There is a flag that flies on the Mount Vernon Plaza. It is an American flag, flying high for 24 hours a day for the whole month. And then one Saturday, it is respectfully lowered and folded, while a new one takes its place. This flag flies as a tribute to someone… and for the month of August, it is a flag flown in honor of Technical Sergeant Don DeShazo, US Army. Not only does it fly as a constant reminder of his military service, but it also represents his life. This is his story, as written by Donna Copeland and shared with the community on Saturday, August 1st, 2026.
"We gather today under the open Texas sky, wrapped in the colors of our nation's flag, to honor a man whose life perfectly defined the virtues of faith, family, and country: Technical Sergeant Don DeShazo. Don was born right here in Mount Vernon on January 14, 1924, to Lester Wright DeShazo and Annie Matilda Pittman. The DeShazo and Pittman names are not just footnotes in local history; they are original legacy families who have helped shape the very soil and community of Franklin County since the 1800s. Don inherited their deep-seated love of community, growing up as an outgoing, athletic, kind, and remarkably generous human being. Long after he left us, people would still speak of his striking, classic 'Hollywood good looks' - recalling a man who looked like a movie star but possessed the humble, servant heart of a true Texas gentleman.
When the shadow of World War II fell across the globe, the DeShazo family answered the call with immense bravery. Don's two brothers, Lowell and Tom, were already serving in different branches of the military. Don, determined to do his part, first went out west to California to support the war effort by working for Lockheed Martin. It was there, on April 5, 1944, that he officially entered the United States Army. He underwent his initial military training at Fort MacArthur in San Pedro, California, earning his marksman rifle qualification on May 20, 1944. Even while far from home, Don's character shone brightly; he dutifully sent money back home to Mount Vernon to financially support and maintain his mother and his sister, Ruth.
Don crossed the Atlantic to enter the European-African-Middle Eastern (EAME) Campaign, serving as an Administrative Non-Commissioned Officer with Company E of the legendary 112th Infantry Regiment, 28th Infantry Division. By November of 1944, the 112th Infantry was thrust into the brutal, unforgiving crucible of the Rhineland Campaign - specifically the infamous Battle of the Hürtgen Forest along the Belgian-German border.
The fighting there was among the fiercest and most exhausting of the entire war. Our soldiers lived in frozen, mud-filled foxholes, pounded by relentless freezing rain, artillery, and dense forest combat. On November 20,1944, shortly after arriving in the heat of combat, Don suffered a severe injury and was subsequently awarded the Purple Heart. After recovering in the field hospital, he returned to Company E and continued his military service until June 1946. For his exceptional devotion to duty and character throughout his service, he was awarded the Bronze Star Medal, the Good Conduct Medal, the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Ribbon, the World War II Victory Ribbon, and three Overseas Service Bars.
Yet, if you want to know the true spirit of Don DeShazo, you don't just look at the heavy brass of his medals; you look at what he carried into the mud. In those dark, rain-swept foxholes, surrounded by the terrifying noise of war, Don carried a small harmonica. In the quiet moments between battles, he used it to bring a brief touch of peace, home, and comfort to his fellow soldiers. With a steady hand, he etched the name of each place they stayed into the metal of that harmonica. That heavily traveled instrument survived the war, and to this very day, his son Don Martin DeShazo holds that sacred harmonica as a priceless artifact of his father's enduring spirit, resilience, and love.
Following the Allied victory, the government began to demobilize its massive forces. Don was honorably separated June 4, 1946, at Fort Sam Houston, Texas, and issued his honorable discharge lapel button.
Don returned right back to his roots in Mount Vernon, continuing to care for his mother and sister Ruth. Soon after, his lifelong dream of building his own family came true. After a long, beautiful courtship, he married his true love, Miriam Martine Stacks. Together, they welcomed their cherished son, Don Martin.
Back home in the community he loved, Don built a successful career working as an accountant for Teague Chevrolet. Through his dedicated work there, he forged a deeply remarkable, lifelong friendship with Hiram and Charles Teague.
Tragically, heartbreak struck the family when Don passed away from cancer at the young age of 35, when little Don Martin was just 8 months old. Though left with a broken heart, his beautiful wife Miriam poured absolutely everything she had into raising Don Martin, working tirelessly as a Registered Nurse (RN) to support and guide their son.
In the wake of this devastating loss, Hiram and Charles Teague honored their late friend by always keeping a watchful eye over Miriam and young Don Martin's life, ensuring he grew up supported by the strong community bonds Don had cherished so deeply.
Don's life on this earth was cut far too short, but the seeds of love, faith, and community he planted turned out to be unstoppable. Don Martin stayed and raised his own family right here in Mount Vernon. Don's sister Ruth once beautifully remarked that Don,
'would have loved nothing better than to have seen his grandchildren.'
Today, we know he is looking down with immense pride. His legacy lives on vibrantly through his grandchildren, Alex DeShazo-Jenkins and Martin DeShazo, and his three beautiful great-granddaughters, Lily, Olivia, and Mila.
Technical Sergeant Don DeShazo's harmonica went silent August 19, 1959, but the melody of his sacrifice, his fierce patriotism, his deep faith, and his boundless love for his family still echoes through Franklin County today. We salute his service, we honor his memory, and we promise to never forget. Thank you, Don, and God bless the United States of America."
