First Lieutenant Donaldson "Donnie" Preston Tillar III - A Soldier's Story

 



First Lieutenant Donaldson Preston Tillar III was born on May 13, 1965, at Fort Still, Oklahoma and grew up in Highland Falls New York. 

He attended Miller School and James O'Neil High School, where he played lacrosse before entering the US Military Academy at West Point.  


First Lieutenant Tillar graduated from West Point in 1988, trained as a helicopter pilot, and was assigned to the 1st Infantry Division at Fort Riley, Kansas.  He continued both to play and to coach lacrosse throughout his career.

He deployed with the 1st Infantry to Saudi Arabia in the Fall of 1990 to support Operation Desert Storm/Desert Shield and the Gulf War.

On February 27, 1991, First Lieutenant Tillar would die during his service when his helicopter was shot down.

He rests at Emporia Cemetery, Emporia, Virginia.


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a.d. elliott is a wanderer, photographer, and storyteller living in Salem, Virginia. 

In addition to her travel writings at www.takethebackroads.com, you can also read her book reviews at www.riteoffancy.com and US military biographies at www.everydaypatriot.com

Her online photography gallery can be found at shop.takethebackroads.com

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Location: Highland Falls, NY 10928, USA

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