April 27, 1922 - July 10, 2010

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Col. Ezell's nieces generously donated over 450 military books from his estate to the Longhorn Detachment. We now have the wonderful chance to explore the same books that Col. Ezell cherished in the newly established Col. Don D. Ezell library.

 

Don Ezell was born on April 27, 1922, in Jena, Louisiana. He grew up with two older brothers, Jeff and Beeky, and a twin brother named Dee. After spending his childhood in Wink, Texas, both Dee and Don earned football scholarships to attend TCU, with Dee playing as a guard and Don as a halfback.

 

In March 1942, the brothers enlisted in the Marine Corps through the Officers program, completing their degrees before heading to Paris Island for boot camp. Don then reported to OCA (Officer Candidate Applicant) at Camp Lejeune, and in 1944, he attended Officer Candidate School in Quantico, where he earned his officer's commission. Initially assigned to the 6th Marine Division, Lt. Ezell later transferred to the Marine Wing Service Squadron at El Toro to pursue flight training.

 

In the spring of 1945, Lt. Ezell was deployed to Air FMF Pac in Hawaii, where he served as an aerial observer during the Battle of Okinawa, the largest amphibious assault in history. After the war, he returned home and opted out of a regular commission for captain to pursue a master's degree at TCU, although he continued his service in the Marine Corps Reserve.

 

In 1950, Lt. Ezell was called back to active duty for the Korean War with the 1st Marine Division, where he served as a machine gun platoon leader and fought his way out of the Chosin Reservoir.

the 1st Marine Division, where he served as a machine gun platoon leader and fought his way out of the Chosin Reservoir.

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After his time in Korea, Captain Ezell found himself on sea duty near the coast of Vietnam. One day, he received orders to meet with the Commanding General of the French forces stationed there. The General requested that the U.S. provide supplies and ammunition to a location known as Dien Bien Phu. When Captain Ezell arrived at the General's location, he was in an old fort. The General briefed him on the positions of the French troops throughout the valley.

 

Curious about the terrain, Captain Ezell inquired about who held the high ground, to which the General confidently replied, "No one; it's all jungle up there. No one can get through that." Those words would soon prove to be a miscalculation. The Viet Cong managed to navigate through the dense jungles with their cannons and targeted the French forces entrenched below. The outcome is well-known. Captain Ezell's mission was clear: to assess whether the U.S. would assist the French. His superiors were eager to know, "Who will emerge victorious?" Captain Ezell communicated in code, indicating that if the French were likely to win, he would report, "The French are warriors." Conversely, if defeat was imminent, he would say, "The French are lovers." Ultimately, Captain Ezell's message was, "The French are lovers." This information reached President Eisenhower, leading to the decision not to support the French at Dien Bien Phu. As history tells us, Ho Chi Minh triumphed over the French, marking the end of French colonial rule in Vietnam.

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Following the defeat at Dien Bien Phu, Captain Ezell was assigned to Fort Sill for artillery training. Due to a mix-up in orders, he received the assignment meant for his twin brother, Dee, which is how he found himself in artillery.

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Captain Ezell was later promoted to Major and transferred to Duke University, where he taught military science and led the ROTC program. His next assignment took him to Okinawa for a year, where he commanded the 2nd Battalion, 12th Marines, an artillery regiment. Afterward, he moved to Washington, D.C., to work as a Management Engineer. Major Ezell then spent three years in Taiwan, assisting the Chinese nationalists in establishing their 2nd Chinese Marine Division, complementing the existing 1st Division.

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In 1967, Lt. Col. Ezell was elevated to the rank of Colonel and assigned to lead the 11th Marine Artillery Regiment in Vietnam. His command spanned from just south of DaNang to the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ). While serving in Vietnam, he was awarded the Purple Heart due to injuries sustained from a rocket attack. After completing two tours, he returned home in March 1970.

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Following his time in Vietnam, Col. Ezell took on a role at the Pentagon as the Director of Public Affairs for the military. He retired from the Marine Corps in 1973 after three decades of dedicated service.

Throughout his military career, Col. Ezell earned 27 battle decorations and seven battle stars, including the Purple Heart.

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Col. Ezell was a remarkable Marine Officer. His legacy and the impact he made on his family, friends, and fellow Marines will forever reflect his honor, bravery, commitment, and deep love for God, family, country, and the Corps.

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Col. Don D. Ezell passed away on July 10, 2010, and was laid to rest with full military honors. He now rests at Greenwood Memorial Park in Fort Worth, Texas, alongside his twin brother, Dee.