Donovan S. Pike, 88, foremost a Marine “His first love.” A member of the Greatest Generation, One of The Few and The Proud, lost his fight for life September 9, 2010.  A WWII survivor of the atrocities of the Bataan Death March.  Don, one of the “Battling Bastards of Bataan!” was taken prisoner, escaped, recaptured and transported by Hell Ship to spend 44 months as a Prisoner of War at forced-labor in a Japanese coal mine.  He surfaced August 9, 1945 to witness the end of WWII and the atomic bomb’s mushroom cloud rising over Nagasaki.   Don was then recognized by President Harry S Truman, and most recently by the 34th Commandant of the Marine Corps, General James T Conway,  for his extraordinary service to his country.

Don is an Honorary Member of the Harold E “Speedy” Wilson detachment of the Marine Corps League.  Don suffered a very serious stroke on the 15th of January of this year and never recovered from it.

Don is survived by his wife Polly, his son Donovan S. Pike Jr. and four grandchildren and Cody, Kendal, Caitlin and Andrew Pike all of Louisville, KY.  Four Stepchildren, Dennis Clay of Colorado Springs, CO, Stanley & Kevin Clay of Atascadero, CA and Rebecka McLean of Atascadero, CA.  Funeral arrangements have been made through Green Lawn Memorial.  Donovan had requested that there be no funeral, or memorial.  His body will be cremated and ashes entombed at Arlington National Cemetery. 

Semper Fidelis Marine Pike, rest easy, sleep well my brother, know the line has held, your job is done.