Donald Edwin Siegwarth was born on June 28, 1941, in Orange, NJ, and later moved to Toms River, NJ. His home of record is Toms River, NJ. He attended Alexander Street School and West Side High School in Newark, NJ, graduating in January 1959. Don attended Sunday school and youth fellowship activities at Kilburn Memorial Presbyterian Church, also in Newark, NJ. Being an accomplished singer, he sang the National Anthem at his high school graduation ceremony on January 28, 1959.
Donald entered the US Navy and was assigned to the Air Transport Squadron SEVEN. He became a pilot and attained the rank of Lieutenant Junior Grade (LTJG).
Siegwarth was listed as missing in action on June 17, 1966 when his aircraft exploded.
Synopsis (from the POW Network) as to the circumstances behind being listed as MIA:
On June 17, 1966, along with thirteen other crewmates, LTJG Siegwarth went on a support mission. Thirty minutes into the flight, when the aircraft was 43 miles northeast of Nha Trang, the crew of a naval gunboat cruising off the South Vietnam coast observed the C130 explode and crash into the South China Sea. No hostile fire was observed and the exact cause of the crash could not be determined. The vessel arrived at the crash scene only minutes after the impact and began an immediate search. Some debris was recovered along with personal belongings but only one body was recovered.
LTJG Siegwarth is still listed as missing in action.
Sources: Ronald Eng Young (friend), POW Network and NJVVMF.
12/17/2024
