Donald F. van Eynde

Donald Frank van Eynde
September 7, 1937 – July 3, 2025

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One of my US Army battalion commanders was Lieutenant Colonel Donald F. van Eynde.

As I mentioned in my military memories (see The Fastest Gama Goat in the Battalion), I served in the battalion headquarters element for a time under his command. He was one of the very few field grade officers I had any opportunity to observe at somewhat close range during my career, and I rather liked him. He seemed quite competent, and I wouldn't have minded going to war under his command.

My Service with LTC Van Eynde

Since I was the battalion TOC driver, I saw LTC Van Eynde frequently enough, but didn't have much opportunity to interact with him one on one, except once. It was during a CALFEX (Combined Live Fire Exercise) held at the Yakima Firing Center, when his normal jeep driver was off duty, and since the exercise didn't require the use of the battalion TOC vehicle, I was free, and served as his driver that day. We drove here and there, with him conducting one item of business after another, including communicating using the radio on the jeep. During one lull in the process of getting the battalion organized we were up on a ridge overlooking the battalion's deployment, and knowing that he was a Vietnam War veteran I asked him what war was really like. He said that it was 98% boredom, and 2% terror. Or words to that effect. I'm sure we had other snippets of conversation that day, but that's all I can remember. But since he was quite busy getting things organized, it's unlikely we had much conversation. He had a job to do, after all.

Military Career Summary

His military career began after joining ROTC while studying forestry at Michigan State University. Commissioned as a second lieutenant upon graduation, he found purpose and fulfillment in the rigor, discipline, and camaraderie of military service, particularly as an Army Ranger.

Don completed two tours of duty in Vietnam, in 1963 and 1970, serving first as an advisor to South Vietnamese Rangers and then as assistant chief of staff to the Fourth Infantry Division. My story briefly joined up with his while I was serving as a mortar crewman in Company C, 2nd Bn 39th INF. I arrived in the battalion some time around April 1976, and it would have been four or five months later that there was a change of command with Don now in charge. My experience with him began later as indicated above when I was brought into headquarters to drive the TOC Gama Goat. I left headquarters upon my promotion to Sergeant and assignment as a mortar squad leader, which ended any close association with him.

After he left 2/39 INF, he was assigned as the executive officer of the US Army Organizational Effectiveness Center and School, at Fort Ord, California. From there he attended the Command & General Staff College and earned his master’s in Speech Communications and Human Relations from the University of Kansas. Among his assignments was as the military advisor to the US Ambassador to Portugal, and as a Military Advisor to the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations. I'm unclear as to the timing of these ambassadorial advisor assignments, but I assume they happened towards the end of his military career.

Don retired from the US Army in 1980 after 20 years of service. He retired at the rank of Lieutenant Colonel, which I was surprised to learn, since I had been under the impression he was in line to reach the rank of full colonel! But it might have been the case that such a promotion would have required him to remain longer in service.

Awards and Decorations

Among the military awards that Col. Van Eynde received is the Silver Star. This award is the United States Armed Forces' third-highest military decoration for valor in combat. He received this for service in Vietnam on May 14, 1964. In addition to the Silver Star, Don also received five Bronze Stars, an Air Medal, the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with Palm and Silver Star, and the Vietnamese Ranger Badge.

Silver Star

The Silver Star Medal (SSM) is the United States Armed Forces' third-highest military decoration for valor in combat.

Citation: Department of the Army, General Orders No. 40 (December 11, 1964)

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918 (amended by an act of July 25, 1963), takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Captain (Infantry) Donald F. Van Eynde, United States Army, for gallantry in action while engaged in military operations in Vietnam on 14 May 1964, as a Unit Advisor to a Ranger Battalion of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Vietnam. Captain Van Eynde was accompanying elements of the unit on a mission to relieve a besieged hamlet when this relief force was suddenly ambushed by hostile forces and subjected to heavy mortar and automatic weapons fire. During the ensuing engagement, Captain Van Eynde displayed determination, professional skill, and fortitude while continuously exposing himself to the intense gun fire to estimate the situation, to recommend appropriate action to his counterpart, and to assist in moving the troops to a defilade position. When his Assistant Unit Advisor was wounded, Captain Van Eynde carried and assisted him across two barriers and through an area of heavy automatic weapons fire to a small group of rangers who were making a withdrawal. Then when his fellow officer was unable to maintain the pace of the withdrawing rangers, Captain Van Eynde again displayed complete disregard for his own safety, remained with his assistant, defended their position by returning the hostile gun fire, evaded the enemy, and assisted the wounded officer through eight kilometers of jungle to safety. His brave actions, perseverance, and personal example were an inspiration to the Vietnamese forces and served to prevent the capture of his assistant and the annihilation of the unit. Captain Van Eynde’s conspicuous gallantry is in the highest traditions of the United States Army and reflects great credit upon himself and the military service. See Military Times Hall of Valor

Post Military Retirement

In an entry in Bing.com for ZoomInfo (the actual referenced page no longer exists) it noted that he was "the Chair, Crisis Management Team at Trinity University based in San Antonio, Texas." Further information I found online indicated that he was the chair of the Business Administration department at Trinity University.

There is at least one book authored by him, published in 1997, "Organization Development Classics: The Practice and Theory of Change--The Best of the OD Practitioner," with his wife, Dixie Cody van Eynde, listed as editor. The book appears to be a compilation of organizational development articles.

After a long and productive life, making friends and helping others, Don passed away on 3 July 2025 at the age of 87. Rather than posting his obituary here, I'll link to it here: Donald Van Eynde Obituary

When I started writing this, what I loosely call my "memoirs", I wondered whatever happened to him, and a Bing search yielded some results! After a brief search I did manage to locate him on Facebook, and we reconnected as Facebook friends. Unfortunately, it was not long thereafter that he was injured in a fall, from which he was unable to recover. It was on one of my infrequent Facebook visits that learned of his death at the age of 87. I was able to touch base with Don's brother Doug in order to find out somewhat more about Don's life so I could update this page. Doug let me know that LTC Van Eynde is to be interred at Arlington National Cemetery.

To Sum It All Up

I do have to say that he had been rather busy being just as useful in his post-Army career as he had been while serving his country. As a friend of his wrote about him on Don's Facebook page: "It is amazing how one can build a life legacy simply by being nice and helpful to others." (Bill Poston) His brother Doug told me that he had been just as great a big brother as in other aspects of his life.

If I had had the chance to say anything to Don before he departed this life, it would have been "Well done, sir. Thanks for your excellent example of service." I am sure he was greeted on the other side with "Well done, thou faithful servant. Enter into the joy of your Lord."

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