Born on Nov. 30, 1923 in Springfield, Ill. He grew up in Springfield before enlisting in the U.S. Navy in 1942. He was soon assigned to the 4th Beach Battalion, (Company B-4) a newly organized unit that had the mission of prepping beaches in the European theater prior to army units hitting the beach. The units cleared obstacles, marked lanes, and facilitated other units as they hit the beach and moved forward. Palmer's duties were much closer to those of an infantryman than to a typical sailor's. Don was with the 4th Beach Battalion for the amphibious landings at Gela, Sicily, Salerno, Italy, and St. Tropez in southern France. Following this landing, Don returned home for 30 days leave, and then was assigned to a more traditional naval assignment and posted to the Pacific. While there, his ship supported the landings at Mindoro, Philippines and Okinawa.
From the description of An interview with Donald E. Palmer / Donald E. Palmer ; Mark R. DePue, interviewer. 2007. (Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library). WorldCat record id: 212375466
