Don was born on August 2, 1941, in Winona, MN. He attended Winona High School until joining the Navy in 1958 at the age of 17. Don served aboard the USS Duval County LST-758 and the USS Thomaston LSD-28 as a gunner’s mate, until his discharge in 1962. During his time in the service, he made two overseas tours and one to the Marshall Islands. He also served two years as a MP in the 336th MP reserve unit in Rochester, Minnesota.