Donald C. Hopkins

SGM (retired) Donald C. Hopkins of Naples, Florida and former long term resident of Untergruppenbach, Germany died peacefully on December 30th, 2019, after a long struggle with Parkinson's. SGM Hopkins was born on the 21st of April 1932 in Bay City, Michigan to Clarence and Lenor Hopkins. He enlisted in the Unisted States Army in 1952. After Basic Training at Fort Riley, Kansas, SGM Hopkins, then a private, was assigned to the 1st Inf Oiv, 1st Quartermaster Co. At this time the 1st Inf Div was assigned to the 7th Army in Europe, as part of the Occupation Force. He took part in the first gyroscope operation in the U.S. Army. The 1st Inf Div rotated to Ft Riley, KS and the 10th Inf Oiv - stationed at Ft Riley went to Europe. He was discharged from the United States Army in February 1957. In September 1957, he returned to active duty and was assigned to the 82d Engineer Bn, Ft Leonard Wood, MO. SGM Hopkins attended the 5th Army NCO Academy in April of 1958. Graduating from the academy he rejoined his battalion, who had moved to Ft McCoy, Wisconsin to support the Reserve summer training program. In July 1958, Sgt Hopkins received assignment orders for Europe to the 237th Engineer Battalion (Combat). In August 1961 SGM Hopkins was promoted to SSGT. In September 1963, he returned to the United States reporting to the 86th Engineer Bn (Construction) at Ft Dix, NJ. He and two other combat engineer NCO's were the starting point whereby the construction battalion was changed over to a combat battalion and prepared for assignment to Vietnam. In July 1965, SSGT Hopkins received orders and assignment to 62d Engineer Co. SETAF (Italy). In May 1966, he was promoted to SFC and made the units operations NCO. In May 1967, he became the lSG and remained in that position until his departure for VIETNAM in September 1968. Arriving in Vietnam he was assigned to 69th Engineer Bn, (Construction) as operations NCO, in July 1969, SFC Hopkins was promoted to 1ST Sergeant and he departed Vietnam in September 1969. lSG Hopkins was assigned to Company C., 2nd Bn, 3rd Tng Bde, Ft Leonard Wood, MO. He remained at Ft Leonard Wood until April 1973, when he received orders assigning him to the 82d Engineer Bn. in Europe, arriving in Europe in May 1973. In February 1980 lSG Hopkins was promoted to SGM. Departing Europe in July 1980, SGM Hopkins was assigned to HQ TRADOC, DCSENGR at Fort Monroe, VA. SGM Hopkins retired from the United States Army on January 1st, 1984 after 30 years of service. During his 30 year career he was awarded the Army Commendation Medap (3 awards), Good Conduct Medal (9 awards), Army of Occupation Medal-Germany (with oak Leaf Cluster), National Defense Service Medal (with 1 Oak Leaf Cluster), Vietnam Service medal (with 4 Service Stars) Vietnam Campaign Medal, Vietnam Cross of gallantry (with Palm), Vietnam Civil Actions Service Medal, a Meritorious Unit Commendation, the Army Service Ribbon, the Overseas Service Ribbon and the NCO Professional Development Ribbion. After retirement, he lived in the Oak Grove, Missouri for a short time. He then returned to reside in the village of Untergruppenbach, Germany and worked for the Department of Defense as a civilian employee at various Army bases in Southwestern Germany. He returned to the United States in April of 2014 after the death of his wife the previous year, living first in New Jersey and then moving to Naples, Florida in 2017. He was preceded in death by his wife, Rosemarie (Bux) and his parents. He is survived by his sisters, Charlotte, Dorothy, Kay, Gloria and Marion and a son, Ronald. Both SGM Hopkins' and his wife's ashes will be interred in Arlington National Cemetery at a yet to be determined time. Arrangements are being handled by Shikany's Bonita Funeral Home.

Donald C. Hopkins

April 21, 1932 - December 30, 2019