|
| Donald Richard Langren
|
| NO. 17621 • |
Died 4 July 1990 in Onawa, Iowa, aged 64 years
Interment: Whiting City Cemetery, Whiting, Iowa
|
FORTY YEARS AGO DON was described in our Howitzer: "From the Middle West came this Iowa State lad with
curly hair and a ready smile that made him everybody's friend. Slipping easily
into cadet life, he applied himself to academics with good results. Never too
busy to help the goats, he still found time to pursue his interests in numerous
activities. Don's perserverance and diligence assure his success in future endeavors."
Truly a prophetic assessment, missing only a few other important
characteristics: a permanent twinkle in his eyes, a deep and ingrained modesty
and a sincere concem for others. From early life until his passing, he was a
model friend, husband, father, neighbor and citizen.
Upon arrival at Beast Barracks, he shared a secret with several of our
class ‑ he had been to "tin school," Kemper Military School.
Revelation of this to the Beast Detail or any intimation of prior military
training usually resulted in additional harassment. Don kept his secret and,
with his usual calm, made it through with relative ease. He enjoyed his four
years at the Academy, his education, the expansion and exposure to new friends,
new social opportunities and experiences. Throughout our Cadetship he remained
devoted to his bride-to-be Mary
"Frant." He was an easy person to like and one who, in a very quiet way, extended
his friendship to most everyone he met. These characteristics of his youth were
maintained throughout his life. Good humor, thoroughness, competence and
sincerity were his attributes, and he had them in unusual abundance.
Following graduation and his marriage in June to Mary Frant, Don was
assigned to the 10th Field Artillery Battalion, 3rd Division, which shortly
went to Korea. Reports on his performance by fellow soldiers were that he was
calm, thorough and very competent. The Army recognized his worth by awarding
him the Silver and Bronze Stars.
However, the call of the Midwest proved greater than the peacetime call
to arms, and in 1954 Don and Mary Frant settled in Onawa, Iowa, where they
raised a wonderful, close‑knit, loving family of two sons, three
daughters and six grandchildren. Don was successful in many areas of agri‑business,
grain, cattle and banking and was involved in his community and a variety of
civic organizations.
What more could be said than "Well Done; Be Thou At Peace."
|
USMA 1950