Technician 4th Grade Done Rowe
– Medical Detachment – 39th Infantry Regiment –

Early life.
Don was born on the 17th of November, 1914 in the family home in Spanish Fork, Utah. Around the age of 10, the Rowe family moved to Castlegate, Utah where his father worked in the coal mines. The family moved around a bit and in 1931 Don graduated from Spanish Fork High School. During his last two years in High School, Don completed a course of training entitled “First Aid to the injured” through the United States Bureau of Mines, a department of Interior effort to prepare young men for careers in the mining industry. This would be something that would play an important role in his later life.

World War II.
The United States declared war on Japan on December 8th, 1941, one day after Japan attacked the American fleet at Pearl Harbor and 3 days later the U.S. was also involved in the war in Europe.

Having met a beautiful at a softball game in Salt Lake City named Montez, Don started a strong friendship with her. The friendship turned into something more, and on the 3rd of June 1942, Don married Montez. Just 1 day later on the 4th of June, 1942, Don entered the army.

Don would serve as a Combat Medic in the Medical Detachment of the 39th Infantry Regiment, part of the 9th Infantry Division. The Division would fight in eight battle campaigns. Initially separated by half a continent and then an ocean, they began a three-year correspondence interrupted only by distance and war. Linked by love, commitment, courage, and resolve, both supported the other during “Doc’s” life-changing odyssey through North Africa, Sicily, Normandy, France, Belgium, and Germany. Don “Doc” Rowe would survive all the battle campaigns.

The book.
Many years later, Dennis W. Rowe, the son of Don, would use the letters between Don and Moretz as the base to write the biography on his father’s life. The book is entitled:

“Don “Doc” Rowe
– Citizen Soldier –
“A Combat Medic’s Journey Through WWII”
By Dennis W. Rowe

“Read the words of Don and Montez as penned to the other while both endured the most all-encompassing conflict of modern history. Be with an American citizen-soldier as “Doc” describes the horror and consequence of battle. Be there as he earns the Silver and Bronze Stars. Begin to understand why they and their peers have come to be known as the “Greatest Generation.” – Dennis W. Rowe

“I can highly recommend this beautiful, touching book. It is well written and researched, and has a lot of great pictures and documents that provide some good insights as well. Be part of the incredible journey that Don took during his time with the 9th Infantry Division”.
– Official European Ninth Infantry Division Historian Yuri Beckers

Buy the book:
You can find out more information about Don Rowe and obtain a copy of the book via the Author’s website: https://dondocrowe.com/
Or : Buy Book on Amazon.

I would like to thank Dennis W. Rowe for reaching out to me during his initial research to write the book, and for the pictures I have used on this tribute page. These and many more can be found in the book.

Please help me to remember the actions of Technician 4 Don “Doc” Rowe that resulted in saving many lives, and our freedom that we enjoy today.