Donald E. Cole was born in Woodland, California, on August 5, 1939. Don grew up in Vacaville, California where he graduated from High School in 1957. After graduation, Don’s father told him to find a job or join the service “because it’s time to be a man.” Don promptly found a job baling hay in Dixon, California, where the summer time temperature reaches 110 degrees in the shade. In this heat, he lasted less than a month and enlisted in the U. S. Navy at Vallejo, California. Don attended boot camp in San Diego where he was assigned to Company 270. After basic, Don attended Radioman “A” School. After graduation from “A”school, his first duty station was Commander Fleet Activities Sasebo, Japan, “a blessing in disguise” said Don. This is when he met his wife Shizuyo, in 1958. They were married in 1960.

Subsequent duty stations included: USS Picket AGR-5 and then the USS Scanner AGR-7 both home ported at Treasure Island, San Francisco; NAS Alameda; USS Pluck MSO-464; USS Cove MSI-1 and finally back to Sasebo, Japan, once-again, to serve aboard the USS Woodpecker MSC-209. 

The Woodpecker was one of the first Minesweepers to patrol off the coast of Vietnam during Operation Market Time. The Woodpecker was also the first Minesweeper to spend the longest at sea tour since the Korean War. Don says, “Seventy plus days if my memory serves me right.”  During this tour Don and Shizuyo adopted a Japanese boy, which is the joy of their lives, a total blessing. In 1964, Don attended RM “B” School in San Diego, California. After graduation he served aboard the USS Annapolis AGMR-1, once again off the coast of Vietnam. Upon reporting aboard he was surprised to learn that she was going into a 6-month yard period in Yokosuka, Japan. “I just cannot seem to get away from Japan, much to my wife’s delight”, says Don.  

While the Annapolis was in repair, Don was assigned as the LPO of “C” Division which consisted of 172 Radioman. With her repairs completed, the Annapolis headed for Norfolk via the scenic route; Vietnam, Mauritius off the tip of South Africa, Dakar, Lisbon, and then to Rota, Spain. When the ship arrived in Rota, Don was surprised to receive new orders. Don was being transferred to the Naval Communication Station Yokosuka, Japan. “I couldn’t believe my eyes. Shizuyo was actually going home for awhile” said Don. During this tour, Don served as Section Leader and developed a school on the Navy’s new TTY procedures where he and his staff trained seventh fleet personnel. Also during this tour, Don applied for and was accepted into the Navy ADCOP Program, where he spent two years at Foothill Junior College, Los Altos, California.  He graduated with an AA Degree in Business Administration, and was transferred to the Naval Communication Station Adak, Alaska.

During his tour in Adak, Don was diagnosed with diabetes and transferred to Oak Knoll Naval Hospital, Oakland, California.  While waiting for his retired medical discharge, Don made the rounds, in the Bay Area, to various naval commands including Moffett Field, Sunnyvale, and the Combat Systems School Command, Vallejo. Finally, he received his medical discharge and was retired after serving 20 Years in September 1977. 

After discharge Don went to work as an Auto Damage Appraiser for Liberty Mutual Insurance Company, then on to Data Products, Intel, National Semi Conductor and Activision.  After the 12 or so years of bouncing around the Silicon Valley, Don accepted a job with the City of Milpitas in Parks and Recreation. 

Don was initially assigned to the Swimming Pool complex, that wasn’t even built. However, it was put into operation on his watch.  Don also participated in overseeing the construction of the Little League baseball fields and the PAL football complex. After twelve years he retired from the City. Don and Shizuyo now travel frequently in their motor home.