In Recognition of Veterans Day - Coffee with Vets [Image 4 of 25]

ID, UNITED STATES

08.30.2019

Photo by Thomas Alvarez 

Idaho Army National Guard

Donald Jussaume, 65, U.S. Marine Corps, 1972 - 1978.

Jussaume was born in New Bedford, Massachusetts. He said he was a bit of a roughneck,trouble maker and pretty disobedient growing up. He enlisted in the Marines at 17.

He chose the Marines for two reasons; he wanted to be the best and regarded the Marines as the best, and he liked their uniforms. He served as an embarkation specialist preparing supplies and equipment for embarkation and deployments, and supporting the movement of personnel and equipment. He did some time working in intelligence. He was assigned to bases in mainland Japan, Okinawa, Korea and Taiwan.

He left the Corps to pursue what he described as a “normal life.” He came to Boise in 1978 and over the years he worked as a tow truck driver, a long distance truck driver, a welder and a lumber grader in a saw mill.

When he thinks about his days as a Marine, it’s difficult for him to remember anyone in particular or any specific event – too many to recall he says. Jussaume credits his training and experiences in the Marines with teaching him how to cope with the ups and downs of life, and making him the man he is today. He said he was never a religious person before joining the Corps, but prays on a regular basis now.

• Date Taken: 08.30.2019
• Date Posted: 11.08.2019 10:29
• Photo ID: 5897808
• VIRIN: 191101-Z-XK920-0004
• Resolution: 2700x1800
• Size: 2.18 MB
• Location: ID, US