CLEVENGER DONALD R

CPT Donald R. Clevenger was a potential VHPA member who died after his tour in Vietnam on 05/02/1973 at the age of 28.6 from A/C accident
Shelby, OH
Date of Birth 09/28/1944
Served in the U.S. Marine Corps
This information was provided by Joe Shanley

More detail on this person: From Robert Lahood: Nearly 50 years later, the night of August 1, 1973 remains fresh in my mind. Don was the SAR pilot on duty that day and we were playing poker when he received the medivac call. I was truly devastated when news of the crash made it to the MCAS Futenma BOQ. Don's co-pilot was 1st Lt. Lowell "Van" Van Wagenen, a 1970 USNA graduate. Incidentally, Van's widow, Madeline Van Wagenen was instrumental in reinstating military survivor benefits following Congressional budget cuts in 1981. Mrs. Van Wagenen sent her husband's burial flag to President Reagan, suggesting it be used for another military burial in order to save the cost of a flag. Needless to say, she raised many eyebrows. Although it took several years navigating Washington BS and red tape, those survivor benefits were eventually reinstated. From: Joe Shanley Capt. D.R. Clevenger SHELBY - Memorial services will be at 2:30 p.m. today at the Trinity United Methodist Church here for Marine Corps Capt. Donald R. Clevenger, 28, who was killed Thursday in Okinawa when the helicopter he was piloting crashed while on a training mission. Capt. Clevenger was a 1962 graduate of Shelby High School and a 1968 graduate of Ohio State University. He had been in the Marine Corps since September 1968 and in Okinawa since September 1972. He is survived by his wife, Terry; a son; his parents; two brothers and two sisters. Military services and burial will be at Arlington National Cemetery when the body is returned to the United States.

Burial information: Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, VA

This information was last updated 09/08/2023

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Date posted on this site: 10/13/2025