Donald Malarkey

Don Malarkey, 2008

Donald G. "Don" Malarkey (born July 31, 1921 in Astoria , Oregon , † September 30, 2017 in Salem , Oregon) was a paratrooper in the US Army of World War II . He was played by Scott Grimes in the miniseries Band of Brothers , on whose books he worked .

Youth and family

Malarkey spent his youth in Astoria, where he attended Catholic school and excelled as an athlete, which he graduated from in 1939. He was also involved with the Astorias volunteer fire department . He began his first semester at the University of Oregon when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941 . He then volunteered for the Army.

Second World War

After rejections from the United States Marine Corps and the Army Corps, Malarkey volunteered to join the newly formed paratroopers in the US Army, after reading an article that it was supposed to be the Army's best branch of service. He completed his basic training at Camp Toccoa , Georgia as one of the best. He was then assigned to the "Easy" company of the 2nd Battalion, 506th Paratrooper Infantry Regiment of the 101st Airborne Division. After laying to England in 1943 he participated in the D-Day in part, of the Normandy landings on June 6, 1944. He jumped on the night of the sixth with his regiment behind the German positions, and turned with his comrades under Richard Winters in Brecourt Manor from German artillery positions, for which he was awarded the Bronze Star . He fought 23 days in Normandy , 80 days in Holland, 39 days in the Battle of the Bulge near Bastogne and over 30 days at Haguenau on the front line. Before the airborne company Market Garden , he was promoted to sergeant. Since Malarkey was never seriously wounded, he spent more time in combat than any other soldier in "Easy" Company.

After the Second World War

After his discharge from the army, Malarkey studied business administration until 1949. During this time he met his wife Irene Moor, with whom he was married until her death in April 2006. They had four children. After graduation, the couple moved to Portland , Oregon, where Malarkey worked as an insurance and real estate agent. In 1987 he became professor of history at the University of Oregon . From 1989 he went on trips with his former comrades to the old theaters of war. He reported publicly about his experiences and gave readings and speeches to schoolchildren and students. In 2008 his book "Easy Company Soldier: The Legendary Combat of a Sergeant from World War II's" Band of Brothers "" was published.

Following the death of Paul Rogers on March 16, 2015, Malarkey was the oldest surviving member of the Easy Company.

He most recently lived in Salem, Oregon, where he died on September 30, 2017 at the age of 96.

Awards

	Bronze star with an oak leaf
	Purple heart
	Presidential Unit Citation with an oak leaf
	Good Conduct Medal
	Belgian World War II Service Medal
	American Campaign Medal
	European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with 3 service stars and an arrowhead
	World War II Victory Medal
	Army of Occupation Medal
	Croix de guerre with palm tree
	French Liberation Medal
	Légion d'Honneur with Chevalier status
	Combat Infantryman Badge
	Parachutist badge with 2 jump stars

Individual evidence

1. ↑ Donald Malarkey, portrayed in 'Band of Brothers,' has died ( October 2, 2017 memento in the Internet Archive ) on: ABC News October 1, 2017, accessed October 2, 2017