Biography
Second Lieutenant Donald W. Barger was born to William H. Barger and Margaret A. Bruce on November 28, 1917 in Grant Township, Ledyard, Iowa. He called Swea City, Iowa his hometown.
Donald graduated from Iowa State in 1940 and had a number of relatives who also attended Iowa State: Ellen Crossley, Jennie McCrary, Lo May Barger, John Cobb Barger, Clara Belle Imbody, Fred B. Hamilton and Louise Hamilton.
He enlisted in the US Army Air Corps on April 4, 1942 and entered service that August at Santa Ana, California. He trained at Blythe California and Marana, Arizona before graduating from Luke Field, Arizona on April 12, 1942. After receiving his wings and commission, the army sent him to Hamilton Field.
Donald died when his P-39 fighter plane crashed in San Pablo Bay on May 17, 1943.