Don Doroff- US Army and Army Reserve,
First Sergeant, Retired

Donald Doroff’s long military career was delayed nearly three years due to a “fickle finger of fate”  (from the TV show “Laugh In”).   In 1965, just after graduation from High school, he and his twin sister planned to join the Air Force.  She changed her mind and Don decided to go to school.

Leap forward to 1968.  Three days before his wedding he received his draft letter!  Nine days after his wedding he was headed for Fort Campbell, Kentucky for basic training.   So, in 1968, when the Army offered even further education in the career field of Transportation and Movements Control, Doroff extended his service for an extra year, thinking of the future civilian opportunities with that extra education.  Off to Eustis, Virginia he went after 8 weeks of basic training.  This was an eight week course learning the paper forms and studying how to move equipment, supplies and personnel through the military and civilian transportation systems.  His wife was able to join him at Virginia Beach for a long weekend.

When home at Christmas time on leave before his first duty station in Korea, Don showed his grandfather his Expert Marksmanship Badge.  Grandfather was worried he would be sent to the front.  Don just thought….”perhaps.”.  It was a still a great visit home to see his wife and family.

The next stops were Fort Lewis, Washington at McChord Air Force Base, Japan at Yokata Air Force Base, and the Kimpo Air Force Base, Seoul, South Korea.  Don was assigned to the Headquarter Company of the 202nd Transportation Battalion Terminal on Womi-do Island, Inchon.  The job was in the transportation center for equipment, supplies and vehicles entering and leaving Korea via ocean travel.  Due to high tides shipments were off loaded from the ships to barges and then transported through the lockes during high tide and off loaded at the terminal.  Checking cargo documents in the  Documentation Center and auditing or matching them with the paperwork from the ship’s cargo manifest and matching it to the vessel hatch, barge, port and gate tallies was Dons occupation for about two weeks.  

The next assignment was reviewing paperwork and attempting to resolve the shortages or overages or…problem solving!  During this 13 month tour Don’s wife was able to join him for four months until she became pregnant with difficult morning sickness.  They had one room with a side kitchen and a ladder to climb to the loft.  It was quite an experience for both of them.  At this time he was able to extend his tour in Korea for three months and avoid another overseas tour in a few months.  A month before his new three month extension was up he heard through the MARS (Military Auxiliary Radio System) that his son was born.  

Next, sent to Fort Polk, Louisiana he found out his specialty was not needed!   He did not like it at all when he was reassigned to the United States Army Reception Center, processing Incoming recruits, consolidating medical, finance and personnel files of recruits for transfer to their new units.  The job did not fit his training at all.  He had rented a small trailer and arranged for his wife and son to join him in Louisiana!  

He decided to have a conversation with the Sergeant Major Office explaining how badly the job suited his talents.  the Sergeant Major asked him to do the job for two weeks and true to his word, he put Doroff in shipping and receiving recruits which was a more complicated and challenging occupation coordinating transportation for recruits and working with prior service personnel who were re-enlisting after a break in service and being reassigned directly to a duty station.  Doroff performed these individual personnel services often with Pentagon Personnel.

In August 1971 Don completed his time in the Army and began working for E.L. Murphy Trucking Company as a heavy duty, oversized cargo permit clerk in Minneapolis. While obtaining a permit for military vehicles being transported to Fort Snelling, Minnesota, he found himself interested in the Army Reserve during the phone conversation.  Next thing he new he had signed up for a one year commitment to the Army Reserve (the Reserves are like a part time job amplified).  He started out as a supply technician with the 205th Support Battalion and extended his commitment two more times, completing a six year obligation and thereafter reenlisted for 6 years at a time.

In Don Doroff’s own words:

From the supply area I moved into the Operations and Intelligence section as an Intelligence NCO (non commissioned officer).  After 2 years I was assigned as the Battalion Operations NCO and 3 years later as the unit First Sergeant.  We were a round out Brigade for the Army, with any single or all of our subordinate units eligible for activation (active duty).  The Battalion had 4 companies, a Headquarters Company, Administration Company, Medical Company and a Supply and Maintenance company.  We supported the 205th Infantry Brigade which had subordinate Battalion level units, the 410th Infantry, with headquarters in Iowa, the 409th Infantry and 3rd Battalion, 3rd Infantry Headquarters in outstate Minnesota, the 492nd Engineers in Madison, Wisconsin and a Military Intelligence Unit at Fort Snelling.

A reorganization in the 1980’s and 1990’s found the 205th Brigade newly aligned with the active army’s 6th Infantry Division, Fort Richardson, Alaska and would be the round out unit to bring the 6th Division with headquarters at Holman Field, Downtown St. Paul. Minnesota.  The Headquarters Company of the Attack Helicopter Battalion was in need of a First Sergeant and I was recommended to fill the position. We had many memorable training deployments to Alaska, Minnesota and Wisconsin.

The years 1995 to 97 again found re-organizations with the Army.  The Reserve Aviation Assets were being turned over to the National Guard.  The Reserve Components of the 6th Infantry Division were being re- organized.  Many of my soldiers and my peer senior NCO’s did transfer to the National Guard.  I was reassigned to the Northern Command of the 88th Army Reserve Command at Fort Snelling, Minnesota….for 2 years and…. reached maximum years of service and mandatory retirement after 3 years of active duty and 26 years in the Army Reserves.

Honored and blessed to serve:

Don Doroff serves on the Honor Guard because Vietnam Veterans were not treated well after their tour of duty.  The Honor Guard demonstrates that we do honor our veterans and sets a good example for young people.

Thank you for your service, Donald Doroff!