DONOVAN L. EWOLDT, LTJG, USN

From USNA Virtual Memorial Hall
Donovan Ewoldt '64

Date of birth: March 28, 1942

Date of death: July 29, 1966

Age: 24

Lucky Bag

From the 1964 Lucky Bag:

1964 Ewoldt LB.jpg

DONOVAN LEE EWOLDT

Ewee

10th Company

An Army brat, Ewee was born in Minnesota but never settled long enough in one place to be able to call it 'home." He did spend considerable time in the Pensacola Barracks during Second Class Summer, though. He excelled in Company and Battalion sports, being a mainstay on the Company Basketball, football and cross country teams and a stalwart performer on the Battalion tennis team. He is a firm believer in hard work, physical conditioning and parties and will long be fondly remembered for his wit, personality and love of competition. His tremendous drive and desire to succeed, will carry him to a useful and successful Naval career.

1964 Ewoldt LB.jpg

DONOVAN LEE EWOLDT

Ewee

10th Company

An Army brat, Ewee was born in Minnesota but never settled long enough in one place to be able to call it 'home." He did spend considerable time in the Pensacola Barracks during Second Class Summer, though. He excelled in Company and Battalion sports, being a mainstay on the Company Basketball, football and cross country teams and a stalwart performer on the Battalion tennis team. He is a firm believer in hard work, physical conditioning and parties and will long be fondly remembered for his wit, personality and love of competition. His tremendous drive and desire to succeed, will carry him to a useful and successful Naval career.

Loss

Donovan was lost on July 29, 1966 when his A-4 Skyraider "flew into the sea" on July 29, 1966, while attempting a night aerial refueling over the Gulf of Tonkin.

Other Information

He is listed on the "In Memoriam" page of the 1966 USS Oriskany cruise book. He has a memory marker in Arlington National Cemetery.

Oriskany had departed "the line" the day before Donovan's crash and was transiting to Subic Bay, Philippines. This is why he is not listed on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. He does not appear on the killed in action panel in the front of Memorial Hall, either; he is, of course, listed with his classmates.

Photographs

Shipmate

From the October 1966 issue of Shipmate:

Lt.(jg) Donovan L. Ewoldt, USN, was killed on 28 July when his plane exploded during aerial refueling operations near Cubi Point, R. P. Memorial services were held on 15 Oct. in St. Andrews Chapel of the Naval Academy.

Lt. Ewoldt, who was born in Minneapolis, Minn., was a graduate of Gordon Military School in Barnesville, Ga. He graduated from the Naval Academy in 1964 and received flight training at Pensacola and Beeville, Tex.; he was designated a naval aviator in February 1966. He was then assigned to the Naval Air Station, Cecil Field, Jacksonville. At the time of the accident he was serving with Attack Squadron 164 in the carrier USS ORISKANY, and had seen action in Vietnam.

He is survived by his parents. Warrant Officer and Mrs. Leon H. Ewoldt and a sister Leone, of 508A Perkins St., Ft. Benning, Ga., and his grandparents, Mr. John C. Hellerud of Twin Valley and Mrs. Leone C. Ewoldt of Waterloo, Iowa.

In the same issue's Class of 1964 column:

His enthusiasm for life and activity will never be forgotten. We join his family, Mr. and Mrs. Leon Henry Ewoldt of CIC, Fort Benning, Ga., in regret of his passing.


Class of 1964

Donovan is one of 25 members of the Class of 1964 on Virtual Memorial Hall.

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