Donald Eugene Powles

Donald Eugene Powles lived on a farm in Mills County, before moving to Red Oak, IA. As a youth, Powles was involved in the Methodist Youth Fellowship of Hawthorne Church, and was active in 4-H. He played football at Red Oak High school, and graduated in the class of 1963. Powles then enlisted into the Marine Corps. He spent 13 months in Okinawa and 13 more months in Vietnam. SGT Powles returned to the United States in December 1966, and was discharged on May 30, 1967. He was awarded with the National Defense medal, the Good Conduct Medal, the Vietnam Campaign Medal, and a Marksmanship Badge. Powles moved to Idaho to work for the U.S. Forest Service, and subsequently moved back to Iowa to work for the Culver Engineering Company in Jefferson. SGT Powles considered going to college, but instead decided to re-enlist with the Marine Corps in March 1968 and requested overseas duty. He started his second tour in South Vietnam in April 1968. On September 10, 1968 SGT Powles was wounded by enemy explosives in the Quang Tri Province, and died of his injuries on September 13. He was laid to rest at the Malvern Cemetery in Malvern, IA, and left behind a brother, a sister and his parents.