Don Allen Boozer of Plantersville was born a fighter. As a baby he was diagnosed with polio, paralyzing his right leg and hip. His father, Hursel Boozer, was in the Navy and on duty in California at the time. His mother, Pansy, was left to care for the sick baby with the help of her family. She ultimately had to place him in a hospital in Jackson, MS. Visitation rules kept her from staying with her baby. Don continued to fight, but without his family there he did much of it on his own. His father was able to take a brief leave in order to pick up his wife in Tupelo and visit their child in Jackson. Don survived and came home a short time later.



Don Boozer was drafted into the Army in 1967. The boy who had been born a fighter now prepared for life as a soldier. His first assignment was to Germany, where he and his newlywed wife Carol lived their first three months. Their honeymoon was short lived, however, when Don received orders for Vietnam. The couple spent Christmas with their family in Plantersville. Don left for Vietnam on Jan 9, 1968.



Don arrived in Vietnam on the eve of the Tet Offensive. On February 24, 1968, barely one month into his tour, Don was hit by shrapnel from an exploding booby trap. In spite of suffering severe wounds and losing his right leg, Don fought for his life. Doctors would take his left leg as well. Don continued to hold onto life until March 5, 1968. His life ended in very much the same way it had begun, fighting for every breath.



Don was awarded the Purple Heart, National Defense, Vietnam Service, Vietnam Campaign and Combat Infantry medals for his service in Vietnam.



Read the rest of Don Allen Boozer's story at www.40DaysofHonor.com