| Sources |
- [S980] McCuistion, Noah, ltr #84-362.
- [S1684] McCuistion, Harold Donald.
Entry posted on myfamily.com
- [S3827] Clan Uisdean, USA, 30 May 2017; Harold Donald McCuistion.
David A. McCuistion - May 27, 2017
I received the following email from Todd McCuistion of Tyler, TX. I'm passing it along for your information.
Thank you for sending us these newsletters. I know most of us are "Distant Cousins" but found a family on Facebook.
All I wanted to share with you is that my Father Harold "Don" Donald McCuistion passed away March 9, 2017, born November 12, 1936. He will be laid to rest May 30 at the Riverside National Cemetery in Riverside California. He will be buried in a minimal casket, but will be draped in our Nation's flag. I will be the recipient of the flag which will be presented and folded by the Navy Honor Guard thanks to the fine men in uniform that are assigned to the cemetery.
He was born to Harold McCuistion and Virginia Nell "Mason" McCuistion on November 12th 1936. Raise on a cattle farm in Orange, CA on the border of Santa Ana. They also ran the first Full Service/Self Service gas station in the area. He also rode the fences at the Diamond Bar Ranch in Diamond Bar, CA. He earned awards at the Orange County Fair in Costa Mesa, CA for his sheep and cows. Being a Cowboy was his life even after this area of California was plagued by what we call "Progress". He wore a Cowboy Hat until the day he died. My life is filled with stories he told over and over about his childhood, good and bad. he may be gone, but his stories will always be ingrained in my memory for the remainder of my life.
As far as his military experience, he was picked by the Navy as many were back then with farming experience for the reason of killing animals and not being affected by blood. My Father's explanation for this was to be secretly enlisted with the C.I.A., and was placed on a ship and branded as a Chief Warrant Officer. He worked on the flight deck marshaling aircraft and they toured the Mediterranean Sea for most of that assignment. He then ended up in Vietnam 2 years prior to the war and was sole survivor of 25 men as he called in 2 B-52 Bombers to carpet bomb a French Plantation which at the time was occupied by his men fighting the Viet Cong trying to take over the French. He was injured in the bombing, but survived after being covered by the dirt thrown from the craters created by the bombs. 4 days later he was carried out on the stretcher through the jungle.
This might be his "War Story". For his bravery, he received 2 Purple Hearts, the Medal of Conduct, and a French Foreign Legion medallion. He claims that while in Germany for many months in a military hospital, he had "Shirts" by his side the whole time near his hospital bed. He also claims that when the hospital released him to go home, since he was part of the C.I.A. they stripped him of all medals and just kept his Navy Chief Warrant Officer on record and erased his French Plantation battle from record.
He then worked in CB Radio shops and became an expert on CB and HAM Radio antennae installations. The rest of his life he spent working with disabled people of all kinds. He understood them and thought more about them than he did himself.
Most of all he was my Father, best friend, and mentor. I had him all my life until he turned 80, passed away at home with no cause yet determined at this time. I got to spend the last 10 years with him as his caregiver, and I'm thankful for those years. I already miss him greatly, but know that he's no longer i pain both physically and mentally. I can say with pride, and say as he always ended a conversation, "God Bless", and may God Rest His Soul.
Todd McCuistion
Temple TX (As of June 2 2017)
Sorry for the long email, but I ended up getting carried away, and felt his life needed to be heard, and I needed to get it off my chest.
Thank you David for your ear for a moment.
|
1936 - 2017 (80 years)
[1, 2] 
