28 Nov 1937- 20 May 2020

Place of Death: Huntsville, AL

Interment: Arlington National Cemetery

Well done, Don. Be thou at peace.

Remembrances:

Class Memorial Pages\D-2  Don Anselm.pdf

Obituaries:

Donald "Don" C. Anselm, long-time resident of Huntsville, passed away peacefully on May 20th after a long health battle. Don was born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio to parents Charles and Mary Anselm and with his sisters (Mary Jo Cercy and Judith Cook). He attended West Point as part of the Class of 1961 and earned a Bachelor's Degree in Civil Engineering. Later, he earned a Master's Degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. Don served his country for 21 years, retiring at the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. He served in the Corps of Engineers in Vietnam, New York, Korea, and Thailand until 1975. He served in the Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations and Plans and then the Office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff in Washington DC until 1982. After his military service, Don moved his family to Huntsville where he spent the next 25+ years supporting military defense programs at several engineering firms, including Teledyne Brown Engineering, The Boeing Company, and Quality Research. He retired in 2008. In 1967, Don married his wife and registered nurse, Judith– whom he met on a ski trip – something they loved doing. They have two daughters, Jennifer English (William) from Madison, Alabama and Deborah Youmans (Gregory) from Ashburn, Virginia. Don loved his family dearly and enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren, Jeffrey and Mary English and Jonathan and Adam Youmans. He loved family beach trips, a good cup of coffee and walking his dogs (or anyone else's dogs!). He had many good friends from West Point and the Army, his church, and from his work that he was always happy to see. Don was preceded in death by his parents, his Aunt Margaret Collins, and his sisters, whom he cared for fiercely. He is survived by his wife, daughters, sons-in-law, grandchildren, numerous nieces and nephews and many friends. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to your favorite Veteran's charity like Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund or the Gary Sinise Foundation or Hospice Family Care in Huntsville or your local Hospice. Due to the pandemic, a memorial service will be held when Don's loved ones can travel and be together again.

Assembly/Taps Memorial Article:

DONALD C. ANSELM 1961
Cullum No. 23634-1961 May 20, 2020
Died in Huntsville, AL
Interred in Arlington National Cemetery, VA

Donald Charles Anselm was born in Cleveland, OH on November 28, 1937 to Charles and Mary Anselm. Don was the middle child, joining his two sisters Mary Jo and Judith, whom he loved dearly. He was raised in Cleveland and graduated from Holy Name High School. Don took the competitive exams for an appointment to West Point, and he said that changed his life. He spent a year studying at Sullivan’s Prep School in Washington, DC, before entering the following year with the Class of 1961. The year at Sullivan’s was a good year for Don as he made many friends with whom he entered the Academy and maintained close relationships with them over the years.

Don maintained that Beast Barracks was an exceptional shock, but he managed to get through the experience and perform well at West Point. He was a corporal cow year and a supply sergeant as a First Classman. During his plebe and yearling year, he ran track. He also stayed active and busy in numerous clubs including the Ski Club. Don’s religion was very important to him, and he served the Catholic Church as an acolyte all four years. Don acquired his Corvette before graduation and loved that car, the first of several “affairs” he had with fine cars. His classmates respected and liked Don. He was fun to be around and had a wry sense of humor.

Don’s unique branch selection was Artillery-Corps of Engineers. He reported to the Artillery Officer Basic Course at Fort Bliss, TX and next to the 1st Battalion, 56th Air Defense Artillery Regiment School. After Fort Bliss, Don attended Airborne School, receiving his wings, and then entered Ranger School, but he became very ill and had to drop out of the training. His first posting in the Artillery from 1962 to 1964 was to the Magic Mountain-Lang Nike-Hercules missile site in the Van Nuys area of Los Angeles.

In the latter part of 1964, Don was posted to Korea for a year and joined the heavy equipment 802nd Engineering Battalion, where he got his wish and became an officer in the Corps of Engineers while receiving his first Commendation Medal. Next, Don was off to Fort Belvoir, VA in 1965 for the Corps of Engineers Advanced Course, followed quickly by an assignment as an ROTC instructor at the University of Massachusetts in Amherst. During that period, he met the love of his life, Judy, on a ski trip, something they loved doing. Don was certainly happy he had joined the Ski Club at West Point. In 1967, Don married Judy (a registered nurse) at Howell, MI, her hometown.

In late 1967, Don was next off to the Republic of Vietnam, where he was assigned to the 18th Engineer Brigade and received the Bronze Star Medal. In 1968 he was reassigned as an advisor to a Vietnamese engineering unit and received his second Bronze Star Medal, the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation with Palm and the Vietnam Service Medal.

Following his tour in Vietnam, Don and Judy returned to the South Boston Army Base, then the University of Massachusetts, where he received a master’s degree in civil engineering in 1970. Command and General Staff College followed quickly and was completed in 1971. The family then spent 1971 to 1974 in Manhattan, NY, where they lived at Fort Totten, the deactivated Army base. Don served as the Deputy District Engineer for the New York District and earned the Meritorious Service Medal. Next Don was sent to Thailand, where he served from 1974 to 1975, earning the Joint Service Commendation Medal.

His first assignment in Washington, DC was to the Department of the Army, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations and Plans from 1975 to 1978. Then he moved to the Office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff from 1978 to 1982. He earned Two Defense Meritorious Service Medals during those final assignments.

Don retired from the Army in 1982 as a lieutenant colonel, having served 21 years. He was an exemplary officer and leader and well respected by the highest officers in the Pentagon. After his military service, Don and his family moved to Huntsville, AL, where he spent the next 25-plus years supporting military defense programs at several engineering firms, including Teledyne Brown Engineering, the Boeing Company, and Quality Research. Don retired in 2008.

Don loved his family. He and Judy have two daughters, Jennifer English (William) from Madison, AL and Deborah Youmans (Gregory) from Ashburn, VA. He loved spending time with them and enjoyed his time with his grandchildren, Jeffrey and Mary English and Jonathan and Adam Youmans. He loved family beach trips, a good cup of coffee and walking his dogs. He had many good friends from West Point and the Army, his church, and from his work that he was always happy to hear from or see.

Don struggled with an extended illness but had outstanding care by Judy and his daughter Jennifer, who were with him when he died during the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic. Don’s D-2 roommates salute the caregivers. Don, your family and many friends miss you, and your classmates salute you. “Well Done; Be Thou at Peace.”