Donald Morison White (19 August 1915 – 10 September 1995) was a United States Navy rear admiral and a decorated veteran of World War II.
Early Life and Education
White was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and raised in Ossining, New York. He entered the United States Naval Academy in 1933, graduating with a B.S. degree in June 1937. After completing flight training, he was designated a naval aviator in 1940. He later completed a naval warfare course at the Naval War College in 1956.
Military Career
White was at Pearl Harbor on 7 December 1941 during the Japanese attack. He was subsequently assigned to torpedo bomber squadron VT-6 aboard USS Enterprise and participated in combat operations in 1942. Later that year, he was reassigned as squadron commander of VT-9 aboard USS Essex. He was awarded the Navy Cross for his actions during a raid on Rabaul Harbor in November 1943 and the Distinguished Flying Cross for his actions at Truk Atoll in February 1944.
From 1951 to 1953, White served at NAS San Diego, becoming operations officer in February 1951. From 1954 to 1955, he served as executive officer of the carrier USS Bennington. He was promoted to captain in July 1955. From 1956 to 1958, he served as department head and professor of mathematics at the Naval Academy. He commanded the ammunition ship USS Shasta from July 1958 to April 1959 and the carrier USS Forrestal from June 1961 to June 1962.
White was promoted to rear admiral in October 1964. As commander of Carrier Division 20, his flagship USS Intrepid retrieved the Gemini 3 astronauts and their spacecraft after their Atlantic splashdown in March 1965. From 1966 to 1969, he served as commander of the Alaskan Sea Frontier. His final assignment was as deputy director for inspection services in the office of the assistant secretary of defense for administration. He retired from active duty in July 1970.
Awards
White's military decorations include the Navy Cross, Legion of Merit (2 awards), Distinguished Flying Cross, and Air Medal (4 awards).
Personal Life and Death
White married Ruth Rachel Koch on 3 June 1939 in San Diego, California. They had five sons, one daughter, and fifteen grandchildren. After retirement, he lived in Pensacola, Florida. He died of cardiac arrest at Baptist Hospital in Pensacola following abdominal surgery on 10 September 1995, at age 80. He was interred at Barrancas National Cemetery.
