Donald Richard Eaton

Rear Admiral Donald R Eaton passed away on 25 July, 2020. He served in the United States Navy from 1957 until 1993 and had a very distinguished 37 year career. He has served in multiple theaters, including Vietnam, Mediterranean, South America, Mid Pacific, and North Atlantic. His last position prior to retirement was Director of Logistics and Fleet Support for Navy and Marine Corps Aviation. He was responsible for 22,500 personnel in twelve commands in the U.S., Europe, and Japan.

Born on February 3, 1937, in the Bronx, New York, he graduated from A.B. Davis High School. Rear Admiral Eaton enlisted in the Navy Aviation Cadet Program, in 1957 and entered training at Naval Air Station Pensacola, FL. He commissioned as an Ensign and reported to Heavy Attack Squadron 3 (VAH-3) as a bombardier-navigator. In 1965 he reported to Attack Squadron 42 (VA-42) and transitioned into the first A-6 Intruder Squadron bound for service in Vietnam. On July 14, 1965, Rear Admiral Eaton and his pilot, Rear Admiral Donald Boecker, had to eject from their aircraft during a bombing mission over Laos. ‘Air America’ helicopter pilot, Sam Jordan, rescued both, Rear Admiral Boecker and Rear Admiral Eaton on July 15, 1965. All three men have celebrated July 15 as “the first day of the rest of their lives.” Rear Admiral Eaton flew 66 Combat Missions while deployed with Attack Squadron 75 (VA-75 “The Sunday Punchers”)

Rear Admiral Eaton has served as a Squadron maintenance officer and Director of Intermediate Maintenance Activities. Rear Admiral Eaton served aboard the aircraft carriers USS Independence, USS Forestall, and the USS America. He reported to the U.S. Navy Post Graduate School in 1968 and completed an undergraduate degree in Mechanical Engineering. Rear Admiral Eaton completed the Industrial College of the Armed Forces program with a Master’s Degree in Industrial Engineering from George Washington University.

He served as the U.S. Navy Bureau of Personnel and as the U.S. Navy Plant Representative in Lynn Massachusetts where he accepted GE F404 Engines for the F/A-18 aircraft program. Rear Admiral Eaton served as the Executive Assistant to the Assistant Secretary of the Navy and later commanded the Naval Air Training Center, NAS Lakehurst NJ. He was the Director of Naval Aviation Depot Maintenance activities and was the Director of Logistics and Fleet Support for Naval and Marine Corps aviation. He was awarded the Navy Distinguished Service Medal, four Legions of Merit, the Purple Heart, five Air Medals, four Navy Commendation Medals (three with Combat V) and the Combat Action Ribbon.

After retiring from the Navy in 1994, Rear Admiral Eaton joined the staff of the United States Navy Post Graduate School in Monterey, California in 1994 and served as the Logistics Chair for thirteen years. He served as a senior lecturer at the Naval Postgraduate School (1994-2007) and was very active in the Logistics and Aviation Maintenance activities across the U.S. Navy.

Rear Admiral Eaton was a semi-professional photographer, a member of the Art Guild of Paso Robles and a hearty supporter of the wineries, vineyards and artisans of the Paso Robles community. He attended and supported the Mission San Miguel Arcangel.

He is survived by his wife, Beth Hemenway, of New York. He is survived by his sister, Judie Desrochers, of Northfield, Vt. And he is survived by his children, CSM Patrick Eaton, U.S. Army, Hoschton, GA, Anthony Eaton, of Oakland, CA, step daughter Lauren Tyner of Rio Vista, CA. and his grandchildren, Zoe Eaton, of Asheboro, NC, Gabriel, Nicholas, and Maximus Eaton of Hoschton, GA and Wes and Rory Rio Vista, CA.