Col. Donald Spittler

The citation to the Lake View resident signed by John M. Pickler, Colonel Field Artillery Chief of Staff read: "Having demonstrated the attributes of an outstanding soldier and leader and having distinguished himself among all men, shall forever be remembered in the Artillery O.C.S. Hall of Fame forthwith from this sixth day of October, nineteen hundred and eight-six."

Colonel Spittler enlisted as a private in the 106th Field Artillery on October 15, 1940.  He returned from Hawaii in August 1942 to attend the Officer Candidate School at Fort Sill, Oklahoma.  Upon graduation in November he was assigned to the 99th Infantry Division as a second lieutenant.

In December 1942, he was detailed to Fort Sill where he successfully completed the Officer's Motor Transport Course.  As a Battery Commander in the 99th, he saw action in the Rhineland and Central Europe campaigns, and was awarded the Bronze Star for outstanding service during the Battle of the Bulge.

After the war, Colonel Spittler remained in the Army Reserve where he successfully completed the Artillery Officer's Career Course at Fort Sill, the Logistics Executive Development Course at Fort Lee, Virginia and was graduated from the US Army Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.  He was promoted to full colonel on March 31, 1969 and retired from the reserve on June 27, 1975.  He resides on Schultz Rd. in Lake View.




Interview Of Donald Spittler done in 1987 by MacLane Merk, his great-nephew - 
recollections of a life-long resident of Lake View, NY.

Notice in Cornell University Alumni News 2/20/41 of Duke Spittler joining 106th Field Artillery (bottom pg. 18)

99th Infantry interactive website http://unitpages.military.com/unitpages/unit.do?id=100070 

Donald J. Spittler's Profile on above website
profile.military.com/member/view.do?memberId=13690021


Donald J. Spittler (age 88) at Arlington Cemetery - 2007