Donald F. van Eynde
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.
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.
When I started writing this, what I loosely call my "memoirs", I wondered whatever happened to him, and a quick Bing search yielded some results!
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. The informational brochure about the school that I found online listed his rank as LTC(P). The indicator "(P)" in a rank designation indicates that the soldier is "Promotable". Which in turn means that the soldier has been slated to be promoted, but hasn't yet pinned the new rank on. So, I take it that he was eventually promoted to full colonel. One of his assignments was as a Military Advisor to the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, which I assume was near the end of his military career.
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.
He was born on 7 September 1937, so as of this writing (January 2024), he would be 86 years old, and I am pleased to report that we are now Facebook friends.
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
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
