Donald William Warner, Col. Us Army Ret

Colonel Ret Donald W. Warner, age 58, died on September 12, 2010, while in hospice care in Arlington, Virginia after a brief, but valiant, bout with esophageal cancer. Colonel Warner was born in Dallas and raised in Houston, Texas. Upon graduation from Stephen F. Austin State University in 1975, he was commissioned a second lieutenant and awarded a Bachelor of Arts degree in Criminal Justice and Corrections. He also held a Master of Science degree in Administration from Central Michigan University.

Colonel Warner?s early assignments as an armor officer were at Fort Knox, Kentucky, where he met his devoted wife of 31 years, Bianca. From there, he served in assignments with the 1st Armored Division in Europe before returning to the United States in 1983 for the first of several assignments in Washington DC. The positions held include Military Aide to the Chairman of the 1985 Presidential Inaugural Committee for President Reagan?s second inaugural; Aide de Camp to the Commanding General of the U.S. Army Military District of Washington; and Joint Politico-Military Planner, NATO Policy Branch, J5 in the Pentagon. In 1988 he returned to Germany to serve with the Second Armored Division Forward. As Executive Officer, he deployed with the 3rd Battalion, 66th Armor Regiment to Desert Shield/Desert Storm in 1990. Returning from Southwest Asia in 1991, he was assigned to the Joint Staff at the Pentagon where he served as a personnel war planner and Aide de Camp to the Vice Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff. In 1994 he assumed command of 2nd Battalion, 8th Calvary Regiment, 1st Calvary Division at Fort Hood, Texas. Following battalion command, he served in several Army positions in international affairs culminating with his assignment as Director for the American, British, Canadian and Australian ABCA Armies? Primary Standardization Office. COL Warner graduated from the US Army War College in 1998. In 2002, COL Warner became the Deputy Commander, US Army Center for Military History in Washington DC. In March 2003 he deployed to Iraq to be the Commander of the Military History Group Provisional to capture the historical record of military operations during Operation Iraqi Freedom. He accompanied elements of the 3rd Infantry Division on their historic march to Baghdad and for his actions he was awarded the Bronze Star. He retired in 2006 as the Acting Director, US Army Center of Military History. Upon retirement COL Warner joined Reger Family Owned Businesses and served as the Pentagon liaison to the Army Asymmetric Warfare Office for the Army?s Rapid Equipping Force.

During his 30 year military career, Colonel Warner received the Legion of Merit Medal, Bronze Star Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, Defense Meritorious Service Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, Meritorious Service Medal with four Oak Leaf Clusters, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Army Commendation Medal with four Oak Leaf Clusters, Joint Service Achievement Medal, Army Achievement Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, National Defense Service Medal with Bronze Star, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Southwest Asia Service Medal with three Bronze Stars, Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Korea Defense Service Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Army Overseas Service Ribbon 3rd Award, and the Southwest Asia Saudi Arabia and Kuwaiti Emirate of Kuwait Liberation Medals. He was also awarded the Honorable Order of Saint George Bronze Medallion along with the German Marksmanship Award Bronze Schuetzenschur, the Bulgarian Medal of Freedom, and the Canadian Parachutist Badge.

Don was an active member of the Heritage Presbyterian Church in Alexandria, Virginia. He participated in mission trips to Mexico to build homes for the poor and the Hypothermia Outreach to keep homeless people out of the cold. He had a love for singing which began with the Safari Singers, a high school musical group, and participation in the Texas All State Choir and continued through his lifelong participation in church choirs. Don?s sporting passions were golf and football. True to his Texas roots, he remained a lifelong Dallas Cowboy fan. He loved seeing the world and experiencing other cultures during his many international travels. Don?s personal hallmarks were his positive outlook on life, his quick witted sense of humor, and his ever friendly manner.

Colonel Warner was preceded in death by his parents, Theodore and Leila Warner. He is survived by his loving wife, Bianca Browning Warner; his brother and sister-in-law, Ken and Diana Warner of Austin, Texas; his father-in-law, Bryan Browning of Louisville, Kentucky; his mother-in-law, Bette Atkins of Jeffersonville, Indiana; and a host of cousins throughout the United States.

A Service to the Witness of The Resurrection will be held on September 25, 2010, at Heritage Presbyterian Church, 8503 Fort Hunt Road, Alexandria, Virginia, 22308. The reception will be held immediately following at Belle Haven Country Club, 6023 Fort Hunt Road, Alexandria, Virginia, 22307. The interment service is to be held on December 22nd at 9:00 am at the Old Post Chapel located at Fort Myer, Virginia and will be immediately followed by a full honors funeral in Arlington National Cemetery. The reception will be held at Fort Myer Officers? Club. In lieu of flowers, gifts can be given to the Don Warner Memorial Fund at Heritage Presbyterian Church or the charity of your choice.

To sign the guest book click on the link below.

http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/washingtonpost/obituary.aspx?n=donald-w-warner&pid=145443946.