In partnership with the Veterans Coordination Commission, we are pleased to present the April, 2005 Veteran of the Month to Donald L. Burgess.

Don joined the Air Force in 1954 and, as an enlisted man, trained as an equipment operator flying B-36 aircraft. After attending Officer Candidate School in 1960, he began as a navigator flying international cargo for the Military Airlift Command. In 1966, Don was a navigator for Air Force Rescue and was deployed to Osan, Korea, to aid with the rescue of the crew of the ASS Pueblo. Don served a full tour in Viet Nam flying missions to recover downed airmen both ashore and at sea. In 1972, Don commanded a 90-day provisional unit with 258 confirmed rescues by crews under his leadership. He retired from the Air Force as a Major in 1974. As a retired veteran, Don has been a true advocate of Veteran’s rights and benefits as a civilian and as a member of the community.

Following retirement, Don worked for the US Postal Service until his retirement in 1966. In 1991, he attended hospice training and has been active in the Hospice of the Black Hills participating in both home and hospital care and has been with the Oncology Unit at the Rapid City Regional Hospital for the last six years. He has been an active AARP member since 1997, doing tax consulting for the elderly and working with the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program. Through Don’s association with the Youth & Family Services employees, he has been a volunteer on various boards and the YMCA special projects for the past five years.