50+ Lifestyles

Ridgecrest Village Veteran Shares Patriotic Memories

By Mark McLaughlin
Mickle Communications

The 4th of July is on its way! To honor this patriotic day, Don Morrison, a veteran who resides at Ridgecrest Village, has agreed to share memories from his military career with 50+ Lifestyles readers. Ridgecrest Village is a residential living community located at 4130 Northwest Blvd., Davenport, Iowa.

Don Morrison recently turned 93. He lives at Ridgecrest Village with his wife Phyllis, age 90. His son Bob Morrison is the Marketing and Development Director at Ridgecrest Village. Don enjoys being able to see his son every day.

Don grew up in Washington, Iowa, and attended Washington High School and Junior College. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1942. He was an Apprentice Seaman at St. Ambrose College for four months, and then a Navy Midshipman at Northwestern University in Chicago for another four months. He then became a Commissioned Ensign that same year. In 1943, he entered the Pacific Amphibious Theater as Office-in-Charge of the LCT 329. He was stationed at Eniwetok in the Marshall Islands. LCT stands for Landing Craft, Tank and it is an amphibious assault craft used for landing tanks on beachheads.

In 1944, he became a Lieutenant Junior Grade, working with LSTs (Landing Ship, Tank) 224, 711 and 1058. LST is the designation for vessels created to support amphibious operations by carrying vehicles, cargo, and landing troops directly onto shores. In 1945, Don was put in charge of decommissioning the LST 1058 in San Francisco. He was awarded ribbons by Navy headquarters for Victory World War II, American Theater, Asian Pacific, and Japanese Occupation. The next year, he received his Honorable Discharge from the Navy.

After the Navy, Don joined General Motors and worked as a Branch Manager in Mason City, Iowa, for 15 years. In 1980, he retired in the Mason City/Clear Lake area. “I had a big house and a big house boat there,” he said.

Don soon became involved in extensive volunteer work. He was an officer with the Lion’s Clubs, a volunteer with the Service Corps of Retired Executives, President of Crime-Stoppers of Northern Iowa, Director of the Sanitary District, Council Treasurer of the local Boy Scouts chapter, and Treasurer of the Clear Lake Fishing Club. He also worked with Seniors and Law Enforcement Together (SALT).

In time Don decided to move to Ridgecrest Village with Phyllis. “I love it here,” he said. “It’s the best move I ever made.” Don has two sons, five grandsons, and four great-grandsons, with a great-granddaughter on the way.

Don is proud of the work he did while in the Navy, and he offers this advice for young people considering a future in the military. “When you’re in the military, if you have a job to do, do it well and then get home!” he said.

Ridgecrest Village was founded in 1966 by Rev. John Koning, Pastor of Newcomb Presbyterian Church. For more information about Ridgecrest Village, call (563) 391-3430 or visit www.ridgecrestvillage.org.