A Donald and Donnie Reed at Donnie’s Army basic training graduation at Fort Benning, Ga., in May 2009. FAMILY AFFAIR Father’s DAV service helps provide camaraderie, benefits to veteran son in need By M. Todd Hunter L ike any young teenager, Donnie Reed wasn’t happy at the prospect of being uprooted from his home in the summer of 2001. His father, Donald, had just been accepted into the DAV National Service Officer Training Academy, which meant the family would soon be relocating to Denver for the 16-week course. On top of that, they’d be living in a hotel since Donald and the rest of his class had yet to receive permanent assignments. “My dad was in the military, so I was used to moving around a little bit,” Donnie explained. “But when you’re 13, you kind of get sick of it and just want to be with your friends.” Little did Donnie know then, the move would play an integral role in his future. “[The other people in my dad’s class] took me in and played basketball with me, and we had barbecues and stuff like that,” said Donnie. “It was exactly like that camaraderie you feel with other military families, and it planted a seed in me that DAV would always be there for me.” Fast forward to January 2009, when Donnie followed in his father’s footsteps and enlisted in the Army as an DAV.ORG 6 DAV MAGAZINE | MAY/JUNE 2019
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A FAMILY AFFAIR
M. Todd Hunter
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