- SURNAME
Stranahan
- FORENAME
Donald Eugene
- UNIT
38 Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Squadron (3 A.R.R. Group)
- RANK
Captain
- NUMBER
- AWARD
Airman's Medal
- PLACE
South East Asia 1964-65
- ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
born 6.4.1934 Cadiz,Ohio
son of Lyle W. and Elizabeth (nee Gnagey) Stranahan
helicopter pilot
awarded Airman's Medal for 27.4.1965
married Rosemarie Kamper 4.12.1956 (1 son Donald,3 daughters Jeannie,Tracy and Megan)
died 17.11.2017 Northampton,Pennsylvania (last residence)
Woodlawn Cemetery,Spartansburg,Crawford County,Pennsylvania
Donald Eugene Stranahan, 83, of Northampton, entered into Christ's Eternal Victory, Nov. 17, 2017, 12:28 p.m. His loving wife, Rosemarie Kamper Stranahan, was at his side. They have been joined in holy matrimony since Dec. 4, 1956. His family also surrounded him in peace, at Moravian Hall Square's Galilee House, Nazareth. Donald was born in Cadiz, Ohio, a son of the late Lyle and Elizabeth Gnagy Stranahan. As a young boy, his family moved to Spartansburg, were he was schooled, and graduated from Sparta Merged High School, in 1953. In 1954, he attended one year at Penn State. Donald then moved on to honorably serve his country, and pursued a lifelong career as pilot of many aircraft. 1955-1994 USAF Major, Retired. Active Duty Service 1955-1966: Aviation Cadet Program 1955; Multi-engine B-25 Pilot Program Graduate 1956; Vietnam Veteran 1964-1965, Detachment 6, 38th Air Rescue Squadron, Bien Hoa Air Base where he flew 396 Combat Missions with Kaman H43B Helicopter; He was awarded the Airman's Medal for Heroism April 27, 1965, and was awarded 13 times the Air Medal for meritorious achievement while participating in sustained aerial flight. Back in the U.S., from 1965-1966, he was Helicopter Detachment Commander at Laughlin Air Force Base, in Texas. Donald served from 1966 to 1985 retired reserve. From 1966 to 1989, he flew for Eastern Airlines, Captain, Retired, and during this time also served in the New York Air National Guard 1968-1976. Donald culminated his career as one of the 10 EAL Captains who co-owned and started their own airline of which he flew from 1992 to 1999 Kiwi International Air Lines, Captain, Retired.
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