Donald A. Chase was born on January 11, 1926 in Framingham, Massachusetts, the son of Ralph L, and Mary Carroll Chase. He became the only member of his family to serve in the military during World War II when he joined the US Army on May 20, 1944. He served with the 89th and 83rd Infantry Divisions in Europe during World War II, joining the regular Army in October of 1945. He was discharged October 1948, but re-enlisted in the Army in December of 1950. He first arrived in Korea in January or February of 1951 and served with B Company, 19th Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division. He was wounded in March 1951. He was injured a second time in June or July of 1951. He returned to Korea in November of 1952, and was assigned to 1 Company, 15th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division of the Chorwon, Kumwah area. He was wounded a third time in Korea on July 26th, 1953, the day before the war ended. He was discharged October 13th, 1953.