Lt Col Donald J. Pierini, USAF (Ret.) passed away on June 19, 2015 at the age of 91. His military career spanned 33 years.
At 18 he joined the Army Air Corps during World War II. After training, he was assigned to the 4th Fighter Group, 8th Air Force in Debden, England, as a P-51 Mustang pilot. He flew 72 missions (318 Combat Flying Hours). He was promoted from Flight Officer to Captain by the age of 21. In Suwon, Korea he was assigned to the 319th Fighter Interceptor Squadron where, flying the F94-B, he patrolled the DMZ and sat alert as well. In Nha Trang, Vietnam he was the Commander of the Airlift Control of the 834th Air Division during the Tet Offensive.
Other tours of duty included Moody AFB, Georgia as the F-86, F-89 and F-94 Combat Training Squadron Commander, Maxwell AFB, Alabama Command and Staff College, Saskatoon, Canada as Officer-in-Command of Instrument Checks for the RCAF, Randolph AFB, Texas as Assistant Wing Operations Officer, Torrejon AFB, Madrid, Spain as Chief of Operational Wing Plans, and Bergstrom AFB, Texas as Chief of Contingency War Plans with the 7th Air Force. He retired in 1975. He logged almost 5,000 flight hours, was rated in 27 different aircraft, and was a Command Pilot as well as a licensed Commercial Pilot.
His medals and awards included most notably the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Bronze Star and the Air Medal with seven oak leaf clusters. He was a member of the Mach Buster's Club and Caterpillar Club.
Lt Col Pierini graduated from The University of Texas with a degree in Business Administration. He was an avid cyclist. Affectionately called the "Old Man," his "Follow the Old Man" cycling team was the largest new team in the 2003 MS150 ride from Houston to Austin. The following year he rode in his twelfth consecutive and final MS 150 ride at age 80.
A Rosary Service will be held at St. John Neumann Catholic Church in Austin, Texas on Wednesday, July 1, 2015 at 7:15 pm, followed by a Funeral Mass on Thursday, July 2, 2015, at 10:00 am. His interment, with full honors, will be at a later date in Arlington National Cemetery, Washington, D.C.
In lieu of flowers, make a donation, if you wish, to your favorite charity
Condolences to:
Dee Bishop Duke f/k/a Donna Pierini Class of '65
thebellsofdixie@yahoo.com
Mark Pierini Bayne
bbayne@austin.rr.com
