1958 WP Class G2 Memorial Wall of Honor
Claude Belmont Donovan
Class of June, 1958
(USE THIS .HTML VERSION WHICH SUPERSEDED AN .HTM VERSION).
Claude Belmont Donovan
Research done by Claradell Shedd, webmaster
From 1958 Howitzer: Bellie hails from the wide open spaces but has learned to fight West Point's winters and walls. After a tussle with the Foreign Language people, in which he came out on top, he has continued to grab more tenths than the Academic Department can. His level headness, patience, sincere attitude, and hard work are his claims to fame, and his quick wit never fails to bring forth smiles.
Claude Belmont Donovan
Year x Rank x Status
June, 1958 x Graduated x Company G2. Cullum 21900.
June 4, 1958 x Branch/2nd Lt x US Army; Ordnance Corps
June 5, 1958 x Family x Married Elizabeth Harlan Miller in Cadet Chapel, West Point, NY
1958 X US Army X X
December, 1958 X US Army X Graduated, Ranger School, Fort Benning, GA. Group photo below.
1959 Family Son Mike born.
July 14, 1960 X Family X Son Kevin Scott born; Manchester, South Carolina
August 25, 1961 X Family X Son David Philip born; Denton, Texas.
April, 1965 X Family X Daughter Katie born.
date X US Army X X
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date X US Army X X
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July, 1987 X US Army X Retired from Ordnance Corps with rank of Brigadier General.
1987-2002 x Retirement x Served as mayor of Ouray, CO twice.
October 4, 2002 x Family x Deceased.
aft October 4, 2002 X Family X Buried in Cedar Hill Cemetery, Ouray, CO; Plot Bl 19, Lot 16
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Update from 1968 10th Reunion Directory
Get photo from family (shown below).

Betty Miller, Denton, TX
Mike (1959), Kevin (1960, David (1961), Katie (1965)
722 Rio Grande, Raton, New Mexico
The Donovans have enjoyed typical assignments, highlighted by three years with the Ordnance Department. Sorry to miss the reunion--our hearts are with you, along with this thought: May God grant the obsolescence of our profession, but in the meantime, strength, health, and wisdom to accomplish our mission.

Update from 1988 30th Reunion Directory
Get photo from family.
I retired from the Army (Ordnance Corps) in July, 1987 as a Brigadier General.

Like a few of the rest of you, we decided to retire to a location, rather than a job. We were looking for a place with dark blue skies, towering mountains to hike and Jeep over, a rich history, a feeling of family, and most of all, a rendezvous for family and friends. We found it at7800 feet above sea level in Southwestern Colorado.

Ouray has a winter population of about 800 humans and countless deer, elk, mountain sheep and skiers enroute to nearby ski resorts. In the summer, it swells to a few thousand as Texans, Kansans, Oklahomans, and other assorted flatlanders converge on our mountain splendor, excellent trout fishing and air conditioning by God. The fact that we have yet to find out what one can do for gainful employment here has not dampened our enthusiasm. Our time is filled with renovating and restoring our 108 year old house and enjoying all the above attractions. Maybe the future will bring a cabinetmaking business, some consulting jobs, a teaching certificate, or a profitable gold mine.

Our last years on active duty were spent in the fast lane -- or the oncoming lane -- as project manager for the M60 Tank, program manager for the Bradley Fighting Vehicle, Program Executive Officer for all Light Combat Vehicles, and finally as Deputy Chief of Staff for Development, Engineering, and Acquisition in the Army Mateiel Command. The titles pretty well tell the certain selfserving members of DoD, Congressional staffers and their bosses, and the Washington Press Corps. An interesting time to look back on. To paraphrase Willie Nelson: Mammas, don't let your babies grow up to be PMs
Update from 2008 50th Reunion Directory
Get photo from family.

After his father's death when he was eleven, Pat and his mother settled in Raton, New Mexico. There we met a fresman science class, and thus began a wonderful friendship that lasted more than fifty years! We married in the Cadet Chapel the day after graduation and embarked on our new life with enthusiasm and determination to enjoy this new adventure, together at least! Children, interesting assignments, schools, challenges, and reqarding opportunities followed. Army life suited us perfectly!

Pat's heart was always with the soldiers he loved. He took pride in his leadership in troop assignments with four divisions. Notable was his strong loyalty to classmates, as well as to his comrades in arms. One fellow worker described his "integrity, enthusiasm, and tough standards, balanced by unwavering purpose and joy in accomplishment" as very contagious. He was skilled at analyzing a problem and coming up with the best solution, and he knew how to identify what was important.

