In addition, he served as an instructor in French at the Academy and commanded Civilian Conservation Corps camps in the Bitter Root Mountains of Montana and the Cumberland Mountains of Tennessee. He was appointed Associate Professor of Military Science and Tactics at the University of New Hampshire and also served there as Assistant Commandant of the Reserve Officers Training Corps.</div>
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Following his promotion to lieutenant colonel in 1940, Colonel Swanton commanded the posts at Fort Wayne, Michigan, and Fort Custer at Battle Creek, Michigan. In 1941 he was assigned to Fort William McKinley at Rizal, Philippine Islands.</div>
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After the outbreak of World War II, Colonel Swanton served as Commanding Officer of the 51st Infantry Regiment of the Philippine Army on Bataan. He was wounded on 22 January 1942 and awarded the Purple Heart. After capitulation on 9 April 1942 he became a prisoner of war. He survived the infamous “Death March" and was held prisoner for three and one-half years in the Philippines, Formosa, Japan, Korea and Manchuria. He was finally liberated by the Russians from Muckden, Manchuria in 1945.</div>
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For his service in the Pacific theater. Colonel Swanton received a World War II Service Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Medal, Philippine Defense Medal, Silver Star with an additional Cluster, a Bronze Star, an American Defense of the Philippines Medal, a Distinguished Unit Citation with Three Clusters and a Combat Infantry Badge.</div>
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He was appointed full colonel in December 1945. Thereafter, until his retirement in 1951, the Colonel served his country in various capacities, including acting as Professor of Military Science and Tactics and Commandant of the Reserve Officers Training Corps at Niagara University from 1946 through his retirement in 1951.</div>
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Surviving the Colonel is his sister, Marguerite Swanton, who resided with him in, New York City, and who attended the funeral service held with full military honors at the Academy.</div>
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