The American Legion Auxiliary, Greer Unit #11 is honoring Donald Hubbard as May’s Veteran of the Month. Hubbard is a Veteran of the Vietnam War. In 1965, Hubbard earned his pharmacy degree from the University of Nebraska at Lincoln. A week later he married Joan Penner. The following week Don became a commissioned officer in the United States Marine Corps and reported for officers basic training in Quantico, VA for six months. Hubbard was then sent to Fort Sill in Oklahoma for officers' artillery school for four months. In May of 1966, Hubbard left for Vietnam.

Hubbard spent thirteen months in Vietnam. He served as a forward observer, artillery liaison officer, and finally as the executive officer with Battery D Second Battalion, 12th Marines, 3rd Marine Division. The first five months of his deployment, he was with an infantry company. Then he was moved south to Da Nang where he was part of search and destroy missions but did not see much contact. Don saw major conflicts when he was sent south of the DMZ (Demilitarized Zone) near Phu Bai. At that time, Hubbard was the Executive Officer or second in command of his battalion. They were shot at everyday in the woods. Hubbard’s duties as a forward observer included exposing himself to enemy fire in order to be able to direct accurate return artillery fire on the enemy. As an artillery liaison officer, he directed harassing and intercepting fire on the enemy. When Hubbard served as the battery’s executive officer, he was in charge of directing the battery’s fire during a period where the unit was under constant attack.

After thirteen months in Vietnam, Don returned to the United States in 1967. He was then stationed at Camp Pendleton in California. During his remaining time in the Marine Corps, he became an Aide De Camp to General Sawyer, a 1 Star General. After serving his three years in the Marine Corps, in 1968, Don, Joan and Patty moved to Wagner to run James Drug as the pharmacist for Glen James, whom he had worked for during his summers during college in Sioux City.

Don’s medals/campaigns/ribbons include the Vietnamese Campaign Medal, Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry, National Defense Medal, and the Bronze Star with Combat V. Hubbard was awarded the Bronze Star Medal for his meritorious service in connection with operations against insurgent communist (Viet Cong) forces in the Republic of Vietnam from May 19, 1966, to June 16, 1967. Hubbard constantly and continuously put himself in harm's way in order to encourage the other men in his battalion and to get better positioning to return fire on the enemy.

Don felt that it was his “privilege to serve as a Marine”. He lost many friends during his time in Vietnam, but his way of thinking was to “put it behind you and march on”. Hubbard believed that his time in Vietnam was harder on his family than himself because he knew where he was and what he was doing, whereas they did not always know because of the infrequency and time it took to mail letters back and forth.

Hubbard was born and raised in Allen, Nebraska. He is one of four brothers, all of whom served in the armed forces. In 1965, he married Joan Penner of Hampton, Nebraska. They have two children Patty Hubbard Deurmier and Tim Hubbard. In 1968, the Hubbards moved to Wagner where Don spent 47 years as the pharmacist at James Drug. His hobbies include competitive black powder cartridge shooting, fishing for walleye, boating, hunting elk, and golfing. He has been competitively shooting black powder for twenty years. The Hubbards enjoy traveling and have visited all fifty states.

Don has been a part of many organizations while here in Wagner. They include the Jaycees, Chamber of Commerce, Hospital Board (26 years), Planning and Zoning Committee for Wagner, the Wagner VFW (over 30 years), and the Wagner American Legion Post (over 30 years) and the Wagner American Legion Post Honor Guard. He has served as the Chamber of Commerce President, and the Chaplain for the VFW.

Thank you, Don, for your service, all that you have done to enhance our community and for being the May Veteran of the Month.