ELLIFF DONALD A

CW2 Donald "Don" A. Elliff was a VHPA member who died after his tour in Vietnam on 01/20/2026 at the age of 79.0 from Cancer
NHA TRANG,
Flight Classes 68-501 and 68-1
Date of Birth 01/03/1947
Served in the U.S. Army
Served in Vietnam with 281 AHC in 68-69, B/2/20 ARA 1 CAV in 69-70
Call signs in Vietnam WOLFPACK 33, BLUE MAX 47G3
This information was provided by Lyle Borders

More detail on this person: Lyle Borders Mon, Jan 19, 2026 at 7:22 PM To: Mike Law From VHPA member Larry Stone Sad news to pass along. Don Elliff, Friend, fellow Vietnam veteran helicopter pilot, fellow Hookmaster Maintenance Test Pilot Company G, 149th Aviation Bn., has passed away after a courageous battle with cancer, at his home in Nha Trang, Vietnam. He passed peacefully, surrounded by family with a smile on his face. No services are pending. Well done, good and faithful servant. I salute you. I was honored to host Don and his son Harrison at my home in Cleburne. Good men, both proud Veterans. I am honored to have known him. Don Elliff passed away from thyroid cancer on January 20, 2026 in Nha Trang Vietnam, some 58 years after he originally expected to die there! His initial tour of duty was with the 281st AHC Wolfpack in Nha Trang. He later had a tour with the First Cav flying Cobras and if that wasn't enough, flew Chinooks for a tour in Desert Storm. He thought he lived a charmed life. Three combat tours flying helicopters, several more years working with large defense contractors and finally retired to SE Asia, where he met and married a beautiful young woman and had another son, now 13. This son was in addition to two older sons, both combat veterans! He was a proud man surrounded by all three of his sons in the hospital in Saigon. His son Mack was with him when he took his last breath at home and related that he smiled as he exhaled.

This information was last updated 02/04/2026

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Date posted on this site: 04/18/2026