Page 53 - The History of Veterans at Highland Springs
P. 53
DON FRITSCHEN
HIGHLAND SPRINGS RESIDENT, NAVY
I grew up in Orange Kansas and lived there through high school. Afterwards, I went to college at Fort Hays State and then graduated at Kansas State. About 1958 I was drafted into the Navy and flew for the them until I retired.
I was stationed all over. I started out at Pensacola and then I flew in p2s or off the carriers in Vietnam and chasing the Vietnamese for a couple of years. I then I got off that duty and served in the reserves flying p2s and then P3 Orions or Ryan's. I flew all over the world —
Philippines, Europe, Japan, etc. When I retired after 20 years, my rank was Lieutenant Commander.
A memorable experience was when I was flying electronic warfare off carriers in Vietnam and we were telling John McCain what he could and could not do. He did not pay attention to us and was shot down.
After I retired I went to work for large businesses like GE and Magnavox as finance, production, and senior manager. I guess I moved to Greenville, Texas in the early eighties late seventies and then moved to Highland Springs three or four years ago.
53