Vincent "Scotchy" Lawrence McDonald

Jeremy Anderson2021-06-25T18:49:01-05:00

Name: Vincent "Scotchy" Lawrence McDonald
Location of Birth: Bovey, Minnesota
Date of Birth: May 7, 1922
Date of Death: January 17, 2002
Parents: Robert McDonald & Kathlene (Gray) McDonald
High School and Class: 1941 Greenway High School, Coleraine, Minnesota
College:
Highest Rank: HMCM (Hospital Corpsman Master Chief Petty Officer)
Branch: Navy
Other Branch:
Date Sworn In: January 14, 1942
Place Sworn In:
Date of Discharge: January 31, 1973
Place of Discharge:
Military Awards:

Military Highlights:
Newspaper article: Bovey Press, Bovey, Minnesota – May 15, 1942 – “Great Lakes, Ill., May 8 – Vincent Lawrence McDonald, 19, son of Robert McDonald, of Bovey, was graduated today (May 8) with the largest class in the history of the Hospital Corps school at the U.S. Naval station here. McDonald, a member of a class of 472 men from 37 states, completed basic training in anatomy, physiology, hygiene and sanitation, first aid, weights and measures and materia-medica during the six-week course. Now rated as hospital apprentice, second class, he will be sent to a Naval hospital for additional training and then assigned to general duty at sea or ashore. Men entering the Hospital Corps School are chosen by special selection examinations. Eventually the men in the corps become pharmacist’s mates. Captain E.A. Lofquist, chief of staff of the Ninth Naval District and Captain F.H. Lash, senior chaplain on the station here, spoke at graduation exercises held at the school. Captain W.E. Eaton, medical officer in command, presented certificates of graduation.”

Newspaper article: Bovey Press, Bovey, Minnesota – May 29, 1942 – “Hello Folks: Well, I am answering this, but I still don’t know who wrote. I am working in a Surgical Ward, giving hypoes and it sure is fun – pushing needles in someone else’s arm. It is a very beautiful country down here and on the train coming from Great Lakes, we went through the Blue Ridge Mountains and they are very pretty. When the train went through Kentucky, we saw a few Hill Billys, that’s what they appeared to be to me anyhow. I saw a few battleships in the Norfolk Navy Yard and they are no playthings. I won’t go on board ship for about a year but I probably will be with the Marines in a month. – Scotchy.”

Newspaper article: Bovey Press, Bovey, Minnesota – December 11, 1942 – “Dear Folks: I received your package and I wish to thank you very much for it, and wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, as I know it will be with all the boys coming home after the war, which, by the way, will be over in ’43. That’s my prophecy and I think it will be true. I am on night duty now, so I don’t have much of a chance to get around, but I don’t think I will go to sea for quite a while now. We got word today of one of our Pharmacist mates getting killed in action off the Atlantic Coast. I knew the fellow real well and it will seem funny not to see him around. I like night duty because now I don’t have to stand any inspections and I can sleep all day. I wish I could tell you folks about some of the things down here at the Air Station, but if I did I would probably get shot. Well, so long for now. A Gob, Scotchy McDonald.
P.S. Thanks again for the Christmas package.”

Newspaper article: Bovey Press, Bovey, Minnesota – January 19, 1943 – “January 10, 1943. Dear Folks: I received your very welcome letter today and it so happens that I was here to get it and not out to sea. I am glad to hear that things in Bovey are fine. I just got back from Iceland, and I thought Minnesota was cold, but it is summer compared to Iceland. I went up on a destroyer and it was pretty rough going, but coming back was a picnic, but you always have that funny feeling that there is a submarine waiting for you someplace. I have been getting the Bovey Press right along, and I might add that I don’t know what I would do without it. I got a kick out of Mrs. Feuling’s letter, and I might say she picked up the “Navy Slanguage” right fast. I would like to be home when this war is over and all the fellows are home. Boy! I bet the old home town will come to life in a hurry. Well, I think I will sign off until next time, and wish all the boys a happy voyage. A Gob, Scotchy McDonald.”

Newspaper article: Bovey Press, Bovey, Minnesota – July 2, 1943 – “Pungo, VA., June 17, 1943 – Dear Folks: Just a line to let you know that I am still alive and to thank Mr. and Mrs. Kingston for the nice letter. I have been transferred to the following address: Vincent L. McDonald, PhM 2-c USN, U.S.N. Auxiliary Air Station, Pungo, Virginia. It is really good duty down here at this field. All I do is sleep all day. I would like to thank Horace Barnes at this time for the Bovey Press and also Ann Shustarich for the nice letter she puts in the paper every week. Keep up the good work, Ann; you are a real morale builder. I will probably be home in November, but I doubt if it will be any sooner. Well folks that is all I have to say this time so I will sign off. Vincent (Scotchy) McDonald.”

Newspaper article: Bovey Press, Bovey, Minnesota – May 26, 1944 – “New York, N.Y., April 19, 1944 – Dear Folks: I don’t want you to think I am slow in answering your letter so I will give the reason. I just received your letter and I think it must have gone around the world, as it was dated in January. I would like to take this opportunity to thank Mary Berg for the very interesting letter, and as for Ann’s letters in the Press, I don’t think there is any way the boys in service can thank her as we all owe her so much. Keep up the good work Ann. I like England in some respects, but there is no place like the good old U.S.A. I have a new address, which is at the top of this letter, and I hope it is permanent, if you get what I mean. The duty aboard ship is very good. The L.S.T. means Landing Ship Tanks, which only means we will be landing on a beach at some time. I will close for this time, with good luck to you and God bless you. Vincent McDonald, PhM 1-c.”

Newspaper article: October 1945 – “Switzerland – Sept. 4th – Dear Dad, Ruth and Miles: Well I made it. I am away up in this beautiful country called Switzerland and having a very good time, I must say. Don’t ask me how I got the trip. All I did was put in for it and waited until the phone rang. We had to pay $35.00 for the trip. That money takes care of travel, eats, and hotel for seven days in Switzerland. It is just like being a civilian again, go and come as you please. The people and country are extremely clean. We flew (I and another sailor) from Oran, Africa, to Naples, Italy, and from Milan into Switzerland by train. We were allowed only $35.00 in Swiss currency to buy souvenirs, but they are so high that you can’t buy but one and your money is gone. The Swiss government is afraid of inflation, I guess. The meals they have are very good and the hotels excellent and the beds are the best I have slept in, in 19 months. The weather is excellent. We will go to Geneva next, and I am kind of looking forward to it. After this trip and I get back to Oran, I am going to work twice as hard in getting that place closed so I can get home. I will sign off for now. Your son, “Scotchy” (Vincent McDonald)”

Wars Involved:
World War II
Korean War
Vietnam War

MIA / POW:

Civilian Life:
Scotchy McDonald enlisted in the Navy in January 1942 and retired after 31 years as a Master Chief Hospital Corpsman. He served in Africa and Europe during WW II and also served in Korea and Vietnam. He married Doris Malkus in Maryland in 1947. He was a lifelong avid hunter and fisherman who enjoyed life to its fullest. He enjoyed golf, gambling, and was an accomplished gunsmith.

Scotchy died at his winter home in Kissimmee, Florida and is buried in Baltimore National Cemetery, Baltimore, Maryland (Section E, Site 4765A). He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Doris; his daughter, Donna (Michael) Bowers; two grandchildren; and a sister, Ruth Flynn.

Tribal Affiliation(s):