Donnie Shearer, GySgt. USMC Ret.
I joined the Marine Corps in 1959, attended Boot Camp at MCRD San Diego, became a photographer in 1961, spent 3 years at MCAS Kaneohe Hawaii, 1 year at MCAS Eltoro, attended Motion Piecture School in 1964 at Pensacola Fla., Embassy Duty at the American Embassy Asuncion, Paraguay. Transfered to Great Lakes Hospital for 6 months to repair my right hand, then to Quantico Va. to the East Coast Motion Picture Production Unit, Transfered to 3rd. Mar. Div in Vietnam March 68,covered the Marines Action from Tet 68 to Operation Dewey Canyon 1969, transfered to West Coast Motion Picture Unit,Camp Pendleton, assigned to USC to study Motion Picture Production,Graduated 1971 and returned to West Coat Motion Picture Production Unit,Camp Pendleton. In 1972,transfered to MCAS Kaneohe Hawaii as NCOIC of the Photo Lab. 1975 Assigned to document the Evacuation of Americans from Phnom Penh and Saigon. Received the Military News Film Award for my coverage of the Evacuation which almost cost me deerly. I was left int he LZ at Phnom Penh when the last 3 CH-53's left the LZ with me standing there filming " stupid move I know" Fortunantly Captain Porter returned and picked me up. Transfered to The West Coast Motion Picture Production Unit at Camp Pendleton until I retired June 1980. Acquired a job with the Department of the Navy Testing Weapons from Cal. 223 to 8" including Stinger, Rockeye and other Navy airbourne munitions. Retired agian March 2001 and now live in White House Tennessee with my wife Gale.