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DONALD N. BABB
Biography
December, 2008
Donald Neil Babb was born in Kansas City, Mo,
to Carl H. and Ruth (Byrd) Babb. In 1958,
Missouri Congressman George H. Christopher, 4th
District, appointed him to West Point. Don
graduated and was commissioned a 2nd Lt of Field
Artillery in 1962. After graduation from field
artillery officer basic at Ft Sill, OK, Don
completed Airborne and Ranger training at Ft.
Benning, GA and married Anne-Tove Marcussen in
Dec 1962. He joined the 5th Bn, 4th Arty at Ft
Carson, CO in April 1963 where he served as a
forward observer, assistant battery executive
officer and commanding officer, Battery C 5th Bn,
4th Arty, 5th Inf Div. A son, Scott, was born in
April 1964. In August 1964, he was assigned to
U.S. Military Command, Vietnam, where Don served
as an Asst Arty Bn Advisor and Sector Arty
Advisor. He returned to Ft Sill, OK, in 1965 to
attend the Field Artillery Officer Career
Course. Assigned to Sandia Base, NM, in 1966,
Don served as Aide-de-Camp to the Commander,
Joint Task Force Eight (JTF-8) and Test Command,
DASA. A second son, Jon, was born in September
1966. Don returned to Vietnam in 1968 and served
as Battery Commander, Battery A, 2nd Bn, 32nd
Arty, 23rd Arty Group. On the night of September
17, 1968, he was seriously wounded when Fire
Support Base St. Barbara, Tay Ninh Province,
came under serious mortar attack. Medevaced to
the 45th Surgical Hospital in Tay Ninh, Don was
placed on the seriously ill list, condition
guarded. His medical condition improved and he
was transferred to the 12th Evac Hospital at Cu
Chi; then to the 93rd Evac Hospital at Bien Hoa
AFB for air transport to Japan and the 106th
General Hospital; to Travis AFB, CA, and then to
Fitzsimons General Hospital, Denver, CO. At
Fitzsimons, Don completed physical recuperation
and rehabilitation and was successfully fitted
with prostheses for his bilateral leg
amputations. In 1969, he was promoted to Major;
applied to continue on active duty; received
approval for continuation on active duty with
assignment restrictions due to his physical
profile; and assigned to the Field Artillery
School, Office of the Director of Instruction
until his permanent retirement for 100 percent
disability on January 31, 1970. His military
awards include the Silver Star, Bronze Star,
Purple Heart, Air Medal, Ranger Tab and
Parachutist Badge.
In May 1972, Don married Judith Clark. In 1974,
he received an appointment in the U.S. Civil
Service as a Prosthetic Representative Trainee,
Prosthetic and Sensory Aids Service (PSAS),
Veterans Administration Hospital Center (VAHC),
West Los Angeles, CA. Promoted to Prosthetic
Representative in 1975; he was appointed Acting
Prosthetic Service Chief, serving until 1976
when a new service chief was assigned. In 1978,
Don was appointed Supervisory Prosthetic
Representative and served as Asst. Chief,
Prosthetic Service, VAHC, West Los Angeles, CA.
In 1981, he was promoted to the position of
Chief, PSAS, and he served until January 1986,
when he was promoted to the Veterans
Administration Central Office (VACO),
Washington, D.C. In VACO, he was assigned to
the position of Program Analyst in PSAS.
Promoted to GS-14 in 1991 as a result of
additional duties and responsibilities, he
became the Prosthetic Regional Manager for the
Western Region with oversight of the Prosthetic
Program at 36 VA Medical Centers. Prosthetic and
Sensory Aids Service in VA Central Office was
staffed by ten individuals, including the
Director, Deputy Director, four Regional
Managers, and four support staff. The Director,
Deputy, and three Regional Managers were fellow
Vietnam War veterans, all disabled as the result
of combat. Together they were highly visible
reminders of veterans helping veterans. Don’s
final performance appraisal before his
retirement in 1996 described him as “a decision
maker, a dynamic team member and leader, totally
trustworthy and reliable and can be counted on
in any situation to do the right thing. He is a
good man to have on your side”. At his
retirement, Don received the Department of
Veterans Affairs prestigious “Honor Award” in
recognition of his significant contributions and
dedicated service to the VA Prosthetic and
Sensory Aids Service. He provided competent
leadership and strong commitment to headquarters
and field prosthetic staff that clearly
demonstrated unfailing support for the delivery
of the highest quality prosthetic services for
America’s veterans.
Following Don’s retirement, he and Judy moved to
Nevada and settled in Garnerville, a small rural
community south of Reno. Don participates in
the activities of several veterans’ service
organizations, the Military Officers Association
of America chapter, and the Nevada Federation of
Chapters of NARFE (National Active and Retired
Federal Employees Association). Don transferred
his NARFE membership to the Min-Gard Chapter
#2167 in 1997 and in 1998 served as Chapter Vice
President; 1999 thru 2000 as Chapter President;
2000 thru 2002 as Federation Legislative Chair
(National) and NARFE-PAC Chair; 2002 thru 2006
as Chapter Treasurer; 2007 thru 2008 as Chapter
President; and 2004 thru 2008 as Federation
Newsletter Editor.
This biography appeared in the National Active
and Retired Federal Employees Association Reno
Chapter 142 Newsletter, December, 2008.
https://www.narfepremierfcu.org/UserFiles/file/NARFE_Chapter_News/Nevada_142_Dec08.pdf
It
is presented here with Don’s permission.
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