Donald Dean Owens was born on August 3, 1925. He was the youngest of two sons born to Gerald H. Owens and Tracy Devine born in Navarre, Ohio. He attended Navarre Elementary School, and later moved to Massillon with his parents and brother Gerald. After his parents divorced in 1937 Donald relocated with his father to Cleveland where he attended James Ford Rhodes High School, playing sports, football and basketball there.

Donald enlisted in the US Army a couple of months before graduation in March of 1943. Donald trained at fort Meade , Maryland. He came home on leave before he was deployed to Normandy, France about six months later.

Pvt Donald Owens was a member of a five man M-10 tank destroyer crew in Forest De Parroy (Parroy National Forest) when they were struck by the German forces on October 9, 1944. Two men survived the blast from the enemy, but three soldiers were killed: Pvt. Larence Nelson Harris, and Cpl. Judge Clayton Hellums.

After 66 years the three young soldiers were known to be dead, but their remains were not found. A few years ago a conscientious Frenchman while walking in the forest De Parrot made a startling discovery. Because of his discovery three young soldiers lives will now have closure and they are honored and buried in Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia, United States of America.

Owens' name is permanently inscribed on the Tablets of the Missing at Lorraine American Cemetery. A rosette is placed next to his name to mark that the he now rests in the known gravesite. He also has marker located in Our Ladys Church at Medleys Neck Cemetery, Leonardtown, St. Mary's County, Maryland.

Source of information: www.findagrave.com, www.abmc.gov