I AM SO PROUD TO CALL THIS MAN MY GRANDPA! DONALD LACOSSE..........Thank you for your service!......Sawyer Wall of Honor: Donald E. LaCosse Bio for Vietnam Veterans Exhibit in Marquette: Retired Air Force pilot Lt. Col. Donald E. LaCosse has served in military and civilian roles that have coincided with, and have become part of, the history of K.I. Sawyer Air Force Base, including work as a laborer during construction of the Base, two tours of distinguished military service at the Base, and service as a State of Michigan veteran’s employment liaison during the transition of the Base into a civilian airport. Upon retirement from the U.S. Air Force in 1979, Lt. Col. Donald E. LaCosse was presented with The Meritorious Service Medal accompanied by the following citation: “Lieutenant Colonel Donald E. LaCosse distinguished himself in the performance of outstanding service to the United States as Commander, 410th Avionics Maintenance Squadron and Wing Maintenance Control Officer, 410th Bombardment Wing, K. I. Sawyer Air Force Base, Michigan, from 12 October 1973 to 31 May 1979. During this period, the outstanding professional skill, leadership, and ceaseless efforts of Colonel LaCosse resulted in major contributions to the effectiveness and success of the 410th Bombardment Wing. The singularly distinctive accomplishments of Colonel LaCosse culminate a distinguished career in the service of his country and reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.” Lt. Col. LaCosse was born in 1936 to Edward and Grace LaCosse at Bell Memorial Hospital in Ishpeming, Michigan. The LaCosses lived in the town of Champion where Donald and his seven siblings were raised. After graduating from Champion High School in 1954, Donald attended Michigan College of Mining and Technology, now known as Michigan Technological University. Soon after graduating from high school, Donald met his wife, Patricia (Dallas), of Negaunee, Michigan, whom he married in 1956. From 1954-56, Donald was enlisted in the Army National Guard in Ishpeming, Michigan. Donald also enrolled in the Air Force ROTC at Michigan Tech, and was the Cadet Commander during his senior year. In 1958, Donald graduated from Michigan Tech with Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering, with honors, and also as a Distinguished Military Graduate. Also in 1958, Donald was commissioned as 2nd Lieutenant in the United States Air Force. While attending Michigan Tech, Donald spent the summers of 1956 and 1957 working as a construction laborer at the newly formed K.I. Sawyer Airport which later became K.I. Sawyer Air Force Base in 1959. There, Donald worked with Joel Hamel Contracting and the Army Corps of Engineers on site preparation which included construction of roads, parking lots, and water mains for the area that would eventually house the Base Exchange and the Commissary, buildings with which the LaCosse family would become very familiar some twenty years later. Prior to being called to active duty flight school, Donald spent the remainder of 1958 and about half of 1959 as an engineer for General Motors Electronics Division in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. There, he was involved in development and testing of inertial guidance systems for the U.S. military’s missile systems which included the Thor, Regulus, and Mace. LaCosse entered active duty with the Air Force on July 18, 1959. From 1959 to 1960, he received pilot training which began at Malden Air Base, Missouri under the tutelage of Anderson Air Activities utilizing T-34 and T-28 aircraft. In March of 1960, Donald completed his first solo flight, and was promoted to 1st Lieutenant in July of 1960. Thereafter, in August of 1960, LaCosse underwent tactical fighter training with T-33 aircraft at Webb AFB, Texas. In December of the same year, he received advanced pilot training for the KC-97 Stratotanker at Randolph Air Force Base, Texas. As a First Lieutenant, Donald was assigned to his first operational unit in the Strategic Air Command (SAC) at Malmstrom Air Force Base, Montana in 1961. There, he flew KC-97 tankers with the 407th Air Refueling Squadron. Soon after, LaCosse was stationed at Lockbourne Air Force Base, Ohio, with the 91st and 321st Air Refueling Squadrons, also as a KC-97 pilot. In 1963 Donald was assigned to the 71st Air Refueling Squadron at Dow Air Force Base, Maine, and in January Jones of 1964 was promoted to Captain. In February of 1964, Donald was sent to Castle Air Force Base, California for pilot training with the KC-135 Stratotanker, and then returned to Dow as an aircraft commander. In 1968 Captain LaCosse was assigned to the 2nd Bombardment Wing at Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana, where he served as command post