Obituary of Donald Festa

Festa, Ret. Col. Donald age 78 of Oakland on October 14, 2010. Colonel Festa was born in Paterson on Sept. 5, 1932 to Charles C. Sr. & Margaret (nee Pacella) Festa. He enlisted in the US Air Force and was stationed as a radar operator in the Korean War Conflict for 4 years. Upon return, he received an honorable discharge and enrolled in Columbia College, Columbia University, NYC where he graduated with honors in 1958. Col. Festa graduated first in his class with the rank of 2nd Lieutenant from the US Marine Corps training center. While working as a volunteer teacher in a local Japanese school, he met his wife, Yoko. Col. Festa received a Bronze Star for outstanding leadership during a conflict in the Dominican Republic. In 1966, Col. Festa and his Ninth Marines landed in Vietnam, where they were quickly based behind enemy lines as a force dedicated to demoralizing the North Vietnamese military. During his tour of duty, he commanded the Alpha Company, subsequently labeled "The Walking Dead" by Ho Chi Minh, leader of the enemy Vietcong, who vowed to kill every Ninth Marine who set foot in North Vietnam. The Ninth Marines proceeded to kill ten enemy combatants for every US Marine who sacrificed his life. Col. Festa received several commendations for his two years of service and leadership during this important campaign including the Gallantry Cross, the Purple Heart, and the Silver Star. In 1971, he applied for and was accepted to the Naval Warfare School in Northern California where he again finished near the top of his class. In 1973, Col. Festa was assigned to the Pentagon, where he served as a strategic planning officer for the Marine Corps. He was then stationed in Denmark as an operations officer for the North American Treaty Organization (NATO), where he stayed until 1979. In 1980, he received a Master's degree in Accounting from the US Army War College. He then returned to work at the Pentagon, where he served as a Senior War Planning Officer for the Marine Corps until 1986 when he was reassigned for one year to Okinawa, Japan as a senior planning officer for the US Pacific Command Center. In 1988, he returned to the US and was stationed at Quantico Marine Base, Va for one year before retiring. He moved to Oakland, NJ 3 years ago. Preceding him in death in 2007 was his wife, Yoko and in 2005 by a brother, Nicholas. Survivors include 4 brothers: James L. Festa of Weehawkin, Charles C. Festa Jr., of Paterson, Robert P. Festa of Totowa, and Peter Festa of Oakland; 2 sisters, Rose DeLisi of Pompton Plains, and June Leonardi of Little Falls. Also survived by several nieces, nephews, grand nieces and grand nephews. Relatives and friends are invited to attend the funeral from the Festa Memorial Funeral Home, 111 Union Blvd, Totowa, on Monday at 9:15 AM. Funeral Mass to follow at St. John's Cathedral, Paterson at 10:00 AM. Interment at Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Va will take place at a later date. Visitation will be Sunday 2:00 - 4:00 and 7:00 - 9:00 PM. In lieu of flowers, donations to the ASPCA 424 E. 92 St., NYC, NY 10128-6804 would be appreciated. For more information, go to www.festamemorial.com.