As a musician

With a friend in Boot Camp

Radioman 1st Class & Mom

Lieutenant Commander

My father, Thomas Allen Donegan was born in Dennison Iowa in 1901, the town no longer exists. Poor farmers trying to make a living, eventually moved to Whitefish Montana. My father had to leave school in the 5th grade to help support his family. He worked for the Great Northern Railroad as a track foreman and as a jazz musician before joining the Navy in 1926. My father did not let his lack of education stop him from making something of himself. He became a radioman with his first duty station on the USS NEW MEXICO and later the USS NORTHAMPTON, USS EDSAL and the USS WHIPPLE during her collision with the USS SMITH THOMAS in the Philippines. After attaining the rank of Chief my father traveled the Pacific ocean establishing radio stations for the Navy that would later be a valuable asset during the war. During the war my father made the transition from Chief to an Officer. With that rank he was transferred to Washington D.C. where he trained future generations of Radiomen. After the war my father was stationed in Guam M.I. as the O.I.C of the Communication Station. From there is was back to the states where my father was instrumental in designing and testing new radio transmitters/receivers for the Navy - not bad for a guy with a 5th grade education! Shortly after attaining the rank of Lieutenant Commander he was forced to retire after contracting tuberculosis. After his retirement my father went into horticulture and became an instructor at the Major Bateson's School of Horticulture. My father passed away quietly in February of 1968.