Dallman's service biography from the Jefferson County Veteran's Service Office

JEFFERSON COUNTY, NE — Don Dallman was born on a family farm near Upland, Nebraska in Franklin County. He attended eight years of country school and graduated from Franklin High School in 1950. From 1950 to 1953 Don helped his father on the family farm.

In February, 1953, Don was drafted into the U.S. Army. His 16 weeks of Basic Training were at Fort Riley, Kansas. He was assigned to the 10th Infantry Division and in his 15th week of training he was given orders to South Korea where his brother was already serving. However, during the 16th week of training Don was overloaded with too much to carry on his back during a training exercise and fractured both feet. He was confined to a hospital for extended rest and had to wear combat boots constantly in an attempt to repair his injured feet. Due to the

extent of his injuries, he was reassigned to a Military Police Transportation Company at Camp Gordon, Georgia. His primary duties were driving a 2 ½ ton truck for the duration of his two-year time in the military. Mostly he delivered mail, transported troops to training locations, showers, and the mess hall. All these duties within the United States were preferable to going to the war zone in South Korea.

In February, 1955, Corporal Dallman was honorably discharged. He returned home to Franklin and worked with his own dairy herd of cattle and worked for another small dairy. Don later spent two years working in the Lincoln Nebraska Penitentiary where they had a herd of Holstein dairy cattle to provide work for prisoners. It was a fairly modern operation with milking machines. Don’s title was “Herdsman.” His duties included working with breeding records and calving. When the dairy herd was sold, Don transferred to the East Campus Police at the University of Nebraska where patrolled on foot and with a cruiser. When on night patrol he and his fellow officers had full use of the Campus Ice Cream Parlor. Don also worked within the walls of the Lincoln Penitentiary for a short time before spending approximately 10 years working in Fairbury for the Glaseman Dairy. Don had the evening shift milking 150 Holstein dairy cattle from 2 pm to 8 pm daily.

From 1990 until his retirement in 1999 Don was the Superintendent of the Fairbury Cemetery. Don considers himself a “home body” and likes to do wood working projects. At 90 years of age Don currently lives with his wife Phillis in their home in Fairbury. He still wears arch supports as a reminder of his service to his Country.