Bio: Primeau, Don – Navy Fight Squadron Commander (Dec 1970)

Transcriber: Ellen Johnson
Contact: stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Primeau, Coyne

----Source: Tribune/Phonograph (Abbotsford, Clark Co., Wis.) 11 Feb 1971

A former Colby (Clark Co., Wis..) man has been named commanding officer of the United States Navy fighter squadron 32 aboard the carrier USS. John F. Kennedy serving in the Mediterranean Sea.

Commander Don G. Primeau assumed command of the squadron on December 11, 1970.

A 1949 graduate of Colby High School, Commander Primeau was born in Arpin, Wisconsin, October 28, 1931. He received his BS from La Crosse State College in 1953, entered the Naval flight training the same year, and received his wings in April 1955.

From May 1955 to December 1957 he was assigned to fighter squadron 62 at Cecil Field, Jacksonville, Florida. During this period he flew the FJ-3 Fury aircraft from the decks of the USS Randolph and USS Essex during two Mediterranean deployments and participated in air operations associated with the Suez crisis and Lebanon crisis, and in 1958 the Formosan crisis in the Western Pacific.

Subsequent tours were spent in the Naval air advanced training command as an F-11A tactics and gunnery flight instructor at Chase Field, Beeville, Texas, and assistant combat information center officer on the USS Bon Homme Richard, homeport Sand Diego.

In July 1964 Primeau was ordered to Naval war college of Naval command and staff. While attending the college he was able to complete the major portion of studies required for a Master's degree in international relations from George Washington University.

In January 1968 he was ordered to fighter squadron 101 detachment Oceana, where he served as officer in charge until November 1969. December 1969 he was attached to his present squadron as executive officer.

Commander Primeau's decorations include four air medals, Navy commendation medal with combat Vietnam service medal, armed forces expeditionary medal and National defense service medal.

He is married to the former Mary Jane Coyne of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and they have two sons, Stephen and John. They reside in Virginia Beach, Virginia.