We were blessed with four children, and Pat always took pride in their accomplishments, not only in their careers, but in their devotion to the family values and ethics which he had worked to instill. TGwenty-four moves later, we leapt off the fast lane and in 1987 landed in Ouray, high in Colorado's San Juan Mountains. Fifteen years of blue skies, unique beauty and serenity, hiking, and Jeeping old mining trails, and living the laid-back lifestyle of this small town was a series of ho-hum days in Paradise! Elected major of Ouray, Pat's varied interests and the management skills he had acquired in the Army led to improvements in city infrastructure, the development of a foward-looking community plan, and creation of a unique connection between government and the citizenry. He tried everything from scooping ice cream and conductin llama treks to friving the local ambulance. He was walking Chamber of Commerce and enjoyed sharing his enthusiasm.

Pat loved working with wood. Hours in West Point's wood shop set him on the way to becoming a competent craftsman. He carefully restored our Victorian home, then designed and built a second house on our property. In all endeavros, from construction to the stock market, he immersed himself in acquiring knowledge about any subject new to him. Boredom was not in his vocabulary!

Shortly before his death from a brain tumor in 2002, he said: "I am so blessed! I've done it all, been given it all, and have served. I have no complaints!" I was blessed also, with the privilege of sharing his life. He is at peace now. His spirit lives on: his kindness, patience, wisdom, and strong presence on this earth. At his core were Duty, Honor and Country!

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Use these photos as placeholder for site. San Antonio 2004 and San Francisco 2005 Mini Reunions
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https://www.west-point.org/class/usma1958/special/50th%20Overview.pdf
Get link to reunion history book project for Pat Donovan
Ranger School; December, 1958 John Herren Pat Donovan
1961 Military Register
1968 (10th Reunion Directory): Pat, Betty, Mike, Kevin, David, and Katie
  Bradley Fighting Vehicle
Pat Donovan was Program Manager
for the Bradley Fighting Vehicle
Project Manager for the M60 tank,
and Program Executive Officer
for All Light Combat Vehicles
1988 (30th Reunion Directory): Pat and Betty Donovan
digital wedding picture
used in newspaper article
requested from family member
 
June 5, 1958
Claude Donovan and Elizabeth Miller
Cadet Chapel
West Point, New York
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badge/patch
Get correct locaitons for Donovan. Get Red River, etc.; bar code for this specific Easley website page
Fort Benning, GA Fort Riley, KS Bar Code for this website page can be downloaded to IPhone and/or tablet
aft October 4, 2002: Buried in Cedar Hill Cemetery, Ouray, CO; Plot Bl 19, Lot 16
Claude Belmont Donovan
Brigadier General
Ordnance Corps
United States Army
Department of the Army



24th Infantry Division

I was TAC at WP


Special Forces


National War College


82nd Airborne Division

Department of Defense Staff

Infantry


Colonel Rank


BG Claude Belmont Donovan


Combat Infantryman's Badge


Parachutist

Brigadier General
Ordnance Corps





503rd Airborne

I was a TAC officer.

Military Assistance Command


Red River Army Depot

Army Materiel Command

silver starBronze Star, Army Commendation Medal w/1st OLC and V (valor) device, Vietnam Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Air Medal
(Get correct list of medals from George.)Silver Star, Bronze Star, Army Commendation Medal w/1st OLC,
and V (valor) device, Vietnam Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal,
National Defense Service Medal, Air Medal
From 1958 Howitzer
Claude Belmont Donovan
"Pat", "Bellie" G-2
Raton, New Mexico Congressional
Bellie hails from the wide open spaces but has learned to fight West Point's winters and walls. After a tussle with the Foreign Language people, in which he came out on top, he has continued to grab more tenths than the Academic Department can. His level headness, patience, sincere attitude, and hard work are his claims to fame, and his quick wit never fails to bring forth smiles. .
Pistol 3-2-1; Scoutmaster Council 4-3-2-1; French Language Club 2-1; Ski Club 2-1; Sergeant 1.
References
Claude Belmont Donovan's G2 memorial page: http://www.1958g2.com/pages/memoriam.html
Pat's obituary: http://www.1958g2.com/pages/donovanobit.html
Eulogy by his family and companymates

Cullum 21900.
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Lived in Ouray, CO.. Died October 4, 2002.
Music: "You Raise Me Up"

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