Don Blascak was born in Newark, New Jersey in 1934 and raised
in West Orange. He attended Ohio State University from 1952 through 1956 and
received a bachelors degree in Agriculture. He was commissioned a Second Lieutenant
in Armor Branch in the US Army from ROTC. After serving in Armor units in Korea
and in the United States he was awarded an Intelligence specialization and
attended the Counter Intelligence Course, the Army language School (Arabic
Language) and the Intelligence Collection Course. After attending the Institute
for Military Assistance in Washington D.C he was assigned as a Special Operations
Advisor to the South Vietnamese serving in J-2 MACV. Upon return to the United
States he attended Jump School at Ft Benning and the Special Forces Officers
Course at Ft Bragg. Here he married the former Joann Berry(deceased). After
attendance at the Intelligence Career Officers course he was assigned to the
5th Special Forces Group and reassigned to Vietnam as the intelligence officer
of a Special Forces C Detachment. Detailed to the CIA after this tour in Vietnam
he was further assigned to the staff of the Director of Central intelligence
in the Vietnamese Affairs staff. During this tour he had numerous Agency related
trips to Vietnam and Southeast Asia. After attendance at the Armed Forces Staff
College in Norfolk , he was assigned to the Pentagon as a special assistant
to the Assistant Chief of Staff for Intelligence on the Army staff.
Reassigned to Special forces in 1971 he returned to Ft Bragg with his wife
and two children as Director of the Special Forces Operations and Intelligence
Committee. He was next selected to be the G-2 (Intelligence) of the 1st Cavalry
Division. He then commanded the 163rd MI Bn.(3rd Corps). Selected for the Army
War College at Carlisle Barracks, Pa. he also received a masters degree in
public Administration from Shippensburg University in 1978. Transferred to
Ft.Huachuca, he commanded the Intelligence Brigade in support of the Intelligence
School till 1981 when he and his family went to Germany for assignment with
the 5th United States Corps as the Corps Senior Intelligence Officer.In 1985
he appeared as a key witness in the CBS/ Westmoreland trial.He testified for
CBS. Returning to the United States in 1885 he was assigned to the Training
and Doctrine Command as the Director of Intelligence and Electronic Warfare.In
October of 1986 he retired with 30 years active duty. His wife Joann passed
away in 1987 at their then retirement location in Sierra Vista. Don worked
for Science Applications International Corporation for 5 years after retirement
as an Intelligence Requirements Officer. After a series of poor life choices
he came to the Lord in 1995. His experiences showed him a new perspective on
life and revealed to him a new calling. Every aspect of his previous life prior
to his "Damascus Road experience" prepared him for the work God called
him to do.
Since 1995 he has worked as volunteer with numerous social services. He served
as reader at Sun Sounds Radio reading Service for the Sight Impaired and later
as Producer/Director/Interviewer for a Saturday program titled Focus on Tucson.
He was the Sun Sounds Volunteer of the Year in 1996. He co-founded the Stand
Down for Homeless Veterans in 1995 and coordinated several veterans events.
He continued to work with homeless veterans through the Homeless Outreach at
the VA and began working with Tucson Planning Council for the Homeless. He
is active in the Winter Shelter program and Project Deep Freeze. In addition
he coordinated the collaboration of the Tucson Community Action network(CAN),
the Stand Down and Operation Blessing into the first Festival of Hope at the
Rodeo Grounds in 1997.He was selected volunteer of the year by the Arizona
Coalition to End Homelessness. He was the arrangements and volunteer coordinator
for the Tucson Promise Keepers Conference and a member of the Tucson PK Task
Force. He was also arrangements coordinator for the Luis Palau Festival and
subsequent Festivals of Hope.He is active in the American Red Cross as the
So. AZ. Disaster Chairperson, a Red Cross Instructor in Disaster Services and
a Disaster Action team member. Don also works with Prison Fellowship as an
Angel Tree Instructor and with his wife, Bonnie is the coordinator for his
church's Angel Tree project. He serves as a board member for Hope of Glory
Ministries and a member of his church's Missions ministry.He is also active
with the United Way Supporting Seniors Impact Council and a regular attendee
at the Tucson Coalition of Compassionate Ministries.Current projects include
the KFLT/Mission Tucson Ministries Fair, the upcoming PK Conference in Tucson
and the next Festival of Hope scheduled in October 2004.He and Bonnie are also
active in the Pima County Community Justice Board.He is a mentor with the Jobs
Partnership Program and has volunteered with Jewish Children and Family Services
on the Lost Boys Refugee program.
Don's military awards include: several Meritorious Service medals, Two Air
medals, Bronze Star, Vietnamese Medal of Honor, Legion of Merit, Distinguished
Service medal, Combat Infantry Badge, Master Parachutists badge, Vietnamese
Jump Wings, Brazilian Jump Wings, and General Staff Identification Badge.In
1998 He was inducted into the Army Intelligence Hall of Fame.
He lives in Marana with his bride of 4 years-Bonnie Demorotski-, fellowships
at Grace Community Covenant Evangelical Church where he and Bonnie are active
in several ministries. Bonnie is Executive Director of Camp Fire USA Council
in So. AZ. and is a former member and president of the Governing Board of the
Marana School District.Between them they have 5 children and three grand children.
Marlee, Shannon, Marc, Sara and Katy. The Grand Children are Adam, Weston and
Jeb
In spare time Don enjoys Civil War History -especially the Battle of Gettysburg-
travel and the always delightful intrigues of children and Grand children.