controller and KC-135 pilot. In 1969, Captain LaCosse was transferred to Goose Air Base, Canada where he continued his duties as a Command post controller and pilot in the 95th Strategic Wing. At Goose Air Base, Donald piloted KC-135 and KC-97 tankers as well as L-20 prop-driven airplanes, both ski and pontoon versions. LaCosse was promoted to Major in January of 1970. On September 1, 1970, Donald was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. Although diagnosed at a young age, significant symptoms would not appear until much later in his life. In1971, Major LaCosse was stationed for the first time at K.I. Sawyer Air Force Base, Michigan, just miles from where he was raised. He was assigned to the 410th Bomb Wing with the duty of Job Control Officer for operations involving KC-135 tankers and B-52 bombers. In September of 1972, Donald was sent to Southeast Asia to serve in the Vietnam War. In Vietnam, Major LaCosse initially served as a Wing Maintenance Controller for the 377th Air Base Wing, at Bien Hoa Air Base. There, he oversaw the maintenance operations for the A-37 aircraft, among others. Later, Major LaCosse was transferred to Tan Son Nhut Air Base in Vietnam where he oversaw the maintenance operations for the C-130 and C-141 aircraft as Chief of Maintenance, 377th Air Base Wing. Thereafter, Donald was among the last group of active duty servicemen to depart South Vietnam, taking part in the closure of Tan Son Nhut Air Base where he directed the retrograde of aircraft and equipment from Tan Son Nhut Air Base as well as numerous other forward operating locations. Major LaCosse was also instrumental in repatriating POWs held by the Viet Cong in prison camps throughout Vietnam. Subsequently, Major LaCosse continued his duties in Southeast Asia as maintenance supervisor at Udorn Royal Thai Air Force Base, Thailand. For his service in Vietnam, Major LaCosse was awarded The Bronze Star Medal and was honored with the Republic of Vietnam Air Service Medal, presented by General Tien, commander of Vietnamese forces in South Vietnam. After his tour of duty in Vietnam and elsewhere in Southeast Asia, Major LaCosse returned to K.I. Sawyer Air Force Base in October of 1973 as Commander of the 410th Avionics Maintenance Squadron. In November of 1975, Major LaCosse was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel and assigned to the position of Wing Maintenance Control Officer. His duties included maintaining a squadron of B-52s and KC-135s on alert status and ready to respond to any Emergency War Order. Lieutenant Colonel LaCosse continued, until his retirement, to ensure that these Cold War workhorses (B-52s and KC-135s) were continuously maintained and ready for service at all times. Upon retirement from the U.S. Air Force in 1979, Lt. Col. Donald E. LaCosse was presented with The Meritorious Service Medal accompanied by the following citation: “Lieutenant Colonel Donald E. LaCosse distinguished himself in the performance of outstanding service to the United States as Commander, 410th Avionics Maintenance Squadron and Wing Maintenance Control Officer, 410th Bombardment Wing, K. I. Sawyer Air Force Base, Michigan, from 12 October 1973 to 31 May 1979. During this period, the outstanding professional skill, leadership, and ceaseless efforts of Colonel LaCosse resulted in major contributions to the effectiveness and success of the 410th Bombardment Wing. The singularly distinctive accomplishments of Colonel LaCosse culminate a distinguished career in the service of his country and reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.” After retiring from the Air Force, Donald served the State of Michigan as an employment counselor with Job Service (later known as MESC and Michigan Works!) in Marquette, Michigan, with special emphasis on helping military veterans. In addition, Donald worked in a Job Service satellite office located on-base during the closure process of K.I. Sawyer A.F.B. There, he assisted veterans and civil servants to find employment throughout Michigan and the rest of the country, including other military bases. Donald also attended the closing ceremonies of K.I. Sawyer A.F.B. in 1995. Donald and Patricia LaCosse are currently retired and live a short distance from K.I. Sawyer International Airport in Marquette County, Michigan. They stay very busy in retirement and enjoy spending their time with their friends and family, especially their children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. Donald is a lifetime member of the local chapter of Disabled American Veterans and an active member of the Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 380.
Posted on: Tue, 02 Dec 2014 12:41:51 +0000
